John Sheppard marriage to Lydia ? please.

[Galium]

John Sheppard was born in Witney c1787 and married a woman named Lydia, probably c1807. Their first child was baptised in Witney 3 June 1808.

They didn't marry in Witney, and Lydia died in 1832 (aged 48), so I don't know where she was from. Although this family tend to marry by licence, this one doesn't seem to be on the Oxfordshire Archdeacon's Marriage Bond Index. (The name Sheppard has several variations, but the one I have given is the most usual for John's family).

Can anybody help please?

[ColC]

The only ones I can find are on FindMyPast & family Search. They are somewhat distant but the added detail on the first may help?

John  Sheppard of Poole St.James a seafaring man    To Lydia Royal by Licence.
4 Dec 1807   Wimborne Minster, Dorset
Witnesses   James Admos, Robt. Hiscock, Chas. Dyke.

John Sheppard   To Lydia Vardy
20 Mar 1804   Fisherton Anger, Wiltshire

Colin

[Galium]

Many thanks Colin.  John was a saddler by trade, so possibly not the Dorset one. The Wiltshire marriage is a little far from home, but possible.

[CarolA3]

Here’s a possibility from OFHS transcripts of PRs (on their CD OX03):

St Mary Magdalen, Oxford
1807 May 18
SHEPHERD    John
TURNER           Lidia   (transcriber’s note:  ‘signs Lydia’)
Botp    Banns
Wits:  Geo BROWN    Mary FLETCHER

Occupations and names of fathers weren't recorded at that time.  I don't have any Witney links (so far!) but quite a few of my lot, from various villages, travelled into Oxford for their marriages.

Carol

[Galium]

Thanks Carol! There is a Lydia Turner baptism at Eynsham in 1783 so that one looks very likely.

Would you mind looking for another John Sheppard marriage for me please?
This one married Ann ?, probably around 1785, as they baptised their first child in Witney in 1786, but they didn't marry in Witney.

[CarolA3]

Crikey!  'Ann ?' will take a bit longer - there was only one Lydia/Lidia.  I'll give it a go after dinner, which is imminent

Carol

[Galium]

Yes, sorry    , Ann. 

Ann married three times, and each time I found a marriage I thought I'd pinned her maiden name, until I realised that she was a widow. She was born c1761, so I really hope that the marriage to John was the first, but I suppose there is still room for it not to be.

It's very kind of you to look, and thanks for even considering it.

[CarolA3]

Oh gosh

Since you ask so nicely, there’s one reasonable fit on the Oxfordshire Marriage Index (OFHS CD MIhw):

John SHEPPARD married Ann ALDSWORTH on 7 Feb 1785 at Stanton Harcourt.

I don’t have the PRs for that parish, but there are other RootsChatters who do.  Let’s hope one of them spots this thread, because now I want to know the answer too!

Good luck,
Carol

[Galium]

Many, many thanks, Carol.    That does look promising. I have three of the OFHS Witney district CDs, but  not the one with Stanton Harcourt on. 

If there is anybody reading this who can help with the details of that marriage, I would be most grateful for them.