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Francis Gooding was born around 1695, and lived most of his life in Colaton Raleigh.  He was a farmer and there is nothing remarkable about him other than the fact than he married four times and fathered his last child when he was about 78 years old. 

His first wife was Grace Pile of Venn Ottery whom he married in 1717 at Aylesbeare.  They had two sons but by 1726 Grace was dead.   

He quickly found a new bride, Hannah Pope whom he married in Colaton Raleigh later in 1726, they had a further two children and remained married for 27 years.  Hannah died in 1753 and was buried in Colaton Raleigh.  

Elizabeth Bayley was bride number three, they married by licence in 1754, Elizabeth died as the result of childbirth the following year, and her baby son only lived for six months.   

His last wife was Sarah Ewings, they married at Colaton Raleigh in 1758, Francis was over 60 years old at this time.  He was entered in the marriage registers as “widower” in each instance. 

Sarah and Francis had a further six children the last being born in 1774, at which time his eldest surviving son John was 62 years old.  It must be fairly rare to have a brother 62 years older than oneself.

Compiled by © Roz Hickman,  2005 From: 

References  

Parish Registers

Marriage Licences

Correspondence with descendants

CR-B-00001 Biography any