Do you remember that old song? 'Like a rubber ball, I'll come bouncing back to you'?
Well, that's me!
I started off with a Sedbergh marriage(by licence) on 22 Dec 1737 between Richard Troughton of Kendal and Jane Fridge, of Strickland Roger - this information was kindly looked up for me by a fellow Rootschatter some time ago. It's a couple of years after the Richard and Jane Troughton I'm looking for had their first child, but seemed to be a possible. My Richard and Jane lived in Fellside, Kendal.
About a week ago, I decided to follow up this lead so emailed the Cumbria Record Office. They referred me to the kendal Office. Another email , but I had a prompt reply telling me that they don't hold the marriage bonds for Sedbergh and referring me to Lancashire Record Office.
Fair enough, I emailed the Lancashire Office to be told that they had looked this up in the 'Lancashire marriage Bonds 1734 to 1738' published by the record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire but had failed to find the marriage in question.
What they did find were 2 marriages:-
1. 22 Dec 1737 Thomas Nuby, weaver and Jane Fridge of Strickland Roger, both 21 and both of the parish of Kendal. Bondsman James Collinson of Sedbergh, mason.
2. 29 Dec 1738 Richard Troughton of Long Moor Head and Isabel Beeby of Cattarin both of the parish of St Bees. Bondsman Robert Troughton of W'haven, mariner.
At first, I thought my RC contact had made an error and that the Troughton/Fridge marriage never happened, but she didn't seem the type to make such a fundamental error, so I emailed the Lancashire Record Office back to query this - and, guess what? - they referred me back to the Kendal Office as they hold the Sedbergh PRs!!
Another email (feeling like a bit of a nuisance by now!!). I've just received a reply from the Kendal Office, confirming that the Sedbergh PRs definetly have the Dec 22 1737 Richard Troughton/Jane Fridge marriage! There are apparently no marriages entered in Sedbergh between April 1738 and Jan 1739 so they couldn't comment on the 1738 marriage bond which Lancs told me about.
They have suggested that I might try the Bishops Transcripts ,but will have to contact the West Yorks Archives Service in Leeds!
Now, I don't blame any of the people I have contacted - they've all answered very quickly and very politely with the information that they held. It's not their fault that Sedbergh has changed county hands so often ( I appreciate the problems - I used to live in Humberside but now I'm back in east Yorkshire and I haven't moved an inch!!).
But wouldn't you think 'the powers that be' would try to arrange some kind of consistency in their respective Records Offices?
Anyway, rant over.. the problem is, I don't know what to do next! Any ideas? even if it ever took place, the Troughton/Fridge marriage may very well turn out not to be mine, but I'd like to try and find out which records are correct!
Phew!!
Jill
