Genealogy Chat

Hi, I just received a marriage cert. today and grooms father is Worthy Watts. I have not come across this first name before and wondered if it has Quaker origins. Sylvia.

Sylvia Yes, it could be Quaker, but equally well might not be! It could be a family surname used as a first name. Or it could indicate that his family were non-conformists. Merry is the Quaker expert on these boards though. OC

Thank you for your reply Old Crone. I expect Merry is doing Saturday chores (as I should be!) She might reply later. Thanks again Sylvia.

My name's Paul.... I am not Worthy!

lol! ''Expert'' is hardly the word!! ''Worthy'' is not a name I would associate with Quakers (but doesn't mean he wasn't one!) - maybe it was an ancestors surname? When researching Quaker families I have never come across any particular names in greater use than in other families. Though I don't seem to have any called George, but maybe that's a fluke? Lots of Mary and Josephs (!) and the usual smattering of other first names: Ann, Elizabeth, Sarah, Lydia, Hannah, etc and Thomas, William, Samuel, Frederick, Henry etc. No fancy Old testament names such as Ephraim or Kerenheppuch, though I do have one Job! Surnames are equally ambiguous.....Many might say these names are Quaker.....Fry, Cadbury, Barclay, Rutter, Rowntree and Tuke, but equally, having one of those names doesn't make one a Quaker! Merry

Chores???????!! lol Merry

Funny you should say that about names Merry x My mums mum's family (my nanna) were all Quakers too theres a lot of Samuel's Williams Henry Joseph John's throughout (even got cousins named that too lol) Last name of Fox tho (strange though Cadburry chocolate foxes glaciar mints lol) makes ya wonder where some of these names come from dont it. Angie xxx

Angie.....I don't know about Fox, but have you get back to pre-1837 on your Quaker line? If they were Quaker at that date and before, then you will have a great time........the Quaker records are MUCH more helpful than most other denominations! Whereabouts did they come from? Merry

Hi Merry xxxxx They came from a gorgeous little village in Leicestershire called Wymeswold. Managed to get back to the 17th century for that side of my family. Even went to Wymeswold a few weeks ago to have a look round the village (amazingly some of thier houses are still there!!!!!! ) its a really gorgeous place. Is there a special Quakers website Merry? Angie xxxx

Not really. There's the Quaker Family History website, but it's only recently got a newer bunch of people running it and up to now the website has not been a great deal of help. There are some Q entries on the IGI, but not a lot. I have bought fiche for various Quaker Meetings.....Oxfordshire (Banbury Meeting and Witney Meeting) and a small part for Bristol.......I was just wondering if by some chance yours came from the same places as mine! but seems like they didn't :o(( Merry

Sylvia, The Quaker hq is Friends House 173-177 Euston Road, London, very near Euston Station. It is open to non-Quakers, but you will need a letter of recommendation from a person of standing in your community to use the library. See their website (www.quaker.org.uk) and be sure to read the library rules if you are thinking of going there. The website is very informative and includes an outline of the sort of genealogical records and indexes which they hold. I had occasion to go to their library many years ago and found them very helpful and.... well, friendly!!! Roger

Darlington, Co Durham was a strong Quaker town, most of it was built by them. I use to live next door to the Quaker Graveyard and Friends Meeting House. Very interesting headstones and anyone is welcome. Jean