It is thought that Thomas RENNISON was a stuff weaver, who lived in Kendal. A stuff weaver wove "stuff" - a coarse cloth, more especially of worsted, made of long or ?combing wool? distinguished from other woollen cloths by the absence of any nap or pile.
He married Ruth in about 1719/20 and they baptized 8 children in Kendal between 1721 and 1743.
Ruth died in June 1755 and he re-married in January 1756 aged 54 to Elizabeth ELLIOTT, a widow aged 47 of Kendal and then again to Agnes PERCIVAL, a widow aged 40 of Kendal, in January 1765 when he was 64 years old.
The Kendal burial record dated 5 Jun 1773 is assumed to be that of Thomas. The age of 73 suggests that he was born 1700, although no record for that birth has yet been found.
There is a probate record, containing a will, for a Thomas RENNSION, stuff weaver, of Ratten Row Lane otherwise Captain French Lane, in the Parish of Kirky Lonsdale dated 4 May 1774. Captain French Lane still exists in Kendal and contains a number of small old terraced cottages. A plaque at the entrance to the lane remembers that weavers cottages existed at that site from before 1705 when the ones on Highgate at least were cleared to make way for grander commercial buildings.