William Yarrow
(1711-1776)

William Yarrow (also known as Willyam Yarrow) was the fourth of the seven known children of Willyam Yarrow and his wife Elizabeth of the hamlet of Little Thetford in Cambridgeshire, England.

William married Mary Billington at his native Little Thetford church in 1753, and little over a year later the couple became parents to twins John and Francis. Sadly, John failed to thrive, and died in infancy.

William wrote his Will in October 1775 as following:

"In the name of God Amen, I William Yarrow of the hamlet of Thetford in the Isle of Ely and in the County of Cambridge, yeonman, Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in the Manor and form followinge...

First, I comend my Soul into the hand of the Almighty God thro' the merit and mediation of his ever blessed son Jesus Christ and for my body, I desire it may be buried according to the direction of my Executors hereafter mentioned...

I give and bequeath unto my Grandson William Yarrow, One Shilling to be paid one Month after my deceas. I do also give and bequeath unto my son Francis Yarrow, One Shilling to be paid one Month after my deceas if demanded.

And as to what moveable Goods and Chattels, as it hath pleased God to bestow upon me be they more or less, I do give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife and to my son John Yarrow, whom I constitute and appoint to be Executor of this, my Last Will and Testament".

This was written on 23rd October 1775 and signed by William (who made his mark "X") and by the 1st June 1776, his wife, Mary and son John Yarrow were sworn in as Executors.

This Will does not suggest that William was a rich man but it does provide previously unknown information that in 1775 his wife Mary, his sons John and Francis and a previously unknown grandson, William Yarrow, are all surviving.

Life Events

Born

• circa 1711 at Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire, England.

Baptised

• 17th June 1711 at St. George's Church, Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire, England.

Married

• Mary Billington (17??-?) on 10th December 1751 at St. George's Church, Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire, England.

Children

• John Yarrow (1753) twin
• Francis Yarrow (1753-?)twin
• John Yarrow (1756-?)

Employment

• 1775-1776: Yeoman

Last Will & Testament

• Written 23rd October 1775

Death

• April 1776 at Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire, England.

Burial

• 23rd April 1776 at St. George's Church, Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire, England.