I've just joined Rootschat, being very new at genealogy.
I'm starting to research Batemans of Westmorland - because I am one.
I was brought up very near to Grayrigg - father from Firbank, mother (Capstick) from Howgill - and have passed Cowperthwaite / visited Beckfoot many times as a youth.
As others have noted, the Batemans are swamped with the same names through generations - Miles, James, John, Robert ... and often marry Mary, Elizabeth, Eleanor or Margaret ...
A similar repetition applies to trades - either farmers and blacksmiths (although there some very renowned artists and industrialists do pop up here and there).
As yet, I don't have much data, other than a tree compiled by my distant cousin(s) some years ago.
From that, I'm fairly sure that a William Bateman (1828-1875) is my great, great grandfather - wife Eleanor nee Nicholson (1836 -).
William was a blacksmith at Patton Bridge, as then were two of his sons - John, born 1856? (my great grandfather from his second marriage, but known as Jack), and also Miles (I think).
The thread above is fascinating, and whilst I haven't yet absorbed its implications in my own mind, I can concur concerning the existence of two sets of Miles Batemans - one family at Cowperthwaite, one at Half Island House, Beckfoot. The homes are indeed very close - on a bike it takes about two minutes to ride between the former and latter (down a very steep hill).
By my (admittedly incomplete understanding), Miles (1813- ) at Cowperthwaite was married to Elizabeth nee Parker, and from above I learn that Miles (1803-) at Beckfoot was married to Mary nee Udall.
My g.g.gf William (1828-1875) as above did, I understand, himself have a brother Miles (but I can't yet reconcile him with either of the Miles at Cowperthwaite or Beckfoot). The ages, trades and locations are so close, but the connections are not yet definitive (from my limited awareness).
Anyway, I would welcome any discussion or contributions, and would be pleased to share anything else I know (or suspect)
best wishes to all
