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Hi Christine
I have found a little out about Thomas Spencer and Ester Watson, my dad knew about Esther, knew she had been born in Yorkshire and where her children were born. I searched her name on the census records. In 1841 I found an Easter Spencer married to a Thomas Spencer (although Thomas' place of brith on this census is Yorkshire) with one child John age 3 months, who I believe was the oldest of the siblings, in 1851 Ester Spencer (note different spelling again) appears married to Thomas Spencer born in Dorset 1817 with more children. I then lose Thomas Spencer so believe he may of died as in 1861 Ester is listed with all the children but no husband is mentioned. I have to say I am now a little confused as to where Thomas was born but all the other information fits. another lady contatced me through ancestry and gave me some informaiton about Thomas, also having him born in Dorset and she told me his father was John Spencer born in 1785 but that is all I know.

Vicki

There is an online parish clerk for Dorset. That could be your next step. Our ancestors did not make it easy for us did they?
Christine

This is probably one of yours

1861 Address: Green Lane, Methley
SPENCE, John Head Married M 56 1805 Agricultural Labourer
Methley
Yorkshire VIEW
SPENCE, Joseph Wife Married F 45 1816
Walton
Yorkshire VIEW
WHITAKER, William Grandson M 9 1852 Scholar
Methley
Yorkshire

1881 Address: 25 Danube Terrace, Wortley
SPENCER, William Head Married M 28 1853 Fireclay Miner
Methley
Yorkshire
SPENCER, Elizabeth Wife Married F 26 1855
Leeds
Yorkshire
SPENCER, Walter H Son Single M 3 1878
Leeds
Yorkshire
SPENCER, Thomas W Son Single M 2 1879
Leeds
Yorkshire
SPENCER, Albert Son Single M 0 1881
Holbeck
Yorkshire
LANGHAM, William Lodger Married M 25 1856 Cart Man
Hinsworth
Hertfordshire
LANGHAM, Susannah Lodger Married F 22 1859 Weaver Cloth
Castleford
Yorkshire

There is this marriage could be worth checking out

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page

Marriages Dec 1876 (>99%)
Haigh Sarah Ann Doncaster 9c 967
HAIGN Sarah Ann Doncaster 9c 967
Hobson Elisabeth Doncaster 9c 967
PARKS Robert Doncaster 9c 967
SPENCER William Doncaster 9c 967

1891 Address: 3, Wilkinson Row, Hunslet, Leeds
SPENCER, William Head Married M 38 1853 Coal Miner
Methley
Yorkshire
SPENCER, Elizabeth Wife Married F 36 1855
Leeds
Yorkshire
SPENCER, Walter Son M 13 1878 Bobbing Trailer Flax Mill
Leeds
Yorkshire
SPENCER, William Son M 13 1878 Bobbing Trailer Flax Mill
Leeds
Yorkshire
SPENCER, Arthur Son M 10 1881 Scholar
Leeds
Yorkshire
SPENCER, Isaac Son M 8 1883 Scholar
Leeds
Yorkshire
SPENCER, James Son M 3 1888 Scholar
Leeds
Yorkshire

Updating this thread with information which confirms the above or adds to it.

These are off familysearch.org which is free to search.

Send for this marriage cert and it will give you the fathers names and occupation.

. THOMAS SPENCER - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Marriage: 04 DEC 1839 Ledsham, Yorkshire, England
Spouse: ESTER WATSON

Bishop's transcripts for Ledsham, 1600-1884
Authors Church of England. Parish Church of Ledsham (Yorkshire) (Main Author)

Notes Microfilm of original records in the Borthwick Institute, York University York.


1. MARIANNE SPENCER - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 25 DEC 1845 Methley, Yorkshire, England

Parents:
Father: THOMAS SPENCER
Mother: ESTHER



2. JOHN SPENCER - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 06 APR 1841 Methley, Yorkshire, England

Parents:
Father: THOMAS SPENCER
Mother: ESTHER


Bishop's transcripts for Methley, 1598-1845
Authors Church of England. Parish Church of Methley (Yorkshire) (Main Author)

Notes Microfilm of mss. in the Borthwick Institute, York University York, and at the West Yorkshire Archive Service, Sheepscar, Leeds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marriages to 1832 only.


JAMES SPENCER - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 30 JUL 1843 Castleford, Yorkshire, England
Parents Thomas and Esther



. LYDIA SPENCER - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 02 SEP 1855 Normanton, Yorkshire, England

From Yorkshire Bmd:

Yorkshire Marriage indexes for the years: 1874
Surname Forename(s) Surname Forename(s) Church / Register Office Registers At Reference
SPENCER William BARKER Elizabeth Leeds Registered Building Leeds RB/56/96

Yorkshire Marriage indexes for the years: 1875
Surname Forename(s) Surname Forename(s) Church / Register Office Registers At Reference
SPENCER William HARRISON Elizabeth St Wilfrid, Calverley Leeds CE127/P/41
SPENCER William RHODES Elizabeth St Wilfrid, Calverley Leeds CE127/O/447

Yorkshire Marriage indexes for the years: 1876
Surname Forename(s) Surname Forename(s) Church / Register Office Registers At Reference
SPENCER William HOBSON Elizabeth St John the Baptist, Mexborough Doncaster CE34/69/65
SPENCER William HULLAH Elizabeth St John The Baptist and St Barnabas, Little Holbeck Leeds CE48/237

I am still trying to find out how I can prove where my Thomas Spencer born 1817 was born, as you can see from the thread, I have his marriage and also have him on census records. The census records give his place of birth as Holfeton, Dorset, which does not seem to exist. I have been contacted by another GR member who has the marriage certificate of Ester and Thomas Spencer and it states his father is John Spencer. However I can not seem to get any further than this, any ideas please.

From an email regarding the marriage certificate

I have the marriage certificate (4 Dec 1839 at All Saints Church, Ledsham) for Thomas Spencer & Ester Watson.

Ester, as we know, was 18 & the daughter of John Watson a labourer. She was living in Ledsham.

Thomas was the son of John Spencer, a waterman. His age is given as "full age". Does this mean 21? He was living in Ledstone & was a coal miner.

Just found this on ancestry which might be my Thomas

Name: Thomas Spencer
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 13 Dec 1816
Christening Date: 25 Oct 1820
Christening Place: Melcombe Regis, Dorset, England
Age at Christening: 3
Father's Name: John Spencer
Mother's Name: Mary

And it is on OPC

25 Oct 1820; Entry 820; Thomas SPENCER (Born: 13 Dec 1816) son of John & Mary Spencer (Mason)

This is from the Dorset Parish records which someone looked up for me, can anyone help with any of these queries though please,

Day: 4

Month: Dec

Year: 1839

Groom forenames: Thomas

Groom surname: SPENCER

Groom's parish: OTP

Groom's condition:

Groom's occupation:

Groom's age:

Bride forenames: Ester

Bride surname: WATSON

Bride's parish: OTP

Bride's condition:

Bride's occupation:

Bride's age:

Place: Ledsham

Description: All Saints

County: Yorkshire West Riding

Country: England

Checked: Yes

Notes: Banns
I noted 2 things from this....1st it says they are both of the parish, but 2nd it says by 'banns', which as far as I was aware meant 1 party is not of the parish?

Thanks

Victoria - you're wrong abt banns - if they're both from the same parish, then only one set of banns would be read. If they're from difft parishes, then banns would be read in each parish - actually that's an argument for getting wed by licence as if the two parishes are within the same registration district, you'ld only need to purchase one licence, rather than two sets of banns.

Many thanks MGNV, appreciate that, think my next step is to check for the banns in Dorset as well