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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Bedfordshire => England => Bedfordshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: ellerydesign on Thursday 25 August 22 23:32 BST (UK)
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Can someone check for burials in Kempston parish, co. Bedford between 1750 and 1820.
Trying to find any CATER deaths between that period, specifically the deaths / burials of any John Kendal Cater's children (He was the Lord of the Manor).
He had 5 children I cannot trace who might have died between these dates - Margaret John, Robert, Elizabeth and Thomas Knowles.
Also if there is death or burial entry for him during 1778.
Many thanks.
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Burials - All Saints, Kempston:
23 Mar 1754 - Margaret Cater; dau of John (gentleman)
23 Jun 1758 - Elizabeth Cater; dau of John (gentleman); inf
16 Feb 1759 - Robert Cater; son of John (esq)
28 Mar 1761 - Thomas Knollys[1] Cater; son of John (esq); inf
12 Nov 1772 - John Cater, esq; 49
[1] Thomas Knollys is recorded as Tho Knollys on his baptism.
I can't see a burial for son John, born 25 Nov 1754.
There are some transcripts of Kempston parish records available at Internet Archive...
Bedfordshire parish registers: Kempston
https://archive.org/details/bedfordshirepari39bedf/page/n9/mode/2up
EDIT:
In case you're not aware, Beds. FHS have put their surname index online which can help identify possible parish records for individuals.
Bedfordshire Family History Society -> Surname index
https://www.bfhs.org.uk/surnameindex.html
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Looking at the will (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D434447) of the John Cater, who died 1772, he doesn't look to be the John you're looking for.
Do you have any reference for the death of your John Cater in 1778?
I assume it was his daughter, Sophia, who married Robert Sherbourne in 1796 and died in 1812. In a death notice for her, she was named as a co-heiresses of her father. Do you have the will of her father?
London Courier and Evening Gazette
02 Dec 1812
page 4
Died
- On Saturday, the 21st November,
- at Ravenhead, in Lancashire,
- Sophia,
- wife of Robert Sherbourne, Esq.,
- and one of the co-heiresses of the late John Cater, Esq.,
- of Kempston Bury, in Bedfordshire
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I'm assuming you've seen this piece from Bedfordshire Archives....
https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/Kempston/KempstonBury.aspx
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Many, many thanks cuffie81 for your very quick replies.... literally overnight.
I had presumed the earlier children had died young. Although John apparently inherited the estates and died intestate passing the estates on to the 3 youngest Sophia, Frances and Mary.
The only refs I can find state John sent died in 1778 but I can find no will or burial online.
Quote....“In 1736 the manor of Kempston Hastingsbury was inherited by Robert Kendall who later his name to Cater and who was knighted in 1738. When he died in 1739 the manor passed to Beckford Kendall Cater. In 1749 it was in the possession of his son John Kendall Cater after his marriage to Margaret Beaumont. John died in 1778 and the estate passed to his son, also called John. This latter John died intestate and the manor passed to his three sisters. One sister was called May and the other two, who were twins, were named Sophia and Frances, the very two who are said to haunt the path. In 1796 Sophia married Robert Sherbourne and Frances married the Rev. Oliph Leigh Spencer with each taking a third of the manor. In 1801 the three sisters sold the manor to William Long.”
From this I have assumed that John junior died sometime between 1778 and 1801. However I can find no details of his death at present.
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Thanks JohnP-Bedford.
Yes thanks, I have seen this and some other similar pieces which have given me some background to work on.
There is also another piece on Sophia and Frances Cater on www.lutonparanormal.com
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Looking at the will (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D434447) of the John Cater, who died 1772, he doesn't look to be the John you're looking for.
I don't know what I was doing here but I was reading the will (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D640475) of the John Cater who died 1739, rather than the one who died 1772. Hence my confusion. Sorry about that.
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No problems. It's easy to get confuses with names. I need to look at the 1772 will again as I think John Kendall Cater, the father, was born in 1723 (although I have no birth or baptism entry!) . And this would fit in with the age of death in 1772, i.e. 49. He was a son of Beckford Cater.
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Re. John Cater, the son, and brother of Sophia, Frances and Mary, have you seen the newspaper items in 1922 and 1941 about the family and John's disappearance? If not, I'll post the details.
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Hi cuffie.
No I haven't. Sounds interesting. Can you please post the link or details?? I'm interested! C
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Bedfordshire Times and Independent
28 Apr 1922
page 11
History of Kempston
The Ancient Manors
...
Bedfordshire Times and Independent
18 Aug 1922
page 5
An Interesting Letter From Japan
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Bedfordshire Times and Independent
28 Mar 1941
page 4, column 5
A Bedfordian's Diary
The Vanished Heir
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Bedfordshire Times and Independent
09 May 1941
page 6, column 5
A Bedfordian's Diary
The Carter Mystery
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Bedfordshire Times and Independent
18 Apr 1941
page 6, column 5
A Bedfordian's Diary
The Caters of Kempston
...
We're on a lookup board so can't add attachments. Bear with me while I'll upload the newspaper snippets to a 3rd party site.
EDIT:
Image links for newspaper snippets:
https://i.postimg.cc/fyQJWNzw/1922-Caters-News-Bedfordshire-Times-and-Independent-1-28-Apr-1922-lrg.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/xTYcWnp5/1922-Caters-News-Bedfordshire-Times-and-Independent-2-18-Aug-1922-med.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/3NjWdcN2/1941-Caters-News-Bedfordshire-Times-and-Independent-1-28-Mar-1941-med.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/CMbRPz7d/1941-Caters-News-Bedfordshire-Times-and-Independent-2-18-Apr-1941-med.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Yq3h7ZJH/1941-Caters-News-Bedfordshire-Times-and-Independent-3-09-May-1941-med.jpg
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Thanks very much cuffie.
That wil keep me busy for a while!!!!
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Hi Cuffie,
I've had a look through these newspaper articles, which are fascinating. So John Cater junior either died suspiciously 'at home' and was buried near his home, or died in the army in the West Indies. I tend towards the latter. It warrants a look at some West Indies ancestry sites and fh sources.
If you have access to the Kempston records, cuffie, I wonder if you would be prepared to have a look for any 17th c. Kendall baptisms and burials in that parish. John (Kendall) Cater senior (the father above) married a Margaret Beaumont. This Margaret was of the Beaumont family of Coleorton and Stoughton, co. Leics.
Margaret had a great aunt, also called Margaret Beaumont who married a John Kendall of Kempston. She was born about 1644 but I have no other details. according to a few online refs. They apparently had 3 daughters. I can find no other reference to them on Ancestry or by Googling them.
There was a Samuel Cater of Kempston Hall and Harold, Sheriff of co. Beds., who was bap. Kempston 1/3/1645, died 1704, who married an Anne Cater, daughter John Kendall of Bassingbourn, co. Cambridge. I wondered if this Anne was one of the 3 daughters of John Kendall and Margaret Beaumont??
Would you be able to have a look at the Kempston records between 1650 and 1700 to see if there is any reference to this couple and their daughters? I understand if you'd rather not.
Many thanks for your help.
Craig
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The Kempston PR transcript is available here if you want to investigate ...
https://archive.org/details/bedfordshirepari39bedf/page/12/mode/2up
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I've had a look through these newspaper articles, which are fascinating. So John Cater junior either died suspiciously 'at home' and was buried near his home, or died in the army in the West Indies. I tend towards the latter. It warrants a look at some West Indies ancestry sites and fh sources.
As curious as those stories are about the skeleton, I'd tend to agree with you, that the family most likely knew what really happened to John.
If you have access to the Kempston records, cuffie, I wonder if you would be prepared to have a look for any 17th c. Kendall baptisms and burials in that parish.
There's no Kendall baptisms and only one burial, which likely isn't related to your Kendalls.
Burials - All Saints, Kempston:
09 Nov 1793 Susan Kendal; dau. of Thomas (pauper) & Ann
As an aside, there's no Beaumont baptisms and only one burial.
Burials - All Saints, Kempston:
11 Feb 1690 Mary Beaumont; widow of Benjamin
Margaret had a great aunt, also called Margaret Beaumont who married a John Kendall of Kempston. She was born about 1644 but I have no other details. according to a few online refs. They apparently had 3 daughters. I can find no other reference to them on Ancestry or by Googling them.
There was a Samuel Cater of Kempston Hall and Harold, Sheriff of co. Beds., who was bap. Kempston 1/3/1645, died 1704, who married an Anne Cater, daughter John Kendall of Bassingbourn, co. Cambridge. I wondered if this Anne was one of the 3 daughters of John Kendall and Margaret Beaumont??
Would you be able to have a look at the Kempston records between 1650 and 1700 to see if there is any reference to this couple and their daughters? I understand if you'd rather not.
As mentioned, there's no Kendall baptisms at Kempston and only that one burial. There's a few marriages but none seem to have an obvious connection to the family you're looking for.
Marriages - All Saints, Kempston:
02 Jul 1571 Jn Kendall and Ellen Carter
06 Sep 1624 Chris Smyth and Kath Kendall
14 May 1781 Tho Kendall and Ann Radley (widower)
As mentioned on post #2, the best option for finding Beds. baptisms, marriages and burials is to start with the Beds. FHS' surname index, as it helps to quickly identify any possible records. Then use that to find the details in transcripts or scans (I don't think there's too many PR scans online though).
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Private Acts
Anno 9 Geo II (1735/36)
23. An Act to enable Robert Kendall Esquire, now called Robert Cater, and his Issue, to take and use the Surname and Arms of Cater.
Anno 23 Geo II (1749/50)
9. An Act to enable Beckford Kendall, Esq., now called Beckford Kendall Cater, and his Issue Male, to take and use the Surname of Cater.
FindMyPast Baptism (transcript only)
John Kendall, 23 Mar 1723, parents Beckford and Judith, place Broxted, Residence Moor End
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Northampton Mercury, 16 Nov 1772
A few Days ago died, in Castle-Street, Long-Acre, London, John Cater, Esq., of Kempstone, in Bedfordshire
FindMyPast burials (transcript only)
John Cater, bur 18 Oct 1772, Parish of St Botolph without Aldgate, London
Ipswich Journal, 5 May 1750
MARRIAGES - Mr John Cater, an Attorney of Kempstone-Bury, near Bedford to Miss Beaumont, Sister to Sir George Beaumont, Bt., of Great Dunmow
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Newcastle Courant, 10 Jan 1736
By the death of John Cater of Kempston in Bedfordshire, Esq., (who died last Sunday) his estate of about £1200 per Annum comes to Robert Kendall, Esq., of Cheap-Ward, a near relation.
Ipswich Journal, 13 May 1749
Robert Cater, Esq., son of the late Sir Robert Carter, Knt., and Alderman of Cheap-Ward
The death of the two Robert Caters puts Beckford Kendall in the frame - hence the 1749 name change?
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If you google "google books the letters of the late thomas rundle" it should return a searchable version - just search for cater
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A List of the Officers of the Militia of England and Wales 1878
Bedfordshire Battalionof Militia, consisting of six companies (at Southampton)
Lieut. John Cater, Date of Commission - 26 Mar 1778
There's also a John Cater, ensign in the 40th Company of Foot, April 1779
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Many thanks cuff and johnP-bedford for your reply posts and various links. I'll explore all of these.
Also thanks hanes teal for these various newspaper snippets. They're a great source of extra info to help me find out more on this family.
Best wishes, Craig
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Northampton Mercury
ISSUE OF GAMEKEEPERS' LICENCES
30 December 1786
G'keeper's Name/Abode - Holloway, John; Kempston
By whom appointed - Sophia, Frances and Mary Cater
Manors - Kempston-Greys and Kempston-Hardwicks
27 September 1800
G'keepers Name/Abode - Squire John; Kempston
By whom appointed - Robert Sherborne, Esq., Sophia his wife, Frances Spencer, widow and Mary Cater, spinster
Manors - Kempston