Thanks for your thanks Bob and I am pleased that the scenario I suggested to you seems to make sense.
The dots as you call them are there, but they do need verification.
The IGI (Batch) Number: I04472-0 gives the baptisms and I04472-1 the burials.
Neither should end with a full stop as I initially showed. Accessing them will give you the following Sedlescombe baptisms and burials.
Stephen Spilstead bapt 21 Feb 1823 no burial
John Spilstead bapt 30 May 1824 no burial
William Spilstead bapt 22 July 1832 possibly matched by a burial 10 Dec 1833
Mary Spilstead no age or baptism burial 18 November 1834 (Childbirth death?)
Thomas Spilstead bapt 29 Nov 1834 possibly matched by a burial 31 Dec 1834 and may have been the cause of Mary's demise
The IGI index has not shown the ages of the above nor told you who their parents were, or husband was, but there is a possibility that that information does appear on the IGI microfilm of the actual parish register. Deaths followed by a second marriage and family could explain the age difference between John & Hannah and why William & Thomas from John's first marriage never ended up in OZ.
If proven, your second task should be to find an East Sussex marriage of the Widower John Spilstead to a Hannah from Battle, sometime between 1834-1837. Finding that marriage will make it far more probable that the scenario I have suggested can be considered close to the truth. I would like to help in that respect, but unfortunately my copy of the SMI does not work on this computer. Hopefully another Rootschatter (perhaps Omega 1?) can supply that info
As there appears to be some uncertainty about the maiden name of Hannah, another avenue of exploration is the purchase of the birth certificate of Mary Ann or Elizabeth. The mother's maiden name should also appear on that.
Someone else has put on the Internet John SPILSTEAD Jnr. was born in 1822 in Sedlescombe, and was christened on 11 Apr 1824 in Ewhurst, Sussex, England. He died in Aug 1907 in Erskineville, NSW, Australia. He married Harriet SIVYER on 13 Mar 1848 in Wesleyan Chapel, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
By the way Bob, are you aware of a Mr G Tankard who appears on Genes Reunited? Amongst his Spilstead ancestors from Sedelscombe & Battle, he lists, Mary 1841, Elizabeth 1837, John 1823, John 1803, (and Thomas, William & Stephen) all of whom come from your line.
Roy
