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Hi Vicki.  Having re-read some of my contributions on this subject I may have caused some confusion by referring to Parishes as they existed at different periods.  At risk of teaching you to suck eggs, may I explain that the original pre Norman parish for this area was St Andrew Holborn, which stretched over a huge area, much of it countryside.  As the population grew, new parishes were created within the original St Andrews area.  Thus it is important when looking at maps, parish records and early census documents, etc, to choose the right one depending on the date being searched.   Ignoring very early divisions such as St Giles in the Fields 1547, the first new parish was St George the Martyr, initially as a 'Chapel of Ease' from St Andrews and subsequently (1763?) as a full parish in its own right, mostly covering Queen Square, Red Lion Square and adjacent roads.  By 1875 St George the Martyr had become too small and was further split to form St St John the Evangelist, Red Lion Square. 

Little happened to the rest of St Andrews Holborn parish boundaries for a further 50+ years, when St Peter Saffron Hill was formed in 1832, Holy Trinity 1839 and, lastly, St Alban (Ben's parish!) in 1863, ie after the 1841 and 1851 census.   Sadly, changes to the registration Districts after 1837 simply further add to our headache of reconciling records that we unearth.

Barry 

Whether John & Elizabeth are mine or not depends on whether I have one or two William Hepburn's

William Hepburn b circa 1806 allegedly in St George Martyr (adjacent parish to St Andrew Holborn in Red Lion Square!), was a bookbinder before entering army at 21, pensioned off 1842.  Father was John and he married a Mary from Stoke by Guidlford at some time, probably after leaving army and had first child 1843ish.  This one is conclusively my ancestor.

William Alexander Hepburn bp St Andrew Holborn 1806 parents John & Elizabeth.  He married Mary Dean from Stoke by Guildford in 1843 at St Michael Bassetshaw (next door to Guildhall) at which time he states his occupation as jeweller.  I have the certificate - father John was a bookbinder - witnesses Charles & Sarah Buck.

Easy to jump to the conclusion they are the same - too many coincidences?  If they are then my gggparents are indeed John & Elizabeth.  At present I am laboriously ploughing through GRO indexes looking for William Alexander's death and/or children.   I too found the IGI John & Elizabeth in Bishopswearmouth but I do not think they are the same as I found another one in a London Parish register at the LMA - just cannot put my finger on it at the moment in my overcrowded filing system.  I also recollect finding more children of John & Elizabeth at the LMA and i will send you details when I look them up

Barry

I would be surprised if the British Library Newspaper Library at Colindale did not have a full set of all Surrey local papers.  Try http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/inrrooms/blnewspapers/newscat/newscat.html

Barry

I have just been told about this petition from another list, asking for open access to the registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths from 1837 to 1908.  I do not recall having seen it here so apologies if I am duplicating!

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/OpenBMDrecords/



Moderator Comment: topics merged

If the weather clears I will take a little pleasure drive around Ardleigh and keep a look out, but I don't think the hills in the photo are steep enough to be Dedham Vale.  Problem is the view and cottage is so typical of this area it could be anywhere.  We really need some more clues please Derrick? 

Barry