Parish Records - Elizabeth Norris of Newbury

[janjim]

Hi, I am wondering if anyone can assist me please with search of Parish Records.   We are looking for Elizabeth Norris birth and marriage to Edmund Thorn.   It appears she was born 1794 in Newbury and married Edmund Thorn (a Shoemaker in Newbury) 22.7.1811.    We believe she died in 1855.

We are not absolutely sure whether her maiden name was Norris, or whether she maybe was married before, but there is a hint somewhere that her parents may have been George Norris and Sarah Ford. We need some confirmation on that, and more details.

It would be good if we could find out more about her husband Edmund Thorn's Father, we believe was James Thorn.   Cannot seem to get more information on this family line either.

I look forward to any assistance please.  jan

[emeltom]

Can't find anything re births/baptisms but I have found the marriage. It took place at St Nicholas Church, Newbury on 22 July 1811 and was between Edmund Thorne and Elizabeth Norris. They married by Banns. Looking on the fs site for their births it has them in the 1851 Census, ref HO107/1685/F348/p24. Both born Newbury, Edmund gives birth year as 1792 and Elizabeth as 1794. This would make Elizabeth 17 when she married so I would say Norris was her maiden name - a bit young to have been married and widowed. Edmund was a Cordwainer by trade. fs also has a death of 1866 for him.

Emeltom

[janjim]

Thank you emeltom, yes that coincides with what I have.   Yes he was a Cordwainer, first of all, then became a Shoe Maker, as were many of his family members.
Elizabeth died in 1855 aged 62 years at Newbury, and Edmund Thorn re-married in London in 1856.

Hopefully someone might be able to assist me with family preceding them.

Thank you again.
Jan

[newburychap]

Thank you emeltom, yes that coincides with what I have.   Yes he was a Cordwainer, first of all, then became a Shoe Maker, as were many of his family members.

A cordwainer is a shoemaker - there was no change of occupation, just of terminology.

They married very young - was there a child on the way?

[emeltom]

Have you noticed that all their children were baptised nonconformist. Might help in looking for the baptisms of Elizabeth and Edmund.

Emeltom

[janjim]

Well there you are Newbury Chap, I never knew that.   There were several Shoemakers in the family, and as well, the Grandson, Thomas Thorn became the well known Stonemason in Newbury, who constructed several of our family's graves.

You asked when the first child was born, yes, Edmund George Thorn was born 23.8.1811 (one month after their marriage !) and yes also Edmund was quite young too for marriage, all of 19 year.  All of their children were baptised in the Baptist Church.   13 children all told, including the last birth producing twins.
jan

[janjim]

Have you noticed that all their children were baptised nonconformist. Might help in looking for the baptisms of Elizabeth and Edmund.

Emeltom

That is what I am looking for,  baptisms of Elizabeth & Edmund, so that I can confirm who their parents were.  You wonder if they were married at St. Nicholas Church, why their children were nonconformist.    Jan

[candrjm]

Hi Jan,

Info taken from the parish records of St Nicolas Church Newbury:

Checked for baptisms between 1785-1794

Baptism Date: 20th August 1793
Name: Elizabeth Norris
Parents: George and Sarah Norris

Sibling for Elizabeth:
Baptism date: 9th January 1788
Name: Sarah Norris
Parents: George and Sarah Norris


Marriage for parents:

Married: By Banns
Date: 5th May 1776
Groom: George Norris (Bachelor of this parish)
Bride: Sarah Ford (Spinster of this parish)
Both made their mark
Witnesses: Ann King and A J Woodrough (these two were witnesses to other marriages on the same page so possibly connected to the church in some way as opposed to being related to the bride or groom)




Baptism Date:18th September 1791
Name: Edmund Thorn
Parents: James and Mary Thorn

Siblings for Edmund:

John Thorn 23rd November 1785
Diana Thorn 25th December 1786
Hannah Thorn 5th September 1794


you may already have this but just in case you don't:

Joseph Toomers 1815 census:

Abode: Clarks Buildings West Side of Bartholomew Street Newbury

Edmund Thorn aged 24
Elizabeth Thorn aged 24
George Thorn aged 4
James Thorn aged 2
Sarah Norris aged 74


Best Wishes
Chris

[newburychap]

Well there you are Newbury Chap, I never knew that.   There were several Shoemakers in the family, and as well, the Grandson, Thomas Thorn became the well known Stonemason in Newbury, who constructed several of our family's graves.

You asked when the first child was born, yes, Edmund George Thorn was born 23.8.1811 (one month after their marriage !) and yes also Edmund was quite young too for marriage, all of 19 year.  All of their children were baptised in the Baptist Church.   13 children all told, including the last birth producing twins.
jan

I doubt they were baptised in the Baptist Church, certainly not as children - they only do adult baptism.  I suspect they had some sort of membership thingy for children that might look like baptismm.

The Thorn I am most familiar is Ralph - Newbury publican and WWI casualty - hits two of my pet projects. He was a son of Thomas the stonemason.

And someone wondered why Baptists would marry in the parish church - simple, it was the only place you could marry. They could go back and have a ceremony in their own church, but only CofE and (I think) Jewish synagogue marriages had any force in law between 1754 and 1837 (Hardwick's Marriage Act).