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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Huntingdonshire => Topic started by: yelkcub on Tuesday 04 June 13 20:08 BST (UK)
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This is the first piece of my research involving Huntingdonshire. I am looking for a relative born in or close to 1825. Family tradition has it that she was illegitimate. Can someone familiar with the area let me know which parish registers I ought to consult to see if I can find her birth record? Again, so far reliable family legend (in Australia) believes her father to have been a Montagu of Kimbolton, and her mother to have been a member of the castle staff. Her name at marriage was given as Susan Elizabeth Allen - though it is possible she also had the name Muriel. If someone can suggest possible parishes, if possible indicating whether transcripts are available, I would be most grateful. Ian in Cornwall
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I would start with Kimbolton, whose PR has not been transcribed. The BTs have been filmed by the LDS so are available to order and view at your nearest LDS Family History Centre
David
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Thanks for the suggestion, David, much appreciated - I'll put the BT on my to-do list. Do any of the reference libraries in the Kimbolton area have local studies sections / resources? IAN
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Not a clue. I live in France!
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Eh bien, vous avez de la chance! Thanks for your reply, and good luck with your own research
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I was at Huntingdon Records Office on Saturday, and some of my enquiries were based on Kimbolton. I also live about 15 miles from Kimbolton, and know the area well.
The first problem you have with Kimbolton is that the registers have been very badly damaged by water. The archivists are working on digitising them, but even highly experienced palaeographers have great difficulty working with them. At present they have a part-finished draft transcript available, but it is patchy in its coverage because some of the entries are just impossible to read now.
The second problem you have is that Kimbolton is right by the county boundary with both Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire. And some of the neighbouring villages have been handed to and fro between the different counties like a hot potato.
The third problem you have is that none of these counties' parish records are yet fully available in digital format, so you are not going to be able to do your searches online.
HOWEVER, the parishes near Kimbolton are:
Huntingdonshire
Tilbrook
Catworth
Stow Longa
Easton
Grafham
Perry
Great Staughton
Northamptonshire
Newton Bromswold
Higham Ferrers
Rushden
Chelveston
Stanwick
Raunds
Hargrave
Bedfordshire
Eaton Socon
Little Staughton
Pertenhall
Swineshead
Dean
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Many thanks for your detailed reply, which for the moment I'll keep on file. The illegitimate girl I mentioned in my initial posting could have been born anywhere. Australian records give her birthplace as Cheltenham, but an exhaustive search of all likely parish records near Cheltenham have drawn a blank. If the family legend is true, then her mother would have been employed in one of the Montagu residences: the family had a town house in London where, I would imagine the successive dukes spent much of their time - as well as their Huntingdonshire seat. I think Susan Elizabeth Allen was sent to live in Cheltenham soon after her birth, the Duke having settled her mother comfortably in a town which was, in those days, full of transients and respectable lodging houses. Just guessing at this stage. One of these days I'm sure I shall visit the Kimbolton area, and make use of the information you have kindly given to me. Best wishes
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When/where/who did she Marry?
Ah see it was James Page.
Do you have the M/C?
No extra info on her Death Cert?
Trish :)
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Hello Trish -
You are right - this continues to be a long and difficult search. Susan Elizabeth Allen did, as you say, marry James Page in Adelaide, having followed him out to South Australia one year after James arrived. She travelled as 'Mrs Page' and it is clear that the marriage had been agreed before James embarked from England. I don't possess the actual certificates, but Australian relatives have sent me the information contained in both: in SA at the time the bride's father's name was not included in the marriage registration. It was from her death certificate that we learned that she was born 1825, Cheltenham (though we are tending to question the place of birth). According to family tradition, James and Susan were a loving and devoted couple during their long marriage. Best wishes IAN
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If the Australian sources give Cheltenham, and you think it was actually near Kimbolton, then if I were you I'd start my search at Chelveston!
Would you like me to see if I can find anything next time I go to Northampton record office?
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Good morning jbml. I like your suggestion, that Chelveston could have been the birthplace of Susan Elizabeth Allen, and I'm so grateful for your offer to look at the relevant PR to see if there is a trace of her. As I've written before, the birth year recorded on her death certificate was 1825, though of course that may not be spot-on accurate. It's possible too that she was christened under a different surname, though I would have thought that her Christian name would be genuine. Please don't spend too long, during your visit to the Northants RO, on this enquiry - but I'll be fascinated in your findings. Good luck with your own researches.
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Hi All.
carol8353 directed me here, thanks Carol. ;D
We have the Alan Clarke indexes for Northants for our County so easy to
look up for you Ian.
No baptisms that I can see that would fit under Susan-Elizabeth or Muriel Allen.
Sandy
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There are quite a few resources on line for the County of Northants
on my Useful Links below posting.
So James Page married Susan in Adelaide in 1851.
Obviously the tree on Anc**** has been looked at where the family
are noted as Hogg.
Sandy
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There is only one baptism in Chelveston for a surname of Allen
which is in 1835 and not the one you are looking for Ian.
There is no baptism for any one called Susan/Susan Elizabeth/Muriel
in the village with an un-married mother or County come to that.
Sandy
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These records are for the Church of England.
Are we aware of what religion Susan was.?
Sandy
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HI again.
This link might help to note what archives Huntingdon Record Office have.
http://www.ancestor-search.info/CRO-Huntingdonshire.htm
Sandy
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Hi Sandy -
sorry to have been so long in acknowledging your replies - for which I thank you. I had been in touch with the Huntingdonshire RO - they were very friendly and interested in my research, but could really only suggest a visit to examine their extensive collection of papers relating to the Manchesters. quite a hike from my home in west Cornwall, but I'm planning a trip to that part of England in the new year, and will do my best to fit in a visit to Huntingdon. I'm sure Susan Elizabeth was C of E - her wedding in Adelaide was Anglican, and her husband was christened in an Anglican church. The A*** tree belongs to a relative of mine (our Page grandfathers were brothers) and, though we've never met we have collaborated for some time in our Page researches. My grandfather's grandfather died very young in London of consumption; the James Page who married Susan Elizabeth was one of his brothers. Best wishes IAN