William Gough (1769-1830)

[leamingtonian]

Have come up against the proverbial brick wall on  my 4th Great Grandfather William Gough.
Unable to find any documentation confirming his date of birth other than his burial record which states that his birth was about 1769. William lived in Warwick most of his life, was a chimney sweep,  and was married twice; to Ann Branston in 1802 and then to Sarah Collins in 1808 following Ann's death.
If anyone can help with a birth/baptism record it would certainly be appreciated.

[CaroleW]

There is a baptism for a William Gough 21.10.1765 at St Martin’s Birmingham.  Parents Joseph & Elizabeth.  No other info

That would mean he was 37 when he married Ann Branston

[venelow]

Hi Leamingtonian

Chimney sweeping was not a trade parents aspired their children to take up. Consequently they were usually poor parish boys or orphans who would be more or less sold to the Chimney Masters by the Parish.

There is some information about the history of the trade here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimney_sweep

You should investigate the family that Carole found and see if the parents died when their son was young. Or you might find record of his apprenticeship in the Overseer's or Workhouse Accounts if they have survived.

That said there is an Apprentice Tax record dated 1776 for a William Goff apprenticed to a Chimney Sweeper called Joseph Gray in St Sepulchre's Middlesex.  Boys were usually taken on at the age of six or seven and sometimes even younger.

Venelow
Canada