RootsChat.Com

I am looking for my great-great-grandparents, James Graves and Martha Scates who were married at St. Mary's on January 2, 1826.  They had at least 10 children and lived at Whiting Street, Bury St. Edmunds.  However, I can find no parents for James and Martha.  Does anybody have access to the records of St. Mary's?

I am trying to establish the origins of my great great grandfather, James Gladston who was born in Belford in 1783.  Could somebody look up Scremerston Colliery in the 1851 census to see if there was a Margaret and an Isabella living there.  They were the children of John Gladstone and Phyllis Richardson.

Peter Arkell

   My great great uncle, Christopher Arkell, in the 1861 Census, said he was born in Lambeth in 1836.  However I can find no trace of his birth anywhere.  Could somebody look up the parish registers in Lambeth to see if his birth was recorded.
Peter

Often, when transcribing 19th-century censuses, I would come across the phrase "Nurse Child" but would not know what was meant.

I have discovered that this phrase hides a very tragic story relating to illegitimate or unwanted children.  Before the Elizabethan poorlaw was changed in the 19th-century care of illegitimate children and their mothers was haphazard.  The 19th-century poor law changed this and placed the responsibility on the mother.  Most times, she was unable to hold a job and to feed the infant.

One solution to her problem was the baby farmer.  This person would for a small fee, offer to take care of the infant.  As soon as the money stopped coming (or before), the infant would be starved to death or just dumped in a convenient place.

This procedure continued until the end of the century when horror stories in the newspapers, compelled the government to act.

peterarkell

Could somebody check the 1861 and 1871 Spittal/Tweedmouth censuses for my great-grandmother, Mary Purves.  She was born in 1852.  Her father was William Purves, but I do not know her mother's name.