Pilots of Poole, Dorset
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This post contains brief biographical notes on various Pilots of Poole in Dorset, many of them appointed by Trinity House. Much of this information is derived from xxxxxx in the Trinity House records at the London Metropolitan Museum. Other sources include the Census of England & Wales and the London Gazette. It should be noted that some of the dates may be the date the information was received at the information source - usually Trinity House in London - rather than the date of the event itself.
~ ~ TILSED, William ~ ~
He was noted as a Pilot in the National Archives document ADM 106/1188/365 : "Captain Williams has produced another certificate to William Tilsed for piloting the sloop from Brownsea Road out to sea". This document was dated (or received) 31st December 1770. William Tilsed was thus presumably aged between about 21 and 65 on this date, ie born - very roughly - between 1705 and 1759.
Tentatively identified as : The man usually referred to as "Tilsed the Pilot" in the Diaries of Isaac Lester in 1772, 1773, 1775, 1776 and 1777. My interpretation of the use of "Tilsed the Pilot" is that there was at the time only one Tilsed who was employed as a Pilot. On 20th April 1775, Lester noted that he had "agreed with Willm Tillsed this Eavening, to Pilot out ye Susan". We already know that Lester had dealings with other Tilseds, including Thomas Tilsed the Sailmaker and a John Tilsed who worked for George Cartwright in Newfoundland and Labrador and for the Slade Company of Poole, also in Newfoundland - both of whom he often referred to as just "Tilsed". Hence, I believe, the choice of the description "pilot" for this one rather than his first name.
He is possibly : William Tilsed the husband of Apphra Gravener and thus father of John Tilsed senior below.
~ ~ TILSED, John senior ~ ~
Trinity House records : As at 1st September 1808 he was "currently acting as Pilot". He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 51. [Therefore born about 1756-7]. Warrant Number 12. Height 5'6¼", complexion "dark", colour of hair Dark Brown.
On 5th May 1813 he was dismissed the service, aged 55; the reason is not stated.
Identified as : John Tilsed christened 30th November 1759 at Poole St James. Son of William Tilsed of Poole (also a Pilot) and his wife Aphra Gravener of Rye in Sussex, daughter of Richard Gravener, a Mariner. Married Elizabeth Frampton in Poole 1783. Died in Poole January 1833, buried at St James 12th January 1833.
He is possibly : The defendant in the case "Sir Charles Chad Bart vs Tilsed the Elder", an 1821 case still quoted as a precedent regarding rights to the foreshore. Tilsed was defended by Poole Corporation.
~ ~ TILSED, John junior ~ ~
Trinity House records : He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 11th October 1809, aged 24. [Therefore born about 1785]. Warrant Number 19. Height 5' 8½", complexion "fair", colour of hair "light", colour of eyes grey. Retirement date not known but after 1846.
Identified as : John Lambert Tilsed born 19th August 1785 and christened 2nd December 1785. Son of John Tilsed senior, pilot, and Elizabeth Frampton. Married Elizabeth Hayes in Poole 1807 (their only child Elizabeth married pilot George Cains). Elizabeth Hayes died 1814 and John married Sarah Ashwood in the same year (their eldest son James Joseph was a pilot). From the census he was still working as a Pilot in 1851 but had retired by 1861. He died in 1862 - "On the 14th of June, at Taylor's Buildings, Poole, Mr John Tilsed, for nearly 50 years one of the pilots of that port, aged 76." He was buried at St James on 20th June, and the burial record gives his age as 77.
~ ~ TILSED, James ~ ~
Trinity House : He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 6th April 1809, aged 22. [Therefore born about 1786-7]. Warrant Number 15. Height 5'10½", complexion "fair, pitted with the smallpox", colour of hair Light.
James's cancelled licence was received at Trinity House on 6th May 1825, along with that of Thomas Robbins.
Identified as : James Tilsed born 5th Feb 1787 and christened at Poole St James on 30th Oct 1787. Son of John Tilsed senior, pilot, and Elizabeth Frampton. Married Martha Jenkins in Poole in 1808. James was buried in Poole on 13th January 1825 aged 38.
James and Martha's sons Robert (the Russell), James (Vixen, Glide) and John (Mountaineer) were all Masters of sailing vessels, John having been the captain of the Mountaineer when she was found abandoned and drifting in mysterious circumstances in 1850. Son Joseph was Mate of the Falcon.
~ ~ BLUNDELL, William ~ ~
Trinity House records : I have not yet seen any Trinity House records for William Blundell. Given that he was born in 1821, possibly he wasn't appointed until after 1846, which is the latest records I have seen at present.
Identified as : Son of John Blundell, Pilot, and Elizabeth Tweedle. William Blundell married Mary Stickland in 1855.
~ ~ BLUNDELL, John ~ ~
~ ~ BOYNES, Thomas senior ~ ~
Trinity House records : As at 1st September 1808 he was "currently acting as Pilot". He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 47. [Therefore born about 1761-2]. Warrant Number 1.
He was "superannuated", ie retired to pension, on 23rd Dec 1823 at the age of 62 [ie probably born 1761].
Identified as : Thomas Boynes married Sarah Wills 22nd October 1782 at Poole St James. Father of the Trinity House Pilots Thomas Boynes jr and Francis Boynes.
~ ~ BOYNES, Thomas junior ~ ~
Trinity House records : Appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 6th February 1811, aged 27. [Therefore born about 1783-4]. Warrant Number 22. Records up to 1846 do not show his retirement.
Identified as : Thomas Boynes son of the Trinity Pilot Thomas Boynes senior and his wife Sarah Wills. Christened in Poole 22nd Jun 1783.
~ ~ BOYNES, Francis ~ ~
Trinity House records : Appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 11th Nov 1812, apparently as a planned replacement for Joseph Williams who resigned on that date. Age not stated. Warrant number 22. Resigned 5th May 1813.
Francis seems to have been re-appointed on 22nd Dec 1814 aged 27 [ie born about 1787], this time as the apparently planned replacement for Edward Derham senior who resigned on that date. This time he stayed longer, being super-annuated on 25th February 1845 at the age of 57 [ie born about 1787-88].
Identified as : Francis Wills Boynes son of the Trinity Pilot Thomas Boynes senior and his wife Sarah Wills. Christened in Poole 17nd Jun 1787. No sign of a wife or children. Died in Poole 1853, buried 11th Jun 1853. He had been living with the family of his sister Susannah Stone and her husband William. He left a Will leaving everything to Susannah which was successfully challenged by his sister Eliza Williams on the grounds, iirc, that the witnesses had not actually seen Francis sign the will himself. The estate was then dealt with under the intestacy laws and ordered to be administered by Susannah Stone and Eliza Williams.
~ ~ PALMER, William ~ ~
Trinity House records : He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 10th April 1832, aged 30. [Therefore born about 1802]. On 27th October 1863 he resigned and applied for a pension.
Identified as : William Palmer, born 8th May 1802 and christened to Moses and Elizabeth on 16th Jan 1803. Son of Moses sr and brother of Moses jr.
~ ~ PALMER, Moses sr ~ ~
Trinity House records : As at 1st September 1808 he was "currently acting as Pilot". He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 35. [ie born about 1774]. Warrant Number 2. Super-annuated aged 65 on 3rd September 1839 [ie born about 1774].
Other records: In January 1848, witnesses in a case against one Stephen Adey included "Moses Palmer jr, pilot" and "his father, a pilot of more than 40 years' standing". The father is presumably this man. Retiring in 1839 after 30 years as a Trinity House pilot, he therefore presumably served as a locally appointed pilot for at least ten years before his appointment to Trinity House. He would therefore have become a Pilot by 1799 at the latest.
Identified as : Moses Palmer son of Moses Palmer and his wife Susanna Barter. Christened in Poole 10th Feb 1775. Moses senior was stated to be a Sojourner at his marriage to Susanna, therefore presumably not originally from Poole.
~ ~ PALMER, Moses jr ~ ~
Other records: In January 1848, witnesses in a case against one Stephen Adey included "Moses Palmer jr, pilot" and "his father, a pilot of more than 40 years' standing". Moses jr, pilot, is presumably this man. I have not yet seen Trinity House records for appointments after about 1840.
Identified as : Moses Palmer son of Moses Palmer and his wife Elizabeth Blake. Christened in Poole 29th Dec 1799.
~ ~ ALLEN, Thomas sr ~ ~
Trinity House records : As at 1st September 1808 he was "currently acting as Pilot". He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 32 [ie born about 1777]. Warrant Number 3. On 5th May 1813 he is noted as Dead in Trinity House records, aged 36 [ie born 1777]. Buried in Poole 11th Apr 1813.
His birth and family not yet identified
~ ~ HART, Richard sr ~ ~
Trinity House records : As at 1st September 1808 he was "currently acting as Pilot". He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 40. [ie born about 1769]. Warrant Number 4. He resigned 6th Jan 1819 aged 50, [ie born about 1769].
Identified as : Richard Hart christened 7th May 1770 at Skinner Street Independent Chapel in Poole. Unfortunately at this period the baptism register gives no information as to parents.
Married Ann Wear in Poole 4th Apr 1790; their children include the Trinity Pilots Samuel Wear Hart born 1795 and James Hart born 1808. It is possible that the Trinity Pilot Richard Hart jr is also their son.
~ ~ Herscroff*, William ~ ~
Trinity House records : As at 1st September 1808 he was "currently acting as Pilot". He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 31. [ie born about 1778]. Warrant Number 5. Trinity House records show him as "Dead" in October 1834. He was 57 [ie born 1777]. The document MS30174 at the London Metropolitan Archives contains a note stuck in, stating that William Herscroff was a Pilot at Poole from 1804 to 1834.
Identified as : William Hescroff christened 29th June 1777, son of William Hescroff and Elizabeth Tilsed. (I believe Elizabeth to be the daughter of John Tilsed and Susannah Rouse, christened 4 Jul 1736). William and Elizabeth married in Poole 26th Apr 1756. The pilot Robert Hescroff, who has not yet been identified, may be William's elder brother.
William married Jane Seymour in Poole on 5th May 1803.
*Members of this family also have the surname spelt as Hescroff, Hescroft, Hiscroff, Hiscroft.
~ ~ Hescroff*, Robert ~ ~
Trinity House records : As at 1st September 1808 he was listed as "previously acting as Pilot" but currently "Captured by the French". The Trinity House records up to 1846 do not show him being appointed as a Trinity House Pilot.
Tentatively identified as : Robert Hescroff* christened 28th Aug 1774, son of William Hescroff and Elizabeth Tilsed. (I believe Elizabeth to be the daughter of John Tilsed and Susannah Rouse, christened 4 Jul 1736. William and Elizabeth married in Poole 26th Apr 1756). Robert married Sarah Frampton in Poole 5th May 1801. The only children found to Robert and Sarah so far are Elizabeth born 29th June 1802 and Eliza born 19th March 1815, which supports the idea of this man being the pilot who spent some time as a prisoner of the French.
~ ~ Wills, Thomas ~ ~
Trinity House records : Thomas was not included in the list of men "currently acting as Pilot" as at 1st September 1808. He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 36 [ie born about 1773]. Warrant Number 7. He resigned on 10th May 1828, aged 55 [ie born about 1773].
Identified as : Thomas Wills christened 31st Oct 1773, son of Francis Wills and Sarah Arnold. His eldest sister Sarah Wills was married to the Trinity Pilot Thomas Boynes.
Tentatively identified as : the Thomas Wills who married Ann/Jean* Blundell in Poole on 22nd May 1796. As yet I have found no children to this marriage, nor any census entries to check the ages.
(*The marriage is stated to be between Thomas Wills and Anne Blundell, but her signature looks more like Jean).
~ ~ Wills, Henry sr ~ ~
Trinity House records : Henry was not included in the list of men "currently acting as Pilot" as at 1st September 1808. He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 37 [ie born about 1772]. Warrant Number 10. He resigned on 22nd Dec 1814 aged 43 [ie born about 1771]. The resignation appears to have been planned, as he was replaced the same day by John Brown.
Identified as : Henry Wills christened 9th May 1773, the son of a Thomas Wills and his wife Mary.
Return to Identifying Various Tilseds in Poole and Surrounding Areas
Return to Other Notes and Essays From My Research
Return to Home Page
Return to Home Page
Return to Other Notes and Essays From My Research
Return to Identifying Various Tilseds in Poole and Surrounding Areas
This post contains brief biographical notes on various Pilots of Poole in Dorset, many of them appointed by Trinity House. Much of this information is derived from xxxxxx in the Trinity House records at the London Metropolitan Museum. Other sources include the Census of England & Wales and the London Gazette. It should be noted that some of the dates may be the date the information was received at the information source - usually Trinity House in London - rather than the date of the event itself.
~ ~ TILSED, William ~ ~
He was noted as a Pilot in the National Archives document ADM 106/1188/365 : "Captain Williams has produced another certificate to William Tilsed for piloting the sloop from Brownsea Road out to sea". This document was dated (or received) 31st December 1770. William Tilsed was thus presumably aged between about 21 and 65 on this date, ie born - very roughly - between 1705 and 1759.
Tentatively identified as : The man usually referred to as "Tilsed the Pilot" in the Diaries of Isaac Lester in 1772, 1773, 1775, 1776 and 1777. My interpretation of the use of "Tilsed the Pilot" is that there was at the time only one Tilsed who was employed as a Pilot. On 20th April 1775, Lester noted that he had "agreed with Willm Tillsed this Eavening, to Pilot out ye Susan". We already know that Lester had dealings with other Tilseds, including Thomas Tilsed the Sailmaker and a John Tilsed who worked for George Cartwright in Newfoundland and Labrador and for the Slade Company of Poole, also in Newfoundland - both of whom he often referred to as just "Tilsed". Hence, I believe, the choice of the description "pilot" for this one rather than his first name.
He is possibly : William Tilsed the husband of Apphra Gravener and thus father of John Tilsed senior below.
~ ~ TILSED, John senior ~ ~
Trinity House records : As at 1st September 1808 he was "currently acting as Pilot". He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 51. [Therefore born about 1756-7]. Warrant Number 12. Height 5'6¼", complexion "dark", colour of hair Dark Brown.
On 5th May 1813 he was dismissed the service, aged 55; the reason is not stated.
Identified as : John Tilsed christened 30th November 1759 at Poole St James. Son of William Tilsed of Poole (also a Pilot) and his wife Aphra Gravener of Rye in Sussex, daughter of Richard Gravener, a Mariner. Married Elizabeth Frampton in Poole 1783. Died in Poole January 1833, buried at St James 12th January 1833.
He is possibly : The defendant in the case "Sir Charles Chad Bart vs Tilsed the Elder", an 1821 case still quoted as a precedent regarding rights to the foreshore. Tilsed was defended by Poole Corporation.
~ ~ TILSED, John junior ~ ~
Trinity House records : He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 11th October 1809, aged 24. [Therefore born about 1785]. Warrant Number 19. Height 5' 8½", complexion "fair", colour of hair "light", colour of eyes grey. Retirement date not known but after 1846.
Identified as : John Lambert Tilsed born 19th August 1785 and christened 2nd December 1785. Son of John Tilsed senior, pilot, and Elizabeth Frampton. Married Elizabeth Hayes in Poole 1807 (their only child Elizabeth married pilot George Cains). Elizabeth Hayes died 1814 and John married Sarah Ashwood in the same year (their eldest son James Joseph was a pilot). From the census he was still working as a Pilot in 1851 but had retired by 1861. He died in 1862 - "On the 14th of June, at Taylor's Buildings, Poole, Mr John Tilsed, for nearly 50 years one of the pilots of that port, aged 76." He was buried at St James on 20th June, and the burial record gives his age as 77.
~ ~ TILSED, James ~ ~
Trinity House : He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 6th April 1809, aged 22. [Therefore born about 1786-7]. Warrant Number 15. Height 5'10½", complexion "fair, pitted with the smallpox", colour of hair Light.
James's cancelled licence was received at Trinity House on 6th May 1825, along with that of Thomas Robbins.
Identified as : James Tilsed born 5th Feb 1787 and christened at Poole St James on 30th Oct 1787. Son of John Tilsed senior, pilot, and Elizabeth Frampton. Married Martha Jenkins in Poole in 1808. James was buried in Poole on 13th January 1825 aged 38.
James and Martha's sons Robert (the Russell), James (Vixen, Glide) and John (Mountaineer) were all Masters of sailing vessels, John having been the captain of the Mountaineer when she was found abandoned and drifting in mysterious circumstances in 1850. Son Joseph was Mate of the Falcon.
~ ~ BLUNDELL, William ~ ~
Trinity House records : I have not yet seen any Trinity House records for William Blundell. Given that he was born in 1821, possibly he wasn't appointed until after 1846, which is the latest records I have seen at present.
Identified as : Son of John Blundell, Pilot, and Elizabeth Tweedle. William Blundell married Mary Stickland in 1855.
~ ~ BLUNDELL, John ~ ~
~ ~ BOYNES, Thomas senior ~ ~
Trinity House records : As at 1st September 1808 he was "currently acting as Pilot". He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 47. [Therefore born about 1761-2]. Warrant Number 1.
He was "superannuated", ie retired to pension, on 23rd Dec 1823 at the age of 62 [ie probably born 1761].
Identified as : Thomas Boynes married Sarah Wills 22nd October 1782 at Poole St James. Father of the Trinity House Pilots Thomas Boynes jr and Francis Boynes.
~ ~ BOYNES, Thomas junior ~ ~
Trinity House records : Appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 6th February 1811, aged 27. [Therefore born about 1783-4]. Warrant Number 22. Records up to 1846 do not show his retirement.
Identified as : Thomas Boynes son of the Trinity Pilot Thomas Boynes senior and his wife Sarah Wills. Christened in Poole 22nd Jun 1783.
~ ~ BOYNES, Francis ~ ~
Trinity House records : Appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 11th Nov 1812, apparently as a planned replacement for Joseph Williams who resigned on that date. Age not stated. Warrant number 22. Resigned 5th May 1813.
Francis seems to have been re-appointed on 22nd Dec 1814 aged 27 [ie born about 1787], this time as the apparently planned replacement for Edward Derham senior who resigned on that date. This time he stayed longer, being super-annuated on 25th February 1845 at the age of 57 [ie born about 1787-88].
Identified as : Francis Wills Boynes son of the Trinity Pilot Thomas Boynes senior and his wife Sarah Wills. Christened in Poole 17nd Jun 1787. No sign of a wife or children. Died in Poole 1853, buried 11th Jun 1853. He had been living with the family of his sister Susannah Stone and her husband William. He left a Will leaving everything to Susannah which was successfully challenged by his sister Eliza Williams on the grounds, iirc, that the witnesses had not actually seen Francis sign the will himself. The estate was then dealt with under the intestacy laws and ordered to be administered by Susannah Stone and Eliza Williams.
~ ~ PALMER, William ~ ~
Trinity House records : He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 10th April 1832, aged 30. [Therefore born about 1802]. On 27th October 1863 he resigned and applied for a pension.
Identified as : William Palmer, born 8th May 1802 and christened to Moses and Elizabeth on 16th Jan 1803. Son of Moses sr and brother of Moses jr.
~ ~ PALMER, Moses sr ~ ~
Trinity House records : As at 1st September 1808 he was "currently acting as Pilot". He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 35. [ie born about 1774]. Warrant Number 2. Super-annuated aged 65 on 3rd September 1839 [ie born about 1774].
Other records: In January 1848, witnesses in a case against one Stephen Adey included "Moses Palmer jr, pilot" and "his father, a pilot of more than 40 years' standing". The father is presumably this man. Retiring in 1839 after 30 years as a Trinity House pilot, he therefore presumably served as a locally appointed pilot for at least ten years before his appointment to Trinity House. He would therefore have become a Pilot by 1799 at the latest.
Identified as : Moses Palmer son of Moses Palmer and his wife Susanna Barter. Christened in Poole 10th Feb 1775. Moses senior was stated to be a Sojourner at his marriage to Susanna, therefore presumably not originally from Poole.
~ ~ PALMER, Moses jr ~ ~
Other records: In January 1848, witnesses in a case against one Stephen Adey included "Moses Palmer jr, pilot" and "his father, a pilot of more than 40 years' standing". Moses jr, pilot, is presumably this man. I have not yet seen Trinity House records for appointments after about 1840.
Identified as : Moses Palmer son of Moses Palmer and his wife Elizabeth Blake. Christened in Poole 29th Dec 1799.
~ ~ ALLEN, Thomas sr ~ ~
Trinity House records : As at 1st September 1808 he was "currently acting as Pilot". He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 32 [ie born about 1777]. Warrant Number 3. On 5th May 1813 he is noted as Dead in Trinity House records, aged 36 [ie born 1777]. Buried in Poole 11th Apr 1813.
His birth and family not yet identified
~ ~ HART, Richard sr ~ ~
Trinity House records : As at 1st September 1808 he was "currently acting as Pilot". He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 40. [ie born about 1769]. Warrant Number 4. He resigned 6th Jan 1819 aged 50, [ie born about 1769].
Identified as : Richard Hart christened 7th May 1770 at Skinner Street Independent Chapel in Poole. Unfortunately at this period the baptism register gives no information as to parents.
Married Ann Wear in Poole 4th Apr 1790; their children include the Trinity Pilots Samuel Wear Hart born 1795 and James Hart born 1808. It is possible that the Trinity Pilot Richard Hart jr is also their son.
~ ~ Herscroff*, William ~ ~
Trinity House records : As at 1st September 1808 he was "currently acting as Pilot". He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 31. [ie born about 1778]. Warrant Number 5. Trinity House records show him as "Dead" in October 1834. He was 57 [ie born 1777]. The document MS30174 at the London Metropolitan Archives contains a note stuck in, stating that William Herscroff was a Pilot at Poole from 1804 to 1834.
Identified as : William Hescroff christened 29th June 1777, son of William Hescroff and Elizabeth Tilsed. (I believe Elizabeth to be the daughter of John Tilsed and Susannah Rouse, christened 4 Jul 1736). William and Elizabeth married in Poole 26th Apr 1756. The pilot Robert Hescroff, who has not yet been identified, may be William's elder brother.
William married Jane Seymour in Poole on 5th May 1803.
*Members of this family also have the surname spelt as Hescroff, Hescroft, Hiscroff, Hiscroft.
~ ~ Hescroff*, Robert ~ ~
Trinity House records : As at 1st September 1808 he was listed as "previously acting as Pilot" but currently "Captured by the French". The Trinity House records up to 1846 do not show him being appointed as a Trinity House Pilot.
Tentatively identified as : Robert Hescroff* christened 28th Aug 1774, son of William Hescroff and Elizabeth Tilsed. (I believe Elizabeth to be the daughter of John Tilsed and Susannah Rouse, christened 4 Jul 1736. William and Elizabeth married in Poole 26th Apr 1756). Robert married Sarah Frampton in Poole 5th May 1801. The only children found to Robert and Sarah so far are Elizabeth born 29th June 1802 and Eliza born 19th March 1815, which supports the idea of this man being the pilot who spent some time as a prisoner of the French.
~ ~ Wills, Thomas ~ ~
Trinity House records : Thomas was not included in the list of men "currently acting as Pilot" as at 1st September 1808. He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 36 [ie born about 1773]. Warrant Number 7. He resigned on 10th May 1828, aged 55 [ie born about 1773].
Identified as : Thomas Wills christened 31st Oct 1773, son of Francis Wills and Sarah Arnold. His eldest sister Sarah Wills was married to the Trinity Pilot Thomas Boynes.
Tentatively identified as : the Thomas Wills who married Ann/Jean* Blundell in Poole on 22nd May 1796. As yet I have found no children to this marriage, nor any census entries to check the ages.
(*The marriage is stated to be between Thomas Wills and Anne Blundell, but her signature looks more like Jean).
~ ~ Wills, Henry sr ~ ~
Trinity House records : Henry was not included in the list of men "currently acting as Pilot" as at 1st September 1808. He was appointed a Trinity House Pilot in the Outport of Poole on 3rd April 1809, aged 37 [ie born about 1772]. Warrant Number 10. He resigned on 22nd Dec 1814 aged 43 [ie born about 1771]. The resignation appears to have been planned, as he was replaced the same day by John Brown.
Identified as : Henry Wills christened 9th May 1773, the son of a Thomas Wills and his wife Mary.
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