Sarah FIRTH m Joseph GAUNT - Kirkburton - births records - 1729

[Wiggy]

Hello,

I am using FindMyPast . . . . .  (I suspect Ancestry is better for Yorkshire records, but I don't have subs there.)

I have found a marriage by licence record for Sarah FIRTH of Kirkburton marrying Joseph GAUNT of Denby at Kirkburton 17 Jun 1729.  We believe this to be 'ours'

When trying to find a birth for this Sarah, I turn up two pages of possibilities, and am lost as I don't know which towns are most likely to be reasonable in 1729.

For the birth of Joepsh Gaunt, all the possibles in the time frame seem to be in Calverley . . . but we believe our GAUNTs stayed pretty close to the farm in Denby  - so a bit stuck there too.  We believe his father was Joshua.

Is there anyone who can assist please? 
My West Yorkshire geography isn't great, but I am thinking one  FIRTH birth in Hemsworth might be a likely place - in 1703 (I think.)  I can't find any births within a reasonable time frame for Kirkburton . .  though there is one for a generation earlier I think - 1680.   I reckon she'd be too old for the marriage and subsequent having of children in 1729!!!

Hoping this isn't too massive an ask.

Wiggy     

[LizzieL]

FindMyPast has transcription of licence it says she was 25 and he was 35. I hope that it accurate and the original did not say "upwards of ..." as some tend to do. that might narrow it down. Also Sarah was a spinster so Firth should be her birth name.

[Wiggy]

Thank you very much  Lizzie   

 - I couldn't see that - just the fact that they were married and that he was a bachelor and she a spinster.  At least that gives me some idea of dates to look for births.

  After more looking I have found that - Thanks for the nudge!   


Wiggy 

[LizzieL]

She was from Leak hall
This mentions Leak Hall, John Firth and the Quakers

https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/leisure/countryside/pdf/routes/DenbyDaleVillageTrail.pdf

[Wiggy]

Thanks - will have a look at that link . .

Been back trying to find a birth that fits - certainly some families around there with very biblical names.  How far is Burghwallis from where the marriage took place - or from Denby for that matter?

There is one Sarah Firth birth in 1704 in Hartshead Cum Clifton . . is that far away?  Could she have moved to Kirkburton as a servant maybe?  Is the distance feasible?

Can't find any GAUNT births for Joseph either  other than in Calverley - but I believe Ancestry has better coverage of Yorkshire parishes  -  I think our man was born in Denby or Stubbings.   The age given for the family we are pretty sure is right puts his age out though . . . very tricky! 

I have written to and received a reply from Borthwick Archives who will copy and send me the 'licence agreement' for the marriage if I order it.  Have you had any experience with these documents - are they helpful?

[Wiggy]

Reading that link it would seem that Sarah is more likely to be one of the family of Leak Hall than one of the servants wouldn't it?

[LizzieL]

Yes I think she would be one of the Leak Hall family. If the first John Firth was born at Leak Hall in 1597, she would be 3 or 4 generations later.
I've found a diary of Joseph Wood - a Yorkshire Quaker. There are a lot of reference to Firths in the locality (High Flatts and Shepley) in 1811 /12.  They may not be connected, but could be descendents of the first John Firth and the family had remained Quakers through the generations.
Why do people of full age coming from what was probably the same parish, looking at relative positions of Leak Hall and Denby, get a licence to marry elsewhere? Perhaps they wanted a quick, quiet wedding because Sarah's Quaker family would not approve of her marrying someone from another denomination.

[Calverley Lad]

Got it in one Lizzie!
Anyone marrying out of the the Quaker faith were completely ostracised.
[Family could have been included]
 Brian

[Wiggy]

Well that is interesting - thanks for that insight!

   I am pretty sure the Gaunts were Anglican for just about ever.    Why were the  Quakers so against marrying outside their ranks?  I mean I know Jewish people become persona non grata, but that is changing religion.  Quakers are still Christian.

Now to find their two births!