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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Berkshire => England => Berkshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Deb Clark Rennie on Sunday 11 March 18 07:12 GMT (UK)

Title: Simmons/Simmonds Abingdon Berkshire
Post by: Deb Clark Rennie on Sunday 11 March 18 07:12 GMT (UK)
Hoping to get some help with my 3 x great grandmother Mary Simmons born 1804 in Abingdon Berskshire according to census records.  She married Henry Whitchurch in 1825 he was a bookmaker. 

I think I have worked out who her parents are as on the 1861 census her brother James Simmons is living with the family.  I believe she is the daughter of William and Susannah Simmons and although I've been able to find some of her siblings baptisims I've yet to find hers.

I have also DNA matched to another descendant of the Simmons family so I know I'm on the right track I just haven't been able to find her baptisim.  I also think that earlier generations may have gone by Simmonds it seems perhaps the d was dropped at some point.

William Simmons her father was also a bootmaker.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Blessings
Deb
Title: Re: Simmons/Simmonds Abingdon Berkshire
Post by: Kimbrey on Sunday 11 March 18 11:51 GMT (UK)
Deb

Which church were the baptisms you found done at?

I have only managed to find this one at St Helens Abingdon
14 Aug 1803-Mary Ann SIMMONDS d William & Susan of St Nicholas'

Kim
Title: Re: Simmons/Simmonds Abingdon Berkshire
Post by: Deb Clark Rennie on Sunday 11 March 18 12:43 GMT (UK)
The younger 3 were all baptised here (see below) Mary and another brother William are two I haven't found.  I wondered if Mary being born earlier perhaps different church the one you found looks to be about right?

James is the brother I found living with her and her husband Henry Whitchurch on the 1861 census.  I then found this baptisim for James and two others Sussana  and Thomas. 

Mary named her first daughter Susan so I presumed this to be the right family. I found William and Susan (the parents) then living in St Ebbe with another son William born around 1813 also in Abingdon.  To date though I haven't worked out what Susanna's maiden name is or when they were married.  If Mary was born 1803 then I've wondered if there were more children born in between that I've not yet found.  As there is a big age gap between her and James.

Thank you so much for your help.

James Simmons
Birth Date   8 Apr 1821
Gender   Male
Event Type   Baptism
Father   William Simmons
Mother   Susanna Simmons
Baptism Date   28 Jun 1821
Baptism Place   Abingdon, Berkshire, England
Denomination   Independent
Piece Title   Piece 0282: Abingdon, Upper, Meeting House (Independent), 1799-1837

Blessings
Deb
Title: Re: Simmons/Simmonds Abingdon Berkshire
Post by: Deb Clark Rennie on Sunday 11 March 18 12:47 GMT (UK)
I've also thought this is Mary's fathers possible baptisim which is the same church you found baptisim for Mary

William Simmonds
Gender   Male
Birth Place   Abingdon, Berkshire, England
Baptism Date   18 Jul 1779
Baptism Place   St. Nicholas, Abingdon, Berkshire, England
Father   Robert Simmonds
Mother   Sarah
FHL Film Number   1279443
Household Members   
Name   Age
Robert Simmonds   
Sarah   
William Simmonds   
Title: Re: Simmons/Simmonds Abingdon Berkshire
Post by: Deb Clark Rennie on Sunday 11 March 18 12:54 GMT (UK)
This is the last census for brother Thomas it says St Helens on this too? James and Thomas were tailors William was bootmaker or cordwainer like his father.  So I'm hopeful you've found the right baptisim for Mary?

Thomas Simmons
Age   57
Estimated Birth Year   abt 1824
Relationship to Head   Head
Spouse   Elizabeth Simmons
Gender   Male
Where born   Abingdon St Helens, Berkshire, England
Civil parish   Saint Peters
County/Island   Berkshire
Country   England
Street Address   High Street
Marital Status   Married
Occupation   Retired Tailor
Registration district   Wallingford
ED, institution, or vessel   3
Piece   1294
Folio   63
Page number   
Title: Re: Simmons/Simmonds Abingdon Berkshire
Post by: trish1120 on Sunday 11 March 18 13:52 GMT (UK)
Possible Marriage nearby County to Berkshire.

William SIMMONDS to Susannah TRUSS 30 August 1802, Amersham, Buckinghamshire
Bachelor/Spinster
(FreeREG)

Trish :)
Title: Re: Simmons/Simmonds Abingdon Berkshire
Post by: Deb Clark Rennie on Sunday 11 March 18 14:11 GMT (UK)
Oh thanks Trish that certainly looks like a possibility right time name etc.

I might do a DNA search for Truss and see if anything pops up
Title: Re: Simmons/Simmonds Abingdon Berkshire
Post by: Eyesee on Monday 12 March 18 07:56 GMT (UK)
As well as the Mary Ann that Deb found there are
1807 May 17, Lewiza, d/o William and Susanna, weaver
1809 Dec 24, Sarah, d/o William & Sarah, weaver of St Nicholas

Ian C
Title: Re: Simmons/Simmonds Abingdon Berkshire
Post by: Deb Clark Rennie on Monday 12 March 18 08:32 GMT (UK)
As well as the Mary Ann that Deb found there are
1807 May 17, Lewiza, d/o William and Susanna, weaver
1809 Dec 24, Sarah, d/o William & Sarah, weaver of St Nicholas

Ian C

Thank you Ian so do you think Lewiza (1807) could be a sister to Mary Ann? Is the weaver part an occupation?  I know on the census I had William as a cordwainer but two of his sons became tailors.  Sarah born 1809 seems to have a different mother I knkw Susanna was still alive at this point so maybe different couple?

What do you think?
Deb
Title: Re: Simmons/Simmonds Abingdon Berkshire
Post by: Deb Clark Rennie on Monday 12 March 18 08:36 GMT (UK)
Mary Ann names one of her daughters Louisa so sounds like the Lewiza you foind could well be a sister.
Title: Re: Simmons/Simmonds Abingdon Berkshire
Post by: Deb Clark Rennie on Wednesday 14 March 18 00:26 GMT (UK)
It seems the Simmons move to St Ebbe Oxfordshire at some point and this is also where Mary is with her husband Henry Whitchurch.  Blackfriars road seems to place to find them on the cencus records there is also a Henry Simmons on Blackfriars road along with his wife Maria and children he is born around 1801 and is a tailor.  He must be related somehow too but have no idea how without having access to baptisim records.  I've also not been able to find Mary's brother Williams baptisim either but I do have a DNA match to a descendant of his and he is found with his parents William and Susan on Blackfriars road in 1841.

Will Abingdon baptisims go online at any point?  Need to move to the UK for 6 months :-)

Blessings
Deb
Title: Re: Simmons/Simmonds Abingdon Berkshire
Post by: ribbo39 on Wednesday 14 March 18 05:44 GMT (UK)
I've also thought this is Mary's fathers possible baptisim which is the same church you found baptisim for Mary

William Simmonds
Gender   Male
Birth Place   Abingdon, Berkshire, England
Baptism Date   18 Jul 1779
Baptism Place   St. Nicholas, Abingdon, Berkshire, England
Father   Robert Simmonds
Mother   Sarah
FHL Film Number   1279443
Household Members   
Name   Age
Robert Simmonds   
Sarah   
William Simmonds
[/i]
 
Hi Deb,
I've been looking in the Abingdon St. Nicholas transcripts and do not find a William Simmonds being bapt 18-7-1779 in fact there are no William Simmonds for the period 1764 to 1820 that I can see.
Also covered the Abingdon St.Helens records and again drawn a blank for William.

I wonder if its been missed and that record you quote could have been taken from the BTs.

Sorry I can't be more helpful

Alan
Title: Re: Simmons/Simmonds Abingdon Berkshire
Post by: Deb Clark Rennie on Wednesday 14 March 18 06:06 GMT (UK)
I've also thought this is Mary's fathers possible baptisim which is the same church you found baptisim for Mary

William Simmonds
Gender   Male
Birth Place   Abingdon, Berkshire, England
Baptism Date   18 Jul 1779
Baptism Place   St. Nicholas, Abingdon, Berkshire, England
Father   Robert Simmonds
Mother   Sarah
FHL Film Number   1279443
Household Members   
Name   Age
Robert Simmonds   
Sarah   
William Simmonds
[/i]
 
Hi Deb,
I've been looking in the Abingdon St. Nicholas transcripts and do not find a William Simmonds being bapt 18-7-1779 in fact there are no William Simmonds for the period 1764 to 1820 that I can see.
Also covered the Abingdon St.Helens records and again drawn a blank for William.

I wonder if its been missed and that record you quote could have been taken from the BTs.

Sorry I can't be more helpful

Alan

Thanks Alan .. forgive my ignorance but what is a BT?  The record from above was from ancestry and also on find my past  that was for William Senior but I've had no luck with William junior. 

Thank you for taking the time to look for me much appreciated
Deb


First name(s)   William
Last name   Simmonds
Gender   Male
Birth year   -
Birth place   Abingdon, Berkshire, England
Baptism year   1779
Baptism date   18 Jul 1779
Residence   Abingdon, Berkshire, England
Place   Abingdon
County   Berkshire
Country   England
Father's first name(s)   Robert
Father's last name   Simmonds
Mother's first name(s)   Sarah
Mother's last name   -
Record set   England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975
Category   Life Events (BDMs)
Subcategory   Parish Baptisms
Collections from   England, United Kingdom
Index (c) IRI. Used by permission of FamilySearch Intl

Title: Re: Simmons/Simmonds Abingdon Berkshire
Post by: ribbo39 on Wednesday 14 March 18 07:03 GMT (UK)
Hi Deb,
The BTs usually refer to the Bishops Transcripts which were required to be produced each year to the ArchBishop of all Baptisms, Marriages & Burials that had taken place in the parish for the previous year.

The only way of being sure is to contact the Berkshire Records Office who hold the original parish registers and to enquire from them if his bapt. in 1779 appears.Their address is;
http://www.berkshirerecordoffice.org.uk/family-history/

They may charge  a fee for doing so but if you say that his bapt. is on Ancestyry & FindMyPast there is every chance they confirm what you already know.

Alan
Title: Re: Simmons/Simmonds Abingdon Berkshire
Post by: Deb Clark Rennie on Wednesday 14 March 18 07:50 GMT (UK)
Hi Deb,
The BTs usually refer to the Bishops Transcripts which were required to be produced each year to the ArchBishop of all Baptisms, Marriages & Burials that had taken place in the parish for the previous year.

The only way of being sure is to contact the Berkshire Records Office who hold the original parish registers and to enquire from them if his bapt. in 1779 appears.Their address is;
http://www.berkshirerecordoffice.org.uk/family-history/

They may charge  a fee for doing so but if you say that his bapt. is on Ancestyry & FindMyPast there is every chance they confirm what you already know.

Alan

Wonderful thank you for the explanation :-)