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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Essex => Topic started by: ard on Sunday 03 September 17 21:09 BST (UK)
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My gg grandfather Henry SMITH married my gg granmother at Halstead 1863, both residing at Mount Pleasant. I have not seen a copy of the marriage certificate but I think it may have been difficult to read.
Emma's maiden name (since she was "single" at marriage) was something along the lines of Whelms, Welham, Wilkins, Williams, or something else beginning with a W.)
Her father's name, however, was John Spurgeon, at the time of the marriage deceased, occupation "soldier."
Note: banns read 21 apr 1863 she is given as Welkens?
16 MAY 1863 Halstead, Essex, England (maybe Trinity Church)
The only thing I have linking Spurgeon with the above surnames is:
1851 Halstead, Essex Mt Pleasant 146
Stephen Spurgeon head 70 Shoemaker b.
Mary Spurgeon wife
Fred Spurgeon son um 19 labourer
Lucy Spurgeon dau um 21 Employed in factory
Maria Whelms lodger um 24 Employed in factory
Emma Whelms " 7 Employed in factory
John Whelms " 4 Employed in factory
But I would need more to link Emma Whelms to John Spurgeon!
Any ideas?
Much thanks
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Maybe she was told he was her father?
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The name on the marriage cert is WELHAMS, and the father the late John Spurgeon. Witnesses were John and Susanna Warren.
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FreeBMD has Emma's surname entered twice. One as Welham, second as Welhams.
On FreeBMD anytime any place there are only 6 entries for the surname Whelms - all in Essex and all for marriages and all males and only 1862-1870. No births or deaths.
Added _ in 1861 there is a Stripling Whelms 13 . His birth reg is Welham.
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Faint possibility for a birth reg?
March 1844, Halstead 12 144
Emma Wellens
Emma Wellars
Seems to be the same person indexed twice. Is Wellars on the new GRO index, for maiden name of mother a dash, so likely was illegitimate.
A marriage in Halstead, 1 Dec 1856, Maria Wellems and Thomas Newton
I think she might be Mary Ann Newton in 1861, but if so her age is slightly out from the Maria Whelms of 51, and she is born Suffolk. There's a 14 year old son John Newton in the household.
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1861, Halstead (piece 1110 folio 126 page 21)
Mary Spurgeon, 18, granddaughter to Mary Spurgeon, 64
Could that be Emma Whelms? (she has the same occupation as Mary Ann Newton, may not mean very much)
But it seems to be the same Mary Spurgeon from 1851 - daughter Lucy, 31, is now married to Ephraim Eley.
So it would be good if Stephen Spurgeon the shoemaker and his wife had a son John.
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So it would be good if Stephen Spurgeon the shoemaker and his wife had a son John.
Double baptism!
13 April 1830, Halstead
John and Lucy
Son of and Daughter of Stephen & Mary Spurgeon
abode Halstead
father a Shoe maker
BT is here
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YSLX-8BW?i=143&cat=494176
Among other children, they also had a son Jonathan, bap 23 August 1823
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Thank you for so many replies so quickly and all the bits of information.
I did have in my notes Emma Spurgeon as granddaughter in 1861 - so much room for error - for example, if it is my Emma, the census taker might have presumed the granddaughter's surname, or if not official, it could have been the one given
1861 Halstead Mt Pleasant (no house number) 126 p.21 (all born Halstead except Mary)
Mary Spurgeon Head Widow 66 charwoman b Colne Engaine, Essex
Ephraim Eley son in law m 27 brickmaker
Lucy Eley dau 31 crape weaver
Emma Spurgeon gr. dau um 18 crape weaver
I thought perhaps the Maria in the household in 1851 might have been Emma's unwed mother, though she would have had her fairly young if she was 24 and Emma 7.
Especially if John was baptized in 1830 he too would have been young, although a double baptism does not necessarily imply twins... John may have been born earlier and not baptized right away for lack of funds. But if he was born in 1830 - he would have only been 13 when Emma was born.
In 1841 Shephen appears to be in prison
1841 census Springfield, Essex, Springfield Gaol H0107 piece 326 book 7 p.3 line 18
(amongst others: "who abode therein on the night of Sunday, June 6" 1841)
Stephen Spurgeon 60 prisoner-shoemaker
Back to John... it is also possible that John Spurgeon wasn't actually the son of Stephen and Mary but a nephew, for example.
Trying to follow up on the Soldier occupation, findmypast had
Jno Spurgeon — — 1st Foot — Wo 23 - Royal Hospital Chelsea: Admission Books,
Sadly I'm not a paying member so I have no idea if there is connection.
I think Welham(s) might be the likeliest surname. I can imagine how it would sound a lot likes Whelms if said a certain way...
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1841 census shows a John Spurgeon 15 (i.e. bc.1822-1826) who I think could be the Jonathan baptised in 1823.
Stephen and Mary has children baptised 1821, 1823, 1827, 1828, 1829, 1830 (2) and 1833. I suspect the John bp'd 1830 died.
Annette
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Especially if John was baptized in 1830 he too would have been young
Yes, sorry. Brain switched off then! But Jonathan may be a possibility perhaps.
If Emma's father was ever a soldier, there are a couple of John Spurgeons - but no Jonathan - in the British Army 1851 Worldwide Index. But was he still alive then? If he died when he was in the army, there would be no pension record.
John
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There is an army record for a John Spurgeon b Halstead abt 1847 invalided out in 1873. Could he be the John Whelms age 4 in 1851, following in his natural father's footsteps?
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And there is a birth reg for a Jonathan Welham in Halstead reg district Q2 1847, but no John Spurgeon at that time
The John Sturgeon in the army record attested on 6 Oct 1866 aged 18 5/12, which would make dob abt May 1848. Is a 1 year mistake in age possible?
added
GRO index has Welham as Williams, dash for mmn, so possibly illegitimate
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Thank you all for your responses. I've not really been able to follow up as I broke my right arm over the weekend and the cast will be on for a few weeks yet. Kind of gets in the way of most things that need doing! I appreciate the time you have taken and I will eventually again be able to indulge in one of my favourite pastimes! Thanks again