William Beach (1655-1741), and Ann his wife [nee Wither] (1662-1742)

William Beach's father [also William, referred to in this catalogue as "William Beach of Brixton Deverill"] bought the manor of Fittleton in 1665 and the manor of Keevil in 1678, and William inherited them on his father's death in 1686. He married Ann Wither, daughter of Rev Gilbert Wither of Hall in Hampshire, in 1679, and they had 14 children, all but three of whom survived at least into early adulthood: Elizabeth (1680-1710), Ann (date of birth unknown, died 1682, probably an infant), William (1682-1708), Thomas (1684-1753), Mary (1686-1707), Ann (1688-1713), Dorothy (1690-1772), John (1692-1750), Maria (born 1694; her date of death is unknown but she probably died in infancy), Andrew (1696-1734), Henrietta Maria (1698-1713), Joan (1700-1765), Charles (1703-1705) and Sophia (1705-1787)

In order to distinguish him from the other William Beaches in the family, this William is referred to as "William Beach of Fittleton" throughout the catalogue; Ann's great-niece, another Ann Wither, married William and Ann's grandson, William Beach of Netheravon, so in order to distinguish the two, this Ann is referred to as "Ann Beach [nee Wither] the elder" throughout the catalogue