This story is inspired by the 52 Ancestors prompt “Fashion”, which made me think of clothes and those who make them. William Henshaw was a tailor the village of Wicken in Northamptonshire, England.
William was born on 2 March 1713* the fourth child and first son of Jonathan Henshaw, a carpenter, and his wife Amy Bloncke**. He was baptised in the local parish church six days later on 8 March. His siblings were: Anne, Mary, Alice, Amy and Elizabeth (twins who died in infancy), Judeth (died in infancy), Elizabeth (died in infancy), Sarah (died in infancy), Martha, Charity (died in infancy), Major, Keziah and John. William’s early life was filled with the tragic deaths of 6 of his fourteen siblings, followed by the death of his father, Jonathan, in Mar 1729*. Mother Amy was left a young widow with eight children to look after. The older daughters may have helped out and there may be been support from Amy’s siblings and Jonathan’s brother Thomas. Children Anne and Major Henshaw both died young, in 1746, before their mother who died in 1749. Anne from small pox.
