James Stocker, a poor child of St Neots

[Galium]

James Stocker was probably born in 1771.  I have a copy of documents which show that he was apprenticed to a cordwainer in St Neots in May 1789, bound until he reached the age of 24, which was in 1795.  He is described only as "a poor child of St Neots", and no parents are mentioned.

Does anyone know whether James would have to have been born in St Neots for the church wardens and overseers to have arranged the apprenticeship for him? 

There is no baptism for a James Stocker (or anyone else with that surname) at the parish church in St Neots for the whole of the 18th C.  He later married in St Neots and then settled in Eaton Socon, where he had his children baptised at the parish church - so he does not seem to have been a non-conformist.  He died in 1825, so there are no census clues to his birthplace.

Is there anywhere nearby that he might have been baptised that would be near enough for him to come under the care of the parish of St Neots?

[magslote]

Hello do you know the name of the cordwainer, it was  William Andrews, do you have the following
imfo,
ref HP73/18/1
Calm ref no KHP73/18/1
St Neots Parish Church
Title Scrap book entitled Churchwardens St Neots, Sundry Papers.
Discription  Extra large volume containing, Settlement, Bastardy  and App papers
arranged in chronological order by C.F.Tebbutt
Date 1656-1811.
Records at Huntingdonshie Archives.Margaret.

[Galium]

That is the document I have, but thank you for taking the time to read my message, and look for information..

[magslote]

Hello, William Andrews, may have left a Will, if so, perhaps James Stocker
was mentioned?? do you think James may have been born in the local Workhouse.?
Margaret.

[Galium]

Thanks. I think if he had been born in the workhouse/poorhouse, he would still have been baptised at St Mary's.
Good thinking about William Andrews' will. The Cambridge Archives site seems to be down at the moment, but I will try later.