Re: Skinner - Godstone
Maureen:
It seems that Thomas and Edward were the product of Thomas and Mary Skinner from Horne, a parish not far from Godstone. There were several children, as follows
Thomas baptised 8/Nov/1812
John born 30/Oct/1813 baptised 28/Nov/1813
Amey born 6/Nov/1814 baptised 8/Jan/1815
Amelia born 8/Nov/1815 baptised17/Dec/1815
John born 13/Apr/1817 baptised 18/May/1817
Mary born 9/May/1818 baptised 9/June/1818
Sarah born 21/July/1820 baptised 13/Aug/1820
Maria born 5/July/1822 baptised 28/July/1822
Edward baptised 23/Jan/1825
Rachel baptised 18/May/1828
Thomas baptised 29/Aug/1830
Esther baptised 28/Oct/1832
Abel baptised 14/June/1835
Jesse Edward baptised 25/March/1838
John (1817) and Sarah (1820) are recorded as 'base born', i.e. illegetimate. But more interesting is the entry for Amey born 1814. It records the parents as Thomas Skinner and Mary Skinner, and under Mary's name it says "Kinswoman of the above" [they mean Thomas]. Its unusual for the mother's surname to be shown in the registers. The surname is repeated for her on the 1817 birth of John too where she is quoted as a servant and he a farmer. In all other entries he is described as a labourer.
I cannot find any marriage between Thomas and Mary, so maybe they were brother and sister or something.
I've taken the opportunity of recording all the Skinner records back to around 1740 and the only Mary Skinner I see being baptised at an appopriate time is on 29 January 1797, and she was the daughter of John and Mary. I cannot trace a John and Mary marriage either, not in Horne anyway.
As for the birth of Thomas, the "father", I cannot see one, but the baptism register is incomplete for much of the 1780's, although he may have hailed from another parish of course.
I cannot see a Stephen or Harry anywhere, although there were some Henry's around, including one born of a single mum named Amelia (bap 7 May 1837). Maybe your other names were just relatives that weren't siblings.
I hope this has removed a couple of bricks from your wall...
Ray