The King family will
Adam King, a West Mersea innkeeper, made his will on 27 November 1811 and died on 1 November 1818. The will was proved on 28 April 1819. It named his sons Samuel Boatman King and Boatman King and daughters Sarah King and Mary Haward. Samuel is identified in the probate record as an oyster merchant, not as an innkeeper.
Adam King was buried in West Mersea on 4 November 1818. His son Samuel married Charlotte Cooke at the parish church on 25 August 1812, while his widow Rachel came from the Boatman family of Paglesham.
Another oyster connection
Samuel’s sister Mary married William Haward, another oyster merchant, in 1804. The executors named in Adam King’s will were his widow Rachel, daughter Mary, son Samuel and oyster merchant Thomas Overall. The will was witnessed by West Mersea plumber and glazier James Hurrell and W. Sparling junior of Colchester. The probate valuation was under £800.