WEEKS family in Crudwell, Wiltshire, 1800 - 1871

[StephenMW]

I'm looking for information on Thomas and Hester Weeks, who lived in Crudwell from the early 1800s until their deaths... 25 July 1871 in the case of Hester. FindMyPast has transcriptions of the grave stone which has the date for Hester but not for Thomas. I have the census record for 1861 which gives them both living and lists Thomas as the parish clerk and owning a grocery shop.

I have traced Matthew as my great-great-grandfather. He seems to have had rather a chequered youth - in 1841 he's living at home, in 1851 living as a footman in Bath, and in 1858 he marries a Scots lady named Grace Kircaldy in St. Pancras, London where he is a beer retailer.

The pair settle down and proceed to have 5 children in England, until they suddenly decide move up to Old Kilpatrick in Dunbartonshire, Scotland, in about 1875 or so. They are in Scotland for the 1881 census and their last child, born in 1876, is born there.

The former footman then become a highly respectable piermaster and the family settles for three generations in Old Kilpatrick.

It is interesting that Thomas and Hester have a child in the house on the 1861 census listed as granddaughter who has a different surname - Mary Ann Williams - born in Westminster. I don't know, but I guess, that it was an illegitimate child of one of the sons (the daughter, Mary is still living at home and her surname is still weeks.)... my guess is the child of Matthew since he had more opportunity. 

It is rather interesting that in the 1841 and 1851 census, Thomas is listed as an agricultural labourer... then suddenly he winds up with the 100 or so pounds necessary to set up as a grocer...  there is an illegitimate child in the house... and the wealthy family with which the Weeks' eldest son is a footman in 1851 has an unmarried sister-in-law living with them. Coincidence? I'd like to know the truth in this one.

Stephen.

[LizzieW]

Hello Stephen, Welcome to Rootschat.

I presume Matthew is a son of Thomas and Hester?  Have you got the birth certificate of their granddaughter Mary Ann Williams to see if it names her father?  Or if her mother is the unmarried sister in law living with the wealthy family where Matthew was a footman?  I think that would be the place to start, as the rest is just speculation at the moment.

Lizzie

[StephenMW]

I really don't think it will be easy to confirm or disprove the little story I made up from the facts... it makes sense, but there are, of course, other explanations. I looked for a birth registration that might fit - there do seem to be a couple that are spot on  - but there are pages and pages of Mary Ann Williamses born in London during the relevant period - and I just don't have the money to send for birth certificates  - each one costs over $16.00 Canadian, of course. It's something I'd really like to know, but I'm afraid will have to remain a speculation.

There is, however, no mystery about their son Matthew being my g-g-grandfather... there are too many facts that link together, not the least of which is that there are very few Matthew Weeks to begin with, and only one that hails from Crudwell. I have a pretty strong chain to show this... including census records and copies of marriage certificates. It also helps that he moved to Scotland... the only other Matthew Weeks born in England in the right period died in Cornwall, I believe.

I can't locate the parish records online for Thomas and Hester... (Hester was born in Brokenborough, not Crudwell, as I stated mistakenly in the last post) - I'd like to find the records of their births, marriage, and the date of Thomas' death if I can, especially since those would likely give me the names of their parents.

I've been pretty nearly stonewalled every time I try to search for my ancestors in parish records; the relevant records just do not seem to be online.

I did manage to get some of my Scottish ancestors but that's about all; I'd love to come over to the U.K. and spend some time looking for records (and have a beer in the Green Gardens Pub in Rochdale where my namesake great - grandfather probably raised his glass as well) but it's not in the cards unless I win the lottery. 

Stephen

[LizzieW]

but there are pages and pages of Mary Ann Williamses born in London during the relevant period

I can understand that, I have the same problem with my g.grandfather and have already bought 3 or 4 "wrong" certificates.

The only other route would be to get a marriage certificate of Mary Ann Williams.  If she married near Crudwell that might give a clue as to who her father was.

[allibaker]

could this be thomas?
thomas weeks aged 69yrs buried 18th june 1862 crudwell wiltshire
regards
alli

[allibaker]

there are infact only 2 possible birth registrations for mary ann williams in westminster
mary ann williams london westmintser st margarets march qtr 1854 vol 1a page 287
mary ann williams london wesstminster st margarets maarch qtr 1855 vol 1a page 255
regards
alli

[Cher4]

Is this your Mathew born Crudwell May 11th 1828 son of Thos & Hester Weeks.

[StephenMW]

Thanks, Allibaker - that probably is the correct Weeks - correct age - and I don't think there was another Weeks family in the village. I don't know why I didn't turn that one up on either Ancestry or findmypast - I'll try again shortly.

Matthew is also correct - I couldn't find the reference in an on-line search of parish records - of course the indexes don't go back to 1828. I;m actually rather glad to have his birth date confirmed - it's given in different records variously as 1829, 1827, and 1828.

I will probably send off for the birth certificates of the two Mary's - census data says 1855 but that could be incorrect as you well know.

Thanks for answering... I appreciate it, and I'd welcome anything more on the family.

Stephen.