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« on: Monday 13 May 19 20:09 BST (UK) »
Newbie here and my first post. Solomon Potter was my gggg grandfather through his son George. Apologies for resurrecting an old thread but the original post contained my own question: "Likewise Phebe's"
I recently came across a comment from another user on FamilySearch attached to Phoebe, suggesting that 'Banham' should not be the surname since it actually refers to the place of birth. I have done some digging and maintain that it is entirely plausible that she can have the same surname as her place of birth because 1) Banham as a name originates from/is highly concentrated in Norfolk 2) There are plenty of other Banhams in Banham at that time 3) The use of Banham in the registration of her child clearly refers to her maiden name when compared with other entries 4) Even if she used the name for convenience (like others might have done) due to her socio-economic situation or literacy, that is not to say that it was not what she regarded as her surname, and it is not to say that her parents did not also bear the same name for the same reasons.
Nevertheless, I feel unable to restore the name Banham to the FamilySearch profile without being able to refute the comments already made about her. I am trying in vain to find which of the Banhams in the area could have been her parents. It is not especially strange if her birth was not registered, but I would love to know if any information is out there that is not in the usual places. My current hypothesis is that her parents were James Banham and Sarah Flatt since the dates work quite well but I am now wondering if her parents were from a nearby village instead.
On a sideline, I am sure others will also have encountered the other Phoebe Banham married to John Widett also in Banham. Any ideas whether/how the two Phoebes might be related?
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Solomon is my Great Great Grandfather and I am very interested in positively identifying him as you will see from my previous posts.
I have Phoebe as being born Phoebe Banham in the parish of Banham on March 10 1812. Father Robert Banham and mother Elizabeth Humphrey who is shown on Phoebes birth registration as being a widow and again on her marriage as being a spinster so I am fairly sure I have the right couple. Phoebe is shown as being Phebe or Phabe, it is unclear but this is repeated on other documents including census docs which she always gives her place of birth as Banham.
I suspect I may have you on my family tree somewhere?