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Gotts Surname Family History
Outline tree 038Thomas 3800 Gotts and Sarah Wegg
Thomas 3800 was born around 1747, based on his age at death. At present his birthplace is unknown; Swannington is one possibility with a baptism at the right time, but so is Thomas born at Barton Turf. Sarah 3799 Wegg was baptised in 1752 in Gresham. They married in 1774 in Gresham, both noted as of this parish. They raised their family in Gresham:
- Mary 3801 b 1775, who had an illegitimate son John 2453 Gotts alias Witting born 20th June 1799 in Cromer, whose father is believed to be John Witting who ran the original Wellington Inn in Cromer. Mary eventually married John Catton (see panel at the right for the research behind this connection)
- Ann 3802 b 1778, m Thomas Platten 1802 in Gresham
- Elizabeth 905 b 1784, who also had an illegitimate son, Thomas b 10 June 1810, known as Thomas Gotts alias Nurse. Elizabeth possibly married John Thirst 1815 Gresham
- Samuel 3810 Gotts b 1787 Gresham who lived at Briston as a skin dealer. In 1841 he is on his own, and in 1851 census he is shown as a widower, though so far we do not know who his wife was and whether there were any children
- John 3805 (Wegg) Gotts b 1794 Gresham. This could be the John in the 1851 census aged 57, unmarried, a lime burner in Gresham, also 1861, who died in 1870
Witton/Gotts research
Cynthia Nisbet (Nee Gotts) and Robert Gotts in Australia have both spent considerable time researching this family. As Cynthia explains:
”Early last year, I did a mail shot to all of the Gotts/Witton/Pigott people currently living in the North Norfolk area, hoping that someone would be able to help.
I had already established that John Gotts Witton was not born in Gresham, despite the fact that's what is shown on the census records, I believe he was brought up by his grandparents who lived in Gresham. John was born in Cromer 20th June 1799 and baptised on 21st June 1799 as the illegitimate son of Mary Gotts.
Tracing the John Gotts (b 21/06/1799) descendants it is clear that he used the name Witton as an alias. On the 1841 & 51 census he was shown as a Witton, and on the 1861 & 71 census, he is shown as Gotts. His death certificate states he died as a Gotts.
The archivists at the Norfolk Record Office have advised that ‘alias’ names usually relate to the fathers’ surnames of illegitimate children. Also, it is commonplace during these times for the first male child born to take the father’s first name and the first female child take that of the mother.
This being the case, further research of local parish records shows that a John Witting was born in Edgefield. (The spelling varies Witton, Whitting, Witting)
Using this logic the only John Witting/Witton that can be located in the vicinity is that of John Witting born in Edgefield in 09/03/1772. I have therefore concluded that he is the father of Mary’s child John.