Searching for a Pratt born in Scotton!

[woodydog]

Hello all - Can anyone help me find the parents of the following chap:-
Benjamin Pratt- born 25 December 1823 in Scotton ( birth has also been noted as being in Catterick & Patrick Brompton on 2 sets of census records but we are 95% sure it's actually Scotton!)
I've managed to find census records of the family back to 1871 but nothing before. I also have his marriage certificate from 1848 which has his father named as James Pratt a labourer but know nothing more.
ANY help or guidance would be very much appreciated as I've been stuck on this for nearly 2 years now. I know the obviuos thing to do is check parish records for the area but i live in Scotland & just can't get to N. Yorks!!

Thanks in advance.

[Chickpea13]

Are you sure it's not Scorton? This is a village much closer to the Catterick area than Scotton, which is near Knaresborough.

Best wishes,
Roz

[woodydog]

Hi Roz- there are two Scottons in N. Yorks one about 4 miles outside Catterick (near Tunstall) & the one just outside Knaresborough. Must admit I hadn't noticed until you pointed it out!

[Chickpea13]

You're absolutely right, of course - I had completely forgotten the other one!  Will have a trawl through the 1851 census tomorrow and see if I can find any trace of your people.
Roz

[woodydog]

Thanks Roz, Here's a bit more info that might or might not help!
Benjamin was married in 1848 to Jane (maiden name Carling) in the new church at Tunstall . They would have children in 1851 -Elizabeth born circa 1849 (from cens records)in Moulton & William (sometimes shown as William Carling Pratt) b.1.Nov. 1850 in Tunstall.
I did borrow a copy of the 1851 census but it didn't have a name index (I don't know if any copies of it do !), as you put it I trawled through it but couldn't find them over the period that I had the discs. However I did spot some other Pratts but can't tie them in!!
Please make sure you don't go cross eyed & thank you.
Rose

[Chickpea13]

I'll see if I can find anything - can have a try with the 1841, but it's quite slow to search and not as helpful, of course, with birthplace.  Will get back to you this evening, all being well.
Roz

[Chickpea13]

Hi Rose,
No luck with Benjamin, but I did find his mum!

I trawled through Tunstall, Moulton, Catterick, Patrick Brompton, Hunton and various hamlets in the area, but found no trace of Benjamin or his family.  However, in case you don't have the information, Catherine PRATT is living in Scotton village in 1851 with son Matthew, as follows:
HO107/2381-328-1
Catherine PRATT   Head  Wid  72  Ag. Lab.     Hunton  Yks
Matthew PRATT    Son  Unm  43   Mole Catcher   Scotton Yks

I also tried the 1841,  but again no Benjamin, though his parents are living in Scotton:

James PRATT    65  Ag Lab    Yks
Cathrine PRATT  60           Yks
George PRATT   20  App.      Yks
[Remember that ages are rounded up or down to the nearest 5 years]

Not sure if this is of any use, but perhaps it might help with Benjamin's origins.  Might he already have moved away for work by 1841?


Best wishes,
Roz

[Chickpea13]

Oops!  Forgot the reference for 1841 -
HO107/1250/17 fol.4 p.2
Roz

[woodydog]

WOW! Thank you so much- did anyone ever tell you "YOU'RE A STAR"!
I did make a note of Catherine & Matthew when I borrowed the 1851 discs but couldn't tie them in cos' I didn't know who Ben's mum was. The info you've given also ties in with an entry from Freebmd for the death of a James Pratt in 1850 so I reckon I can go ahead & order the certificate without the risk of wasting what little money I have at the moment or beg someone to go to Northallerton & check the details on the entry!!!
As for Benjamin! Well he's beginning to really bug me! It's as if he thought he'd clear off to somewhere miles away just to get me pulling my hair out with frustration in the years 2000-2005! I KNOW he was in Tunstall in 1848 to get married to Jane (in fact it was the first marriage to be solemnized in the new church there, but that hasn't got me anywhere either) & then he either came back or was still there in November of 1850 for the birth of his first son William Carling Pratt & he's noted as living there, AAARRRGGGHHH!
Anyway enough of my waffle, now I've got some new leads to follow- Yipee!! I'll away back into genealogical heaven.
Thanks again
Rose