Meakins family early 1800s Woburn area to London

[RichardK]

I've traced the Meakins (various spellings) back to a John Meakins and Hannah Goodge who married in Southwark in 1833 and appear in the 1841 census there, but then both disappear (probably died).  Unfortunately this means I don't have a place of birth for either, other than knowing it must be outside Surrey.  However, in that 1841 census there's a family a couple of households away with an elderly couple John & Mary Meakins (who are old enough to be John's parents) and a younger couple Daniel and Mary Berry.  Daniel Berry was one of the witnesses to John Meakins and Hannah Goodge's marriage, whilst Mary Berry was a witness to John & Hannah's son's marriage in 1860.  In the 1851 census, Mary Berry and Mary Meakins (both now widowed) are living together, with Mary Meakins as head of household and Mary Berry as her daughter.  Mary Meakins gives her place of birth as Marston, Bedfordshire, whilst Mary Berry gives hers as Eversholt, Bedfordshire.

Turning then to the extracted IGI for Bedfordshire (which I know is pretty well covered by the IGI) I suspect I'm looking at this family (to which I have added burial dates from the Woburn PR transcript at Luton library):

John Meakins m. 15 Apr 1799, Marston Moretaine to Mary Simkins (ch. 5 Jul 1778, Marston Moretaine)
children:
Rose b. 24 Feb 1800, ch. 23 Mar 1800, Woburn, bur. 22 Feb 1802, Woburn
James b. 23 Sep 1802, ch. 31 Oct 1802, Woburn, bur. 20 May 1803, Woburn
Henry b. 22 Sep 1804, ch. 21 Oct 1804, Woburn, bur. 16 Dec 1804, Woburn
Sarah ch. 27 Dec 1812, Eversholt

Trouble is, I can't find a birth or christening relating to either Mary who married Daniel Berry or the John who I believe was probably also their son - both of whom would probably have been born between 1804 and 1812.  I've found a submitted record on the IGI for a John Meakins born 22 Sep 1804 at "Woburn, London" to John & Mary Meakins - but there's nothing in the Woburn PR transcript to support that.  Being a submitted entry always suggests caution - and alarm bells ring at the fact the county is wrong!

Does anyone know if there are parishes in that area missing from the IGI?  I'm guessing having buried their first three children they may not have wanted to stay in Woburn.

Any suggestions / help gratefully received.
Thanks
Richard.

[tazzie]

   Hi ....

  Have you seen the link in the resources section for Bedfordshire for the rates book in Woburn...great help this site.

 It has details of J Meakins at 17 Duck Lane Woburn in 1806

  http://www.vmine.net/woburn/

                       Tazzie

[RichardK]

Thanks Tazzie - that's a fascinating site - I've got other Woburn families which it will be a help with too.  Seems to show the Meakins were there between 1802 and 1806 but had don't appear in the 1807 survey - I wonder where they'd gone?
Thanks
Richard.

[bedfordshire boy]

I wonder where they'd gone?

Eversholt?

[RichardK]

Oh, alright, they turn up in Eversholt in 1812 - what I mean is where were they between 1806 and 1812, which is probably when Mary and John were born.
R

[tazzie]

   Or did they turn right at the cross roads as there are a fair few in Potsgrove .....small place but they all seem to end up there lately...

                             Tazzie

[bedfordshire boy]

A Mary Ann Meekins was baptised in Eversholt in 1807, daughter, so it says, of William & Mary. The previous child of a William & Mary was baptised in Woburn in 1798. Where were they between 1798 and 1807? Who was the Mary buried in Woburn 26 Nov 1806 - wife of John perhaps? Could William be a PR error for John? There were three Meakins buried at Woburn Congregational between 1813-18. Could the family have turned non-conformist so Mary and John weren't baptised in the established church?

Woburn is close to Bucks. Could they have moved there?


David

[tazzie]

   There are 10 Meakins that show up in Potsgrove the oldest is William 1761. He shows as the Sheep Lane area. Very few buildings here now.

 As David says they only needed to move to Hogsty End / Woburn Sands to cross the boarder.

 I have two families in particular that move around the villages here...Woburn/ Aspley Guise/ Husbourne Crawley/ Brickhills ....they marry in one and split childrens baptisms between the villages.

                       Tazzie

[seahall]

There were three Meakins buried at Woburn Congregational between 1813-18.

David I have the Cong Church book and the Meakins children on 2 it does not note parents on 3rd it is James and Elizabeth (Fensum).

This couple married at Aspley in 1790 and seem to have been admitted to full communion members in 1809-1810 at above Church.

Therefore is he the J.Meakins in the Rate Book.

Sandy