Harpers in Wiltshire

[Hi-TowerUK]

John Harper married Hannah Waldron on 13 October 1814 in Ogbourne St Mary, Wiltshire. I know a little about Hannah, but have nothing at all on John Harper. As John is my great (x3) grandfather, I am really keen to identify exactly who he was and who his parents were. I think he was a shepherd from Wroughton, Wiltshire and he would have been born around the 1790s (a guess based on his wife's date of birth!).

I appreciate this is a big ask, but if anyone can throw any light on him, I would be delighted!!

Cheers
Roger

[CaroleW]

Hi

The 1851 census has a John Harper b 1819 married to Hannah b 1821 - both b Wroughton.  Is this the son of the John & Hannah you are looking for?

[Hi-TowerUK]

It is. John and Hannah had a son called John and he also married a Hannah. This would be the one you found in 1851. His mother (Hannah, née Waldron) died in 1825 and so dad John would have been either a widower or he possibly re-married.

What seems to be difficult is finding who John (snr) was.

Cheers
Roger

[CaroleW]

Are you sure you have the right John Harper/Hannah marriage?  Did you get Hannah's maiden name from one of their childrens birth certs?

The reason I ask is that the 1841 has 2 entries for a John Harper living in Wroughton.  One is unmarried aged 20 and a brother Jonas is shown with him whilst the other was aged 22 and is married to Hannah with an 8mth old daughter Sarah which does not fit with a marriage in April 1841.  Both John’s are agricultural labourers

There is a December 1840 marriage for a John Harper to either Hannah Noice or Hannah Futcher

[Hi-TowerUK]

I'm 98% sure! yes. The 1841 census has Sarah Harper, aged 1 month, not 8 months. Also, the Harpers family are living "next door" to Hannah's Jerome family.

Cheers
Roger

[keyboard86]

Hi as an aside, how do you know John Harper snr was born Wroughton, as I have located at least 2 baptisms  c 1790 Wiltshire, but not Wroughton that is even accounting for the fact he may have been outside the county?

Keyboard86

[Hi-TowerUK]

At his marriage to Hannah Waldron, the parish record indicates John Harper of Wroughton married Hannah Waldron, of this parish (married in Ogbourne St Mary).

[keyboard86]

Hi but surely all that means is John was in the Wroughton area at time of marriage, not that he was born there?
But I could be wrong!

Keyboard86