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Hi all,

I may have found a clue to possibly break down a long-standing brick wall of mine. I am hoping to share it, to see if you think I may be on the right track.

The brick wall is my 5x great grandfather John Wheeldon. Sorry for the long post but I will start with what I know about John's son Thomas Wheeldon (my 4x great grandfather). It's his marriage that could provide the essential clue. Thomas married my 4x great grandmother Mary Betts Heap 1st March 1826 in Rolleston by banns. Marriage witnesses James Greatorex and Sarah Pool. Thomas and Mary Wheeldon ran the Four Counties Inn at No Man's Heath for a while. In all the censuses, Thomas Wheeldon gave his place of birth as Hanbury, Staffordshire, about 1803/1804.

Thomas was baptised 18th October 1803 to John and Dorothy Wheeldon in Hanbury. His surname is recorded as Wilton in the original church parish records but as Wheeldon in the Bishops Transcripts. This is the case with some of their other children too. John and Dorothy's children baptised in Hanbury include:

Thomas Wilton 1803
Ann Wilton 1801
John Wilton 1805
William Wilton 1808
Elizabeth Wilton 1810

The above records seemed to be with the parish Church of Hanbury. There is one Non-Conformist baptism in Tutbury in 1816 of a Samuel Wheeldon to John and Dorothy Wheeldon, their abode was Hanbury.

Thomas Wheeldon and Mary Betts Heap also had some of their children baptised as Non-Conformists. It is for this reason why I have been trying to track down other Non-Conformist Wheeldon records. Very confusing though with using both Non-Conformist and Church of England parish records.

There are no other Thomas Wheeldons or Thomas Wiltons baptised in Hanbury in 1803/1804. My mum and I have DNA matches to some descendants of Samuel Wheeldon (baptised 1816). I am happy that DNA proves paper trail up to John Wheeldon and Dorothy.

John Wheeldon married Dorothy Goodwin/Godwin by banns 4th November 1800 in Tutbury. Marriage witnesses Israel Deaville and Sarah Wall. John Wheeldon was buried 6th November 1817 in Hanbury, aged 43 (born about 1774). I can prove Jane Godwin's parents but I am struggling with John Wheeldon's.

The marriage witness James Greatorex to Thomas Wheeldon in 1826 may be the clue. A Thomas Wheeldon married Elizabeth Gratrix 27th August 1779 in Hanbury by banns. Thomas and Elizabeth Wheeldon had the following children baptised in Marchington:

William 1782
Mary 1784
Elizabeth 1786
Thomas 1788
Hannah 1790
Sarah 1792
William 1794
Jane 1797

I can't find any children to this couple being baptised between 1779 and 1781 - could they have had other children and the baptisms weren't recorded? Looking into the Greatorex connection further. It looks like Elizabeth Gratix was baptised as Betty Greterix 24th March 1757 in Hanbury to parents William and Ann, their other children in Hanbury include:

Sarah 1751
Ann 1753
John 1755
Mary 1759
William 1762
Thomas 1766

Thomas Greatorex (born 1766) may have married Ann Adkin 26th September 1785 in St Modwen's, Burton upon Trent by banns. Their son James Greatorex was baptised 8th June 1794 in St Modwen's, Burton upon Trent. James went on to marry Sarah Pool (other marriage witness to Thomas Wheeldon and Mary Betts Heap) 29th June 1828 in Rolleston.

I appreciate there is a lot of information to take in. I am wondering, based on the circumstantial evidence of James Greatorex being a marriage witness, that Thomas Wheeldon and Elizabeth Gratrix who married in 1779 could have been the parents of John Wheeldon (married to Dorothy Godwin)?

Thank you in advance for any help or advice. :-)

Hi, I am just wondering if anybody can help me try and make sense of my Dakin family please. Sorry for the long post. I will provide what information I can.

I have found the will of Samuel Dakin (my 7x great grandfather), dated 1785, Hemington, of the parish of Lockington in Leicestershire. His occupation was a blacksmith.

From the will and parish records of Lockington, I have discovered he was married twice. He was first married to Ellen. Ellen Dakin was buried 28th November 1746, in Lockington, wife of Samuel. Samuel then married Elizabeth Cotton 29th December 1747 in Lockington.

These are the children from the two marriages and mentioned in his will:

Samuel and Ellen:

1. Thomas Dakin (my 6x great grandfather). No baptism found but mentioned in will. Married Ann Wall, 1760 in Lockington.

2. Ellinor Dakin, baptised 1741, Lockington

3. Samuel Dakin, baptised 1744, Lockington.

Samuel and Elizabeth:

1. Mary Dakin, baptised 1748, Lockington.

2. William Damin, baptised 1752, Lockington.

3. Robert Dakin, baptised 1758, Lockington.

Samuel mentioned a son John Dakin in his will. No baptism found.

Samuel Dakin was buried 4th February 1785 in Lockington. Incredibly, it gives his age of 74 (born about 1711).

I believe that my direct ancestor Thomas Dakin is the son of Ellen. No marriage has been found in Leicestershire for Samuel and Ellen.

The most likely marriage I can find is Samuel Dakin marrying Ellen Steanson 27th December 1735 in Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Samuel was of Etwall, Derbyshire and Ellen of Spondon, Derbyshire. They married by licence. Samuel's occupation was yeoman and he was about 24 (born about 1711). Ellen was about 19. A James Dakin, of Ashbourne, yeoman, is mentioned with paying the licence.

I have found Hellen Stenson being baptised 1st September 1714, Spondon to Joseph and Margaret.

I am struggling to establish the baptism of Samuel Dakin though. The only likely baptism I can find in Leicestershire/Derbyshire is Samuel Dakin is 12th December 1709 in Spondon to William and Mary. This looks good as, it would tie in with Samuel being born about 1711 and his wife from Spondon.

If Spondon looks to be the baptism of Samuel, I can't tie him in with the James Dakin of Ashbourne (mentioned in the marriage licence).

Thank you in advance for any help or advice. 

Just wondering if anybody has heard of a place called Elverson in Derbyshire please?

My 6x great grandparents Henry Rogers and Mary Foster married 12th October 1763 in Brailsford by banns. Henry was of this parish and Mary of Elverson.

I have the baptism/parents of Henry but am struggling to find the baptism/parents of Mary.

Thank you in advance for any help or advice. :-)

My 6x great grandparents Henry Rogers and Mary Foster married 12/10/1763 in Brailsford, Derbyshire.

I know the second marriage witness is Joseph Bombridge, he witnessed many marriages in the parish.

I am struggling with the surname of the first marriage witness John. Please could somebody help me to try and decipher it.

Thank you in advance. :-)

Hi, I am wondering whether anybody can help me to try and understand this baptism record please. It can be found on Ancestry's website.

I believe it may be the baptism of my 9x great grandfather John Docksey/Doxey. I'm not sure if the first name is John, however, I believe his parents were Ralph and Bennett. This is based on the naming conventions of his ten children baptised in Ellastone, Staffordshire. Two of these include daughter Bennett in 1691 and a son Ralph in 1702.

I am trying to work out whether the parish record states his mother Bennett was the daughter of Gervase Bennett Esq. It might be that Gervase Bennett had a stillborn child baptised on the same day?

Gervase Bennett was mayor of Derby in the mid-1600s and an MP for Derby in the 1650s . He was also a judge and was most famous for conducting the trial of George Fox, founder of the Religious Society of Friends. Fox said to the bench "Tremble at the word of the Lord" and Gervase replied the only Quaker in court was him. This lead to the Religious Society of Friends becoming known as Quakers.

I know Gervase Bennett owned land in Snelston, Derbyshire. I have seen online records where after his death, the manors of Parwich and Snelston were sold to Robert Docksey, son of Ralph Docksey of Snelston. Robert was probably a brother of my ancestor John Docksey. These records make me wonder if the Docksey family were related to Gervase Bennett.

John Docksey had his will proved in Snelston in 1742.

Thank you in advance. :-)