Bird family from Berkhampstead,Herts.

[corinthian]

Hi,

I have an ancestor,John Bird,born in Berkhampstead,Herts in or around 1730,possibly to a John & Frances Bird.

John Bird married Sarah Flint in 25/11/1751. On 13/11/1857 John Bird married a Sarah Shaw. Does anyone know if this is the same John Bird,marrying two different Sarahs, or two different John Birds?

I have ordered a copy of the marriage register for John Bird & Sarah Shaw in the hope that it will state John's status at the time of this marriage.

My direct ancestor,Ann Bird,was christened 30/07/1758 so it is possible that she was a daughter of John Bird & Sarah Shaw not,as I originally thought,John Bird & Sarah Flint.  I have also noticed, via the HCC site,that a William Shaw probably took on John's son as an apprentice 12/11/1774 (John jnr was born 1760). Could William Shaw be a relation?

I really hope it is two different John Birds because I have carried out quite a lot of research on my Flint family & it is now quite possible I should have been looking at the Shaw family! 

Regards

Coreen

[groom]

If he was born in 1730, he can't possibly be the same man who married in 1857! That would make him 127, or was that a typo?

[corinthian]

Hi,

Sorry a typo - John Bird married Sarah Shaw 13/11/1757.

Regards

Coreen

[shirl100]

Just having a quick look at familysearch. It does look like there are 2 John Birds and Sarahs as there is a baptism before John and Sarah Shaw's marriage in 1757 - John Bird b 30 March 1754, bap 31 March 1754 Great Berkhampstead parents John and Sarah (from parish registers). https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J94F-SC3

So there are either 2 couples or maybe Sarah Flint died and John remarried Sarah Shaw? Something to check out perhaps. If the latter applies then there should be a burial for John b 1754 as your John is shown as bapt in 1760

Shirl

[corinthian]

Hi Shirl,

Coincidentally I am going to visit Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies today so will have a look for any burials of an infant John Bird from 30 March 1754-1760 and an adult Sarah Bird from 1754-1757.

Regards

Coreen

[shirl100]

Hi Shirl,

Coincidentally I am going to visit Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies today so will have a look for any burials of an infant John Bird from 30 March 1754-1760 and an adult Sarah Bird from 1754-1757.

Regards

Coreen

Hope you have a good visit, let us know how you get on

Shirl

[corinthian]

Hi Shirl,

I did Visit HALS yesterday and was partially successful.

I found the death of 'Sarah,the wife of John Bird, who was buried 12/02/1756'. I think that this must be Sarah nee Flint, who John had married 25/11/1751.   I also found the birth of their son John,born 30/03/1754 (and baptised 31/03/1754),but was unable to trace the record for his death.

I think that the widowed John went on to marry Sarah Shaw 13/11/1757. One of the witnesses to this marriage was a William Flint, possibly a brother to the deceased Sarah. 

A William Shaw,'Capenter & Joiner of Woburn,Beds'took on an apprentice 'John Bird of Berkhamsted, son of John Bird', 12/11/1774, presumably the John Bird who was born to John Bird & Sarah Shaw in 1760.  I think that that John Bird went on to marry a Sarah Cozens 07/07/1787. Witness to that marriage was also William Flint - the signatures are the same.

Frustratingly I could not trace the death of either John Bird snr or his second wife,Sarah but John Bird jnr probably died in May 1826, aged 64 (should be 65??).

I would have liked more time but had to leave to catch the last bus!

Regards

Coreen   

[shirl100]

At least the theory of Sarah Flint dying seems to have good evidence now - there is never enough time in the records office! Good luck with your research.

Shirl

[corinthian]

Hi Shirl,

Thanks for your interest.

Regards

Coreen