John Peterken and Sarah Pitchland

Church of St. Boniface, Nursling
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Martin - geograph.org.uk/p/5935019

John Peterken married Sarah Pitchland (bap. 14 Jan 1703 in Romsey, Hampshire) at the church of St Boniface, Nursling, Hampshire on 3 Mar 1727. Recorded on the original record (writing what was heard, I'm sure) reads, "John Peterken (sic) a soldier & Sarah Pitchlen (sic) both of Rumsey [Romsey] parish, by Lycence."

John, it appears, was born on 8 Aug 1698 and baptised on 19 Aug 1698 in Drainie, Morayshire, the son of Thomas Peterkine - the extraneous final 'e' was common at this time - and Margaret Nicoll. A wide variety of spellings show up in the records. John was Peterkine at baptism, but Peterken when he married. My feeling is that the surname was actually Peterkin and became Peterken once it was written down as that's what it sounded like to southerners hearing his Scottish accent.

Sarah was the daughter of Thomas Pitchland and Sarah Cooper, and her ancestors appear to continue back several further generations in Romsey & Andover.

John and Sarah had seven children:

1. Thomas Peterkin bap. 22 Jul 1733. Thomas Peterkin, son of John Peterkin, was buried on 3 Mar 1733 St Thomas of Canterbury, Portsmouth. NB: This was ~8 months AFTER the baptism, because the year began on 25 March then. Dates between 1 Jan - 24 Mar before 1752, therefore, were in a year earlier than makes sense to us.
2. Thomas Peterkin bap. 19 Dec 1734
3. Sarah Peterkin bap. 13 Mar 1736. Sarah, daughter of John Peterkin (sic) was buried on 21 Sep 1744 at St Thomas of Canterbury, Portsmouth.
4. James Peterkin bap. 26 Dec 1738, James, son of John Peterkin (sic) was buried on 26 May 1739, also at St Thomas of Canterbury, Portsmouth.
5. Mary Peterkin bap. 27 Apr 1740
6. Ann Peterkin bap. 4 Apr 1742
7. James Peterkin bap. 11 Mar 1743

All of them were baptised at Saint Thomas, Portsmouth - now the Cathedral Church of St Thomas of Canterbury (Portsmouth Cathedral).

John Peterkin was buried on 2 Feb 1765, at Portsmouth, St Thomas.

Probate Records: Wills, Inventories and Administrations Proved in the Church Courts of Winchester Diocese, 14th Century to 1858; Reference Number: 1765AD56, provided the following: "On the 24th day of April 1765 Administration of all and singular the goods, chattels, rights and credits of John Peterkin late of Portsea in the County of Southampton and Diocese of Winchester Labourer deceased (who dyed without making any Will) was granted to Sarah Peterkin the Widow and Relict of the said deceased and the said Sarah Peterkin was sworn Administratrix accordingly and that the said goods and chattels rights and credits of the said deceased do not amount to the Sum of Forty Pounds as she verily believes." £40 in 1765 is equivalent in purchasing power to about £9,000 today. (And another one who "dyed", but what colour? LOL) So Sarah was still alive when John died in 1765, but as is so often the case, there is no record of her again.