Genealogy Chat

Other than bin the lot???? Any suggestions as to where I should now look would be appreciated because I have come to a full stop. see below. Ann glos

I spent three and a half hours today at Taunton Record office, two months ago I spent another three and a half hours. Each time I was looking for the birth of HANNAH JENNINGS c1788. every census she is in gives N Petherton as her birth place and she was married at N Petherton to John Warner in1809. I have looked at parish records for Durston, (and B Transcripts), N Curry, N Newton, Lyng, Chedzoy, Durleigh, Taunton St James, Taunton St Marys, N Petherton, N Petherton presbyterian, Goathurst, St Michael Church, Thurloxton, Creech st Michael, Wembdon. I am pretty certain that her Mother was Marianne (or Mary Ann) Jennings because they are together in the 1841. I am completely stuck now and would so appreciate any help at all. Thanks for listening!! Ann Glos

Any clues from the witnesses at her marriage? Did she by chance have another later marriage after 1837, therefore showing a father's name hopefully. ........I managed to sort out one of my JONES girls because of a later marriage and subsequent checks in parish registers. I do sympathise. I have searched for a Henry born in Beaulieu, c. 1813, for years. Like you, I have an idea of his parent but proof rather than circumstantial evidence would be SO welcome. Gwyn

Unfortunately no witnesses given on the marriage and she didn't marry again either. I suspect i will just give up on her now. I might just ask on the other site as well. Ann Glos

Keep on trying. For over 15 years I have been looking for Sarah Holt, who alleged in every census after her marriage that she was born at Holme-on-Spalding Moor, or Harswell. Nothing in PR (am tired of reading that after several attempts) nothing on IGI, census no help.) My latest theory is that she was actually baptised at North Ferriby, as were about 6 siblings, all illegitimate offspring of Ruth Holt. With a bit more digging, it now seems likely that it was Ruth Holt, the mother, who was actually bp at Holme-on-Spalding-Moor. Thankyou Sarah, but perhaps she was asked 'Well, where did your family come from?' - If her husband was asked first, he had travelled up to Yorkshire from Norfolk, so I suppose she could have been asked if she had come from there too, rather than a straightforward 'Where were you born'? Poor Sarah has been shelved so many times, it's a wonder she never fell off the back. Isn't life fun? Jay

No witnesses??....or none that seem relevant? I believe witnesses were shown many years before Hannah's marriage. I have them on a 1792 marriage printout. Gwyn

Who was the informant of Marianne's death? Just hopefully it might say Hannah WARNER, daughter. Gwyn

That is the other problem, I have so far collected 3 wrong certs looking for Marianne's death (her age was given as 95 in the 1841!) I will have a look again at the marriage for witnesses. Ann Glos

I think that adult ages are rounded on the 1841, not sure whether it is up or down. There are a number of Ann Jennings christenings in the Bath, Somerset area for 1788 and 2 years either side on the IGI, not sure if you have seen them.

thanks Carol, i will take a look at that then. 1841 is rounded down to nearest 5 years. Ann Glos

I had a look carol and of that group there are actually only 2 different people. I am almost certain that she was not born in Bath (even though that one has a mother called Mary), and it is not the one from Pitminster I know about her. Anyway, thanks for trying. Ann Glos

I have a lot of North Petherton ancestors. However many of mine were actually living in and born in Moorland aka Northmoor Green or Fordgate. This area didn't get its own chapel until the 1860s so they had to use the church in North Petherton before but for some of them the main church was too high church. For census purposes they usually put North Petherton. North Petherton is very close to the town of Bridgwater and several other villages and hamlets you haven't mentioned. It's always possible that your ancestor was baptised in her mother's home parish even if she was born in and lived in North Petherton. Best of luck ..........in general the North Petherton records are in very good condition and well kept. In the main library in Taunton upstairs in the Family History section there is a printed transcript of the North Petherton records..........handy if there are bits you are finding hard to read. Best wishes Sue (living in Somerset near North Petherton!)

Hi Ann I had a look on the 1841 but I cant see any Jennings living with John and Hannah Warner in N Petherton. What am I missing? Lyla Update - have found Marianne in Durstan with another Hannah Warner. Are you certain this is your Hannah instead of the one in N Petherton?

No proof yet but looking at the IGI the other Jennings being born around the same time as yours are the children of William Jennings and Mary Ann Winn. They married 04 MAR 1776 North Petherton, Somerset, England I would guess your Hannah is probably another of their children. You can go back more generations with the Winns if they are yours. I can't see any very early Jennings in North Petherton but the Winns go way back. Look at Batch Number: P002591and Batch Number: M002591 Sue

Also, what other churches where in the area? Gospell Hall, Methodist, etc. Perhaps see if there are any Non-conformist records for the areas. It's also possible that she wasn't baptised :O

Lyla, i am pretty sure this is my Hannah Warner in Durston - sorry forgot to mention she was there in 1841 (Hannah Webber is her daughter) My Gt Gt grandfather Robert Warner ( her son) is also in Durston and she moves in with him by the 1851. I think the other Hannah Warner is not a widow, husband John Cordwainer is still living. (The N Peth one in 1841). It is all very confusing as there are two Hannah and John Warners, We have unravelled the families (there is someone in Oz who is descended from the other one), originally the families were all mixed until I viewed the baptisms and luckily mine is a labourer and their is a cordwainer. thanks for you help, any ideas are much appreciated, Ann Glos

next time I make the journey down I intend looking at the independant churches in Bridgewater. And maybe the Parish registers as ell. I ran out of time. A lot of the small hamlets around N Peth didn't have individual registers at that time (1788), i did check out Northmoor Green, W Newton, Hedging, Shearston and Adsburgh but no registers, they all came under N Petherton. Somebody mentioned Moorland, strangely my OH's Gt Gt Gt grandparents lived there in 1851. I had not realised that both our ancestors originated in North petherton until recently. Strange because OH was born and grew up in Devon and I was born and grew up in Hampshire. Ann Glos