RootsChat.Com

How likely is it that a widower would be described as a single man in the marriage register?

In the transcripts of Diss parish registers on FreeReg, there is an entry for the death of Mary, wife of Moses Levi age 24.

6 years later Moses Levi marries Frances Fuller but is described as a single man and otp
The ages match for Mary to have been a previous wife

I would have thought that in a small place like Diss it would have been known that Moses was a widower? Its not as if Moses Levi is such a common name you could envisage more than one of them in a Norfolk village.

The only other scenario is that Moses' father (so far untraced) was also called Moses and took himself a wife younger than his grown-up son

So which is more likely?

I have long been curious to know the reason for Great-Uncle Will's birthplace:

My great-grandfather was born in Barnsley but later moved to Liverpool, where he met & married a local girl in 1876

In 1877/8 their first child was born in Liverpool

In 1879 their second child was born in Bedminster, Bristol

By 1881 census the family was back in Liverpool

The family then moved again and their remaining 3 children were born in the Birmingham area

I would love to know why they were in Bristol for the birth of their 2nd child, but I doubt i ever will find out.

What odd event in your tree sparks off your curiosity?

I am looking for any info - burial place, MIs , Obit etc for William Wainwright who died in Malton Ireland 5 july 1813

He was an Englishman in the employ of Earl Fitzwilliam.

His obit in a British newspaper states:

After a long indispostion, on the 5th instant, at Malton in Ireland, Wm Wainwright Esq aged 74, a man who by merit obtained the agency over the immense estates belonging to that highly respected character the Marquis of Rockingham, in this kingdom, and in which capacity he has been retained by Earl Fitzwilliam to the time of his death

Any help on where to start looking greatly appreciated!

Back in about 1900, my gr-grandfsther drew up a family tree, after a query from one of his sons. As he was quickly jotting down names & events from the previous 100+ years there are inevitably mistakes (for instance, he left out a whole generation!) but in general outline his tree has been a good basis for further investigation.

Next to one name, William George Wainwright he has noted:
"Died bachelor. Secretary to Earl Fitzwilliam. Managed estates in Ireland during Irish Rebellion"

Now this particular William was born 1805 (some years after the Irish rebellion of the 1790's) and did marry a widow, but had no children of his own. His father was John - the missing generation on the original tree.

In the Gales newspaper index I have found an obituary that gives a tantalising glimpse that there might be some truth in the notation, albeit for a different William of a couple of generations earlier.
In the Hull Packet for  Tues 20th July 1813 there is an obit for a William Wainwright, who died age 74. Other words in the "keywords in context" snippet are Irish estates, Marquis of Rockingham, Earl..

I have checked the West Riding records on Ancestry and found a William Wainwright born in 1739 in Royston who had a brother Thomas born 1727, which matches the estimated birthdate of the Thomas who is my earliest proven ancestor.


So, my question is: how can i find out more about the secretary to Earl Fitzwilliam?

I don't know if my local library service (Derbyshire) has a subscription to Gales -- will be paying them a visit to ask tomorrow!

My Needhams lived for centuries in a group of farms in Hartington Upper Quarter, Derbyshire. Within a mile or so of the farms are the borders of Staffordshire & Cheshire, so events can take place in any of the counties.

I am certain of the line back to Joseph bn 1808 son of James & Mary.
I have the extended family back from the mid-1700's to the early 1600s

It is James that i am stuck on! For several years I thought i had him sorted untill recently i found a will that threw a spanner in the works!

Known facts:
according to census info James was born about 1780 in Derbyshire, and Mary was born about 1782 Staffordshire. In 1841 & 1851 they are at Far Barn, Flash, Longnor Staffs
Most probable marriage is 17 Dec 1807 Hartington James Needham & Mary Bestwick
Children of James & Mary are: Joseph 1808, James 1813, Thomas 1815, Robert 1817 (died 1834) Dolly 1819, John 1824 all bpt Flash Quarnford Staffs

I have recently found a will of Sarah Wardle (1850) who names her brothers James Needham and Robert Needham and also the children of her brother James - all the ones I have found plus a Sarah.
Robert is listed as unmarried, born in Hartington in the h/h of nephew James jnr in 1861

I am struggling to find a group of Needham siblings that include Sarah James & Robert or a Sarah daughter of James & Mary

In the previous generation there is Joseph, who names brothers Cornelius of Hartington, Ralph & Robert of Liverpool and Ralph's son Joseph.

Robert in Liverpool does have a daughter Sarah but not sons James & Robert that i have found
Family Search has a bpt of a James son of Robert & Elizabeth in Macclesfield in 1782 which almost fits - but Robert was in Liverpool by 1777 and Cheshire Par reg project has transcribed the name as John, not James

Can anyone help untangle this family ?