Stoke Damerel, Devon

[Faysie]

I am a new member and I would appreciate help please. I am trying to find out anything about my Grandparents. John Higman and Amelia Seldon. I live on Oz and am a " Newbie" so any information or guidance would be appreciated... I know nothing else about either the Higman or Seldon families??

John Higman and Amelia Seldon were married in 1848  ( September Quarter)in Stoke Damerel, Devon.. not long after the " Higman's " set sail for New South Wales Australia and arrived here in 1848 aboard the ship " General Hewett.

I am not certain, but there is a birth " Amelia Seldon" 02 May 1824 and Baptised 16 May 1824 Morrice Street- Wesleyan, Devonport, Devon.

I have yet to learn about the English system of BDM's, and looking at Census.. so I would ask for any help I can receive..

Thank you for your patience.
Faysie in Oz.

[cep]

The birth you found is presumably from the IGI

Amelia Seldon
born 1824 May 2
bap  1824 May 16
Parents: John & Ann Seldon
Morrice Street - Wesleyan, Devonport
Batch C063601

No other Seldon in that batch



John Samuel Higman
born 1823 Oct 11
Bap  1824 jul 5
Morrice Street - Wesleyan, Devonport
Parents: John & Ann Higman
Batch C063601

Other children, same (?) parents:

Mary           b. 1816
William        b. 1819
Richard Henry  b. 1827
Harriott       b. 1830


The right names, in the right place, at the right time
Very probable these are your people


Maybe Parents:

1851 Stoke Demerel, Devon   HO107 1882 539 p34

38 Charlotte Street
John Seldon, head, mar, 60, Shipwright, HM Dockyard, b. Bideford, Devon
Ann Seldon, wife, mar, 58, b. Bideford
Elizabeth Seldon, dau, unm, 33, Dressmaker, b. Stoke Demerel
Robert Seldon, son, unm, 24, Shipwright, HM Dockyard, b. Stoke Demerel

But why Robert & Elizabeth not baptized same as Amelia?


Regards   CP

[Faysie]

Dear Cep, Thank you so very much for your reply. Yes I did obtain Amelia Seldon's information from IGI, I assummed it could be a " possible", without any Primary records.
Is there anywhere else I can check for this family? am wondering why they left England to start a new life in Australia..  I subscribe to Ancestry UK , but have yet to learn about other resources available in England.. being a " Newbie" and so far away it's hard to follow which direction to do look-ups.

I cannot tell you how much I appreciate what you have sent me, it is people such as yourself that make this wonderful addictive "Hobby" such a frustrating, Exciting Adventure in which a person can learn about themselves.

Sincerely
Faysie in Oz.

[cep]

The IGI records are far from perfect.
However, the birth records you have found are "extracted" - meaning the register has been seen and transcribed.
"Patron Submissions" are sometimes of dubious source.

1824 is before the start of civil registration in 1837.
So there is no birth certificate to be had.
Unless you want to see the actual register for yourself, the IGI is as good as it gets.

This would be the marriage:

Marriages Sep 1848
Higman   John            Stoke Damerel   vol 9    p  530
SELDON   Amelia          Stoke Damerel   vol 9    p  530

The marriage certificate should be available.
It should give the father's names, and names of witnesses.

You can find how to purchase here:

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificate/index.asp#0
and
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/faqs.asp

The index reference you will need is   vol 9  page 530   as above.


I don't know what else you have, but you have traced them back to Devon.
The names are unusual enough that tacing back should be reasonably easy.

First step might be a request for a lookup in the 1841 census.

Question:  do you have evidence that this is your family, or did you just find a likely name on IGI?


Why they left England?

There were various Assisted Immigrant schemes at this time.
But few people would just up and move halfway round the globe.
You will often find that they joined family or friends already settled.

If you know where they settled, look for other families from Devon.

Quick look at 1851 census does not find the Higman parents/siblings.
Perhaps they went too. At the same time or later?


Regards   CP

[krisesjoint]

Hi Faysie, Welcome to RootsChat. Here are the 1841 census entries. The 1841 Census was the first of any value to us but it does have its Shortfallings. No relationships were listed. No County of Birth was listed only Y (Yes) or N (No) in answer to were you born in the County. Adult ages(Those 15 years plus) were rounded down in five year lots (If the enumator followed his instructions) therefore a person listed as aged 15 is aged 15-19, a person listed as aged 20 is aged 20-24 etc.

HO107/0273 Folio 18 Page 31
Ordnance Street
Morrice Devonport
Stoke Damerol
 
HIGMAN John 60 Y Labourer
HIGMAN Ann 50 Y
HIGMAN James 25 Y
HIGMAN Mary 20 Y
HIGMAN William 20 Y
HIGMAN John 15 Y
HIGMAN Harriet 8 Y
HIGMAN Richard 7 Y

Also in Stoke Damerol is Abram 20, Christina 20 and Louisa 5 Months. There is also a 30 year Old William in the parish but he lists as born outside Devon

HO107/0275 Folio 6 Page 6
Navy Row
Devonport
Stoke Damerol
 
SELDON John 50 Y Shipwright Journeyman
SELDON Ann 45 Y
SELDON Elizabeth 20 Y
SELDON John 15 Y Tutor
SELDON Amelia 15 Y
SELDON Robert 14 Y

2 other families Thomas 50, Melora 25 and Thomas 20 and also Charles 45, Susan 45 and Eliza 20. There is also a Peter aged 35 from Scotland

Cheers Kris 

 

[Faysie]

G'day to all on the list. whilst researching more information on the " Higman/Seldon Family" my Grandparents in Oz. I came across the following in the Local Newspaper where the " Higman Family" lived in the 1800's. It confirms. some information already given to me.

1. Amelia Higman (nee Seldon) the wife of Mr.John Higman daughter of Mr. John Seldon of Her Majesty's Dockyard Devonport, England- Died @ Yass New South Wales on 23 June, 1865 age 38 years after an illness of six days, leaving a family of eight young children- (Newspaper Death Notice- Yass Courier 24 June, 1865.

There were other "Death Notices" of their children in the period of 1861 through to 1867 when John Higman (husband & father ) Died 21 August, 1885.. also in the Newspaper article it named John's father being. Frederick Higman.

Could someone please tell me if there was a Frederick Higman listen in the 1841 Census and his family??

It would appear that John and Amelia had a good but difficult life. John held different jobs, but a Miller and eventually he died of " Inflammation of the Lungs" listed as cause of his death.

Thank you all for being so patient with my inquiries... I really appreciate it very much.

Kind Regards
Faysie

[Faysie]

Hello Krisesjoint. ( what cute but funny name). .

Thank you very much for your information from the 1841 Census...  I feel that this is indeed the right information that I am seeking... I did mention in joining the list that I was an elderly " Newbie".!!!

Kris, could you please tell me what the following means and where can I look this information up to keep for my records..

HO107/0273 Folio 18- page 31 and HO107/0275 Folio 6 page 6. Is this the Census sheets... does it have any other information such as occupation and where born?

I joined Ancestry .UK but cannot access the 1841 Census as it is not on line as yet. only 1851...

Again my " Sincere Thanks" to you for your reply.

Faysie.

[krisesjoint]

Sorry Faysie. That is the only John of the right age I can see anywhere in Devon. I cannot see a Frederick/Fred in Devon anywhere. Perhaps dad was Frederick John/John Frederick......I think you really do need to see what that marriage cert says (Only works out to about $17 Oz)...Hope you sort it out.......Kris  

That is the entire information contained in the 1841 census. As I said it has its shortfalls compared to the later entries. (No marital Staus, relationships, POB and ages rounded down)....The HO107 etc  is the reference details for your records

[Faysie]

Hi Kris.

"Thank You" I will try and purchase the " Marriage Certificate" through Marbract Services or Joy Murrin here in Oz... or would it be better to apply direct to England??

Faysie.

Ps: Would love to eventually have a website like yours.. just had a "peek" very professional and easy to look through. Congratulations. !!!!