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From my research, I can claim descent from William Stacey, a wheelwright who lived in Knottingley at the end of the 18th century. There’s very little information about him. He seems to have been married twice but the identity of his first wife remains a mystery. He had 2 children, John in 1786 and Mary in 1788, before marrying a lady named Frances Hudnell in 1793 and having a further 11 children with her. He died in 1815 and his burial entry in the PRs of St Boltolph suggests he was born circa 1761.

There were just 2 other Stacey families living in Knottingley around the same time as my William.
Joseph Stacey had a son named John baptised at St Botolph’ in 1788. Joseph himself died young and was buried at the same church in 1790, aged 26. This puts his birth year as about 1764 so he was possibly a brother or cousin of my William.

There was also John Stacey who confusingly also married a lady named Frances. John was a wheelwright like my William and he had 11 children with her, all baptised in Knottingley between 1791 and 1811. John was buried in 1829 at St Botolph’s and his burial record puts his year of birth as around 1758.

So I have three men named Stacey, born between 1758 and 1764, all living in Knottingley around the same time. I’ve come to a dead end with my William Stacey but I would like to find the link between these men if there is one. There aren’t any earlier Stacey’s in the PRs for St Botolph’s so I’m not sure they were local originally. Their descendants were mariners and watermen on the river Aire so it’s possible they came from further afield as well. Maybe a fresh pair of eyes will be able to spot something I’ve missed?

I am struggling to find any more information on John Smith, of Castleford, and his wife Eleanor. They had two daughters who were baptised at Castleford in the late 1790s.

9 October 1796
Nancy daughter of JOHN SMITH (of) Castleford

8 April 1798
Elizabeth daughter of JOHN and ELEANOR SMITH (of) Castleford (Elizabeth was married at Silkstone to John Hinchcliffe in 1820. In the 1861 census, Elizabeth said she was born in Whitwood, in 1851 she gave Castleford as her place of birth)

I haven't been able to find any more children baptised at Castleford to this couple and I haven't been able to find out what became of Nancy Smith either. The 1798 UK Land Tax Redemption shows that a John Smith rented land from a Richard Banks at Castleford. The West Yorkshire Land Tax Records may also show him renting land from Richard Brough in 1815 and 1817. After that, I've come to a complete dead end 

Does anyone have any suggestions please?

Elizabeth Kitchen (born 1850 in Askam, Westmorland) had an illegitimate daughter, Charlotte, in 1867 in Barnsley. I have Charlotte living with Elizabeth's parents in 1871 but Elizabeth isn't there.

Can anyone see her?

Thanks

I am looking for a possible baptism of Alice Kitchen. She had a son, James, in 1826 who was born in Askham. I think I've found her in 1841 in Askham but her son is not with her. The census says she is 50 years old (born about 1791) and was born in Westmorland.

Thanks,
Lisa