MEEKS Wilburton

[tempsford]

Hi,
Can anyone tell me if there were any chapels in Wilburton?
I'm looking for the baptism of my 3x gt grandmother Sarah Meeks. According to the census she was born 1809-1816. But I can't find her on the transcripts of Wilburton registers by the CFHS. There are a couple called Josiah and Jane Meeks having children at the right time but there is a gap of 13 years between Mary bap in 1811 and Elizabeth bap in 1825.
There is also a possibility that Sarah could have been illegitimate. When she married my 3x gt grandfather James Graves (her second marriage) in 1843 at Lt Thetford, no parent known was written in the registers. I have checked the Poor law index on Cfhs website but no luck.
I'm hoping someone can help me with this brickwall!

Tempsford.

[hepburn]

http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/england/cambridgeshire/parish-registers.htm

On this site there are the Baptisms of two Sarah Meeks one in 1811 the other in 1812,Parents of first one  William and Susannah in Manea?
second one William and Eleanor in Gamlingay?I don't know the geography of Cambridge so may be a million miles away

[tempsford]

Hi,
Thanks for the information but I am aware of these Sarah Meeks. The Sarah who was baptised in Manea died in Chesterton aged 20 and I can't make sense of Sarahs born in Gamlingay.
Wiliiam and Eleanor had Sarah bap 1 Nov 1799 and 14 May 1812 but a Sarah was buried 10 May 1818
aged 19 which presumably was the Sarah bap 1799 but how could they have another Sarah bap 1812!
Any ideas
Does anyone have access to the original register of Gamlingay? I only have the transcripts and wonder if it is an error in 1812 as William and Eleanor also had a son bap mar 1812.

Tempsford.

[anneb]

There is-or was-a Baptist chapel in Wilburton. My uncle got married there in 1960.

It might also be worth checking the baptisms for neighbouring villages.Most of my family are from Haddenham and were baptised there but I have found a few stray baptisms in places like Cottenham or Witcham.

I have a few sets of PRs on fiche so will check them.

[tempsford]

Hi,
Thats interesting to know, thanks. I have checked a few places around Wilburton as Sarah married for the first time in Witchford and was there on 1901 census age 87. I would be grateful if you could search the fiche you have. You may have more luck!
I don't suppose you know the dates for the baptist chapel? Would the records be in the CRO.
I have family from Haddenham!

Tempsford.

[bedfordshire boy]

Both Gamlingay Sarah baptisms are extracted onto the IGI. I can't imagine that both the LDS AND Cambs FHS have made an identical transcription error. Could her parents have forgotten that she'd already been done, and did her again in 1812?

These William and Eleanor baptisms raise a number of questions - the first baptism was in 1794, the last in 1828. Seems too long a span. Could there have been two William & Eleanors? 

In 1851 living in Gamlingay was Eleanor Meeks, 60, obviously not the mother of Sarah baptised 1799 if her age is correct, but I can't see her in 1841. And in 1841 in Gamlingay was William 77 and Ellenor 67 Meeks

In answer to your original question genuki details non-conformist churches in each Cambs parish, and Wilburton just has the Church of England

David

[bedfordshire boy]

See the VCH entry for Wilburton at http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=21912#s4 for more details of the baptist church. But they didn't go in for infant baptisms, although birth details can be found in Baptist Church books

David

[tempsford]

Hi David,
The last baptism for William and Eleanor children was 1812 not 1828. They had a son William but he married Mary Norman in 1831.
It does seem quite likely that the second baptism could be a catch up! as you say its unlikely that both LDS and CFHS made a mistake. I have always found CFHS transcripts to be reliable.
William and Eleanor had a daughter called Ellen who possibly could be the one in 1851 she was born 1797. Eleanor sen was bur as Ellen age 82 in 1854.
Thanks for the link.

Tempsford.

[bedfordshire boy]

The IGI and Cambs FHS baptism index have Emma, George and William, all children of William and Eleanor, baptised in 1828. I think these may have been late baptisms as an Emma Meeks was married in Gamlingay in 1841 and appears on the census age 22. The fact that there were two Williams, 1804 and 1828 again makes me wonder if they either doubled up baptisms or it was a different William and Eleanor. I don't really favour the latter as I can only find the one marriage, in 1793.

The Eleanor in 1851 was said to be a widow age 60 born Yelling, so I don't think she's Ellen daughter of William and Eleanor. I've just noticed she was living next door to the Emma mentioned above which may be significant. Possibly her age was wrongly enumerated and should be 80.

David