Speen Look Up

[jillruss]

Can anyone please help me out with a look up in the Speen parish records?

They're not on the IGI so I'm a bit stuck!

I've found a marriage in Speen on Family History Online (marriage licence bonds) for

Paul Phillips & Jane May  28 August 1740.

Paul is an ostler and they are both resident in Speen.

I'm trying to link them to the baptism of a Mary Phillips in 1745 quite a few miles away in Upton Cum Chalvey, Bucks! Mary's parents' names are given as Paul and Jane on a name search I had done by Bucks FHS. There are no other baptisms in Upton CC (or anywhere near - that I can find) for this couple.

Do the Speen PRs show any children for this couple after 1740?

Is there any sign of either Paul Phillips or jane May having been baptised in Speen?

I'd be grateful for any help.

Jill

[Marmaduke 123]

Hi Jill

I'll have a look for you next time I go to Berks Record Office - possibly Friday or more likely one day next week.

Anne

[jillruss]

Thanks Anne - that's really good of you.

I was thinking; an ostler looked after horses, so wonder if this would mean he was more likely to travel?!! There's some logic there - not sure where!

Jill

[Marmaduke 123]

Hi Jill

I managed to get to the Berks record office today after all.

Jane, daughter of James/Hannah May was baptised 3 Dec 1723 at Speen.
There were two other children possibly baptised to the same couple:

John 30 Oct 1721 (James/Hannah)
James (to James and Anne) 2 Feb 1728/9 - maybe this is a different Anne, it's quite a long gap.

There are not many May records in Speen, but it looks as if it was Jane's home village.

There are quite a lot of Phillips baptisms but not a Paul unfortunately. I did transcribe them in case they become relevant at some time, and will send them to you in a pm.

I have this picture of Paul the ostler galloping up and down the Great Bath Road (Speen is on it, just past Newbury) from coaching inn to coaching inn, so I guess he might be quite mobile!

Anne

[Marmaduke 123]

Jill, forgot to say, no baptisms to Paul and Jane Phillips in Speen.

Anne

[jillruss]

Thanks, Anne - much appreciated.

I certainly think you've found my Jane May, daughter of James and Hannah! For which, many thanks.

At the moment, the only child I can find for this couple is the Mary I mentioned before - baptised some miles away in Bucks in 1745. Bearing in mind naming patterns at this time, I might look for any children called James or Hannah after Jane's parents.

I've got the same picture of Paul! Did an ostler just look after horses or did he ride them from place to place as well?!    I wonder if Speen and Upton Cum Chalvey were connected by a coach road in those days? I presume the Great Bath Road went to .. Bath!! Doh! Do you know what town was at the other end?

I'd be really grateful for those Phillips transcriptions. As you say, you never know when they might be useful.

Thanks for all your help,
Jill

[Marmaduke 123]

The other end of the Great Bath Road would be London! Think A4 - pretty much it the same road I believe. I suspect Upton cum Chalvey may be very near Slough, although I haven't looked it up. Slough is also on the A4.

I don't know exactly what ostlers did, except in the general sense of looking after horses. I'm thinking of stage coaches, or private coaches for that matter, having to change horses at coaching inns along their route. Somebody must have taken the horses back to where they belonged - would that person have been an ostler?


Anne

[behindthefrogs]

The other end of the Great Bath Road would be London! Think A4 - pretty much it the same road I believe. I suspect Upton cum Chalvey may be very near Slough, although I haven't looked it up. Slough is also on the A4.

I don't know exactly what ostlers did, except in the general sense of looking after horses. I'm thinking of stage coaches, or private coaches for that matter, having to change horses at coaching inns along their route. Somebody must have taken the horses back to where they belonged - would that person have been an ostler?

Anne

An Ostler was usually resident at or near the Coaching Inn where he looked after the horses.  There was no need to take horses back to where they belonged because the coach would also change horses on the return journey.

Slough is the modern name for what used to be called Upton cum Chalvey

David

[jillruss]

Thanks Anna and David.

This is beginning to look quite promising! If Speen and Upton Cum Chalvey were both on the Great Bath Road, it seems possible to me that Paul could 'ostle' as well at one coaching inn as another!

You'll have to forgive my lack of local geographical knowledge - I'm from Yorkshire! (You can say that in the same tone of voice that Basil used to explain that Manuel was from Barcelona, if you like!!!)   

If I can just find some more of Paul and Jane's children, I might just be able to piece this all together.

Jill