1841 Census Lookup Swallowfield Berkshire

[newbie]

Hello Gail,
I checked the IGI too, I couldn't find him, did find a John Parsons marrying a Hannah, but not your Hannah.

Yes you can check the Baptism, Marriage and Burial Records for most Parishes at the Record Office, they are on film or Fiche, there is also the Berkshire Marriage Index which covers most of Berkshire if not all up to 1837. So do you have the marriage record for John and Hannah, if not not do you have any idea of the Parish, I could look for that too?
Newbie

[Mylett]

Hello Newbie,

The information I have comes from shipping records and William's death certificate. and both state that he was born in Swallowfield, Berkshire in 1833 although he'd been living in London - his mother Hannah was living in London when William arrived in Australia in 1855. John, his father had died by then.

What is interesting though - on the IGI the only birth for 1833 for a William Parsons, father John mother Hannah doesn't give the place of birth but shows a christening on 25 Oct 1854 in Old Church, Saint Pancras, London. ( A great pity that Hannah's surname is shown). Do you think it's possible that this is my William's christening? From Swallowfield to London?

Aaaagh! I think I've given myself a headache!

All the best,
Gail

[newbie]

What is interesting though - on the IGI the only birth for 1833 for a William Parsons, father John mother Hannah doesn't give the place of birth but shows a christening on 25 Oct 1854 in Old Church, Saint Pancras, London.

Do you mean 1834?

I can sympathise with the headache, 

[newbie]

Did you find Hannah in London on the 1851?
Newbie

[newbie]

Have you found John's death? in the GRO index, if it was in Berkshire I could look for a burial?
Newbie

[Mylett]

Hi again,

Can't find a John, Hannah or William with the right ages together or a Hannah and William - I was thinking if John died (there are a few possibilites for him in the BDMs) Hannah and John might have split up due to Hannah having to work, perhaps.

Thanks again for your interest,
Gail

[newbie]

Hello Gail I went to the Berks Archive today.
I checked for your William Parsons, for a baptism.
Swallowfield Parish Registers
Christenings 1813-1840  Fiche 5.  Ref: D/P129/1/5
There is a transcript (ref: D/P129/1/1-18) so I used that, it was also indexed.
Christenings: Checked 1813 - 1928, in Index, no William Parsons to a John and Hannah, no John and Hannah Parsons listed as parents to other children.

Checked Banns for John Parsons (indexed by Groom) 1754-1962, not listed.

Checked Burials 1812-1931, no John or Hannah.
There was a John in 1868 age 2yr+ but not yours?

So very sorry, no evidence of them in Swallowfield Parish Registers.
Newbie

[newbie]

Re:

What is interesting though - on the IGI the only birth for 1833 for a William Parsons, father John mother Hannah doesn't give the place of birth but shows a christening on 25 Oct 1854 in Old Church, Saint Pancras, London.

This may be correct, it wasn't unusual for baptisms to take place some time after birth, although this is a very long time, perhaps he wanted to be before he embarked on his difficult journey? There may have been other reasons as well I suppose?
Newbie

[Mylett]

Hi Newbie,

Thank you for the trouble you've taken - it is very much appreciated.

It's a puzzle - hopefully the 1841 Census might clarify things a bit and your thought that William may have been christened before embarking to Australia makes sense - it could be a perilious undertaking. Also, on the shipping records of 1855, William states that his father was dead and his mother was living in London ... so St Pancras, London would be likely, even if he wasn't living there he would have visited his mother before he left England, one would think.

His mother may have even re-married ... or not have been married when John was born ... or, or, or ... lots of possibilites!

I will have to be patient and await the 1841 Census.

Again, thank you and if you ever need an Australian look-up, especially for New South Wales, you know who to ask.

All the best,
Gail