Huguenot Ancestor - Help finding baptism

[richarde1979]

I have various of examples in my own tree and others I've researched of these weaving families using both these churches. They were/are direct neighbouring parishes. In Spitalfields the journeymen weavers were mostly concentrated in the far north of the parish where the area borders and touches on st Leonards Shoreditch, and of course many did indeed spill over into that parish, but  I have found in general Shoreditch did have more of an English character than Spitalfields. Personally I'd think the Spencers if living on Holywell lane were more likely native English Weavers. At least three of my own native English weaving families lived on that same street at that  time, none of my French who were in Spitalfields and Bethnal Green, only a few straying into Shoreditch much later in early 1800's.

[richarde1979]

Just noticed, may be insignificant, but the Mary Ann Spencer I researched her mother Elizabeth Spiers, a Silk Weaveress, was born 17 Feb 1784 on Holywell Lane, Shoreditch. She married David Spencer of Essex ,1801 at St George In East, Stepney. The Spiers were a Huguenot family, of silk manufacturers, who went from France to Coventry, then to to London.

[rla10]

I see, well I am perplexed because they did live on Holywell Lane in 1806, but lived on York Street in 1804, 1809 and 1812. (baptisms of children)

 Do you think there's any significance in his wife's maiden name of Beilling/Boilling? I am having trouble finding baptisms for her as well.

Interesting about Elizabeth Spiers though.

[richarde1979]

I can't honestly say I have come across the name Beilling before in my researches on the Huguenot family.

Are you sure they are not referring to York Street, Shoreditch?

York Street, in Shoreditch, was a small street linking Cock Lane and Anchor Street. Anchor Street was actually the start of Bethnal Green, and directly below it (where the W is) is Wheeler Street part of Spitalfields, so York Street was on the very tip where Shoreditch, Spitalfields and Bethnal Green all met. Holywell Lane is directly opposite of it on the other side of Shoreditch High Street, have marked it with an arrow. Barely a 1-2 min walk away.

[rla10]

Richard, you are most probably right. I just assumed it was York Street, Marylebone because of the link with St James's and it was the only one I could find. Seeing as the baptisms were at St Leonard's, it is almost certainly the York Street you have.

However, that leaves me puzzled again as to why one of his children, Charlotte, married at St James's in Piccadilly.

[richarde1979]

Did she marry well? If the husband was in a good trade or monied that might explain it. When Eastenders were 'going up in the world' they'd often move West.

[rla10]

No, not particularly. She married a silk weaver from Bethnal Green. When she died in 1846, he ended up straight in the Bethnal Green workhouse, so he wasn't very affluent.

[richarde1979]

Hmm..I can't think why then. One of my East End Silk Weavers did marry over that way in 1774, at St Marylebone Church, because the husband had been educated as a child at the French Protestant Charity School which was located there. I assume he somehow got a fondness for the church from his school days near by. Could be something like that to explain it in your case too?

Are you 100% it is the right marriage and couple for your family? No possible alternative marriages nearer to Shoreditch?

[rla10]

Well, the record was mis-transcribed with Spotts, instead of Spencer and the actual document is virtually illegible,so I'm no 100% but the dates do fit together. I think I will double check with East End churches to make sure. Perhaps you're right, it does seem very bizarre with no apparent reason.