James HAYTER baptised 1761 at Gillingham

[handyman]

I am descended from James HAYTER who, according to his age at death was born in 1757, however the only possible one seems to be James HAYTER baptised in 1761 at Gillingham to William HAYTER and Jane PITMAN.  Is there anyone out there who has connections to this James HAYTER?  There was a suggestion that he had a church bell dedicated to him.

[nanny jan]

Hi,

Welcome to RootsChat. 

You might find the Dorset OPC site useful:

http://www.opcdorset.org/


Nanny Jan

[handyman]

Thanks Nanny Jan, I have looked through most of what is on the Dorset OPC and have visited the Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset record offices over the years but have yet to find a James HAYTER born 1757 who fits the bill.  The nearest is the James HAYTER born in Shaftsbury in 1759 but he is traceable and is clearly not my James who went on to marry Catherine LEAR in Gillingham in 1784.
I am therefore stuck at present with James Hayter baptised in 1761 - this is, of course, if the age of my James at death is correct!!

[nanny jan]

He does seem like the best option; ages at death at that time can be guesswork!

[LMFAO]

You have probably seen the marriage record of James and Catherine in the course of your research. As one of the witnesses was a Thomas Hayter have you gone down the root of seeing if  he was possibly his brother ? Brothers and sisters were quite often witnesses. Might give you a lead.

[handyman]

Thanks LMFAO,
This is my trump card if I find a possible James HAYTER match; does he have a brother Thomas?
Unfortunately the James born in 1761 to William and Jane does not seem to have a brother Thomas. Of course, with so many HAYTER families in and around Gillingham at that time it might not be a brother or even any relation at all.  There is one Thomas HAYTER in neighbouring Silton which I thought might be a possible, but he does not seem to have a brother James!! So currently back to square one!!!

[LMFAO]

Have you tried this only as a possible link?
I seen James had a daughter Dinah.
28 Mar 1752 Diana Pitman married George Green in Gillingham perhaps sister to his mother?
The Thomas Hayter from Silton I think is a Red Herring he may have been a friend but not a relation. I cannot see any family link there.

[handyman]

Hi again LMFAO,
I did try this line of enquiry - James' wife Catherine LEAR I believe came from Silton and was the daughter of Thomas Leir and Quirina Thomas baptised in 1761. (Their first daughter Catherine baptised in 1759 died the same year. (LEAR seems to be spelt LEAR, LEIR and LIER) There is also a Dinah LEAR baptised in 1771 at Silton to a Thomas and Mary LEAR which I suspect is a relation of Catherine and therefore the name DINAH has probably come from her side of the family. Still, nothing is certain so I try to keep and open mind on the issue.