Does anyone know anything about name changes in the 1800s?

[wivenhoe]

"..children's baptism registrations also name him David"

What information do you have for children......names...birthplace....baptism.....?

[LizzieL]

Lots of good suggestions, Josephine!
David is on the 1841 census, as an Ag Lab in the household of Nicholas and Frances (Howell) Stredwick or Stradwick.  The other Ag Lab in the household was a Howell.
You might want to look at any Baptisms for any baby called David in Ringmer from 1809-1811 or so.  He might have been informally adopted, although it seems unlikely he would have changed his surname.
It is possible your David was simply not baptized (one for my 3x great grandfather in Lancashire has never been found).  Have you checked both the parish records and the bishop’s transcripts?  He might have been a twin of William or Lucy, not expected to survive, and baptized at home, and not recorded.
I did check the BNA but found no death notice for David.
DNA might help you link to whatever family he belongs to.

A Richard Howell was witness on the marriage.

Perhaps he was really the "missing" William John. He was baptised late March. Maybe he was born 1st March - St David's day.

[LizzieL]

Have you checked John Bray / Margaret and John Bray / Charity back any further, maybe there was a grandfather called David he decided to honour by changing name.

[ReesyJ]

Have you checked John Bray / Margaret and John Bray / Charity back any further, maybe there was a grandfather called David he decided to honour by changing name.

I have been working on this today, however, I still haven't found a David as of yet.

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

Have you seen these?

https://www.rootschat.com/links/01qbn/

https://www.rootschat.com/links/01qbm/


There is no David mentioned there but William John seems be using his middle name to become John. Knowing the family moved to Bexhill might help find the children.

Where is David in 1871? Hannah is showing as a widow.


Regards,
Daisy

[LizzieL]

Good find. That might help fill in the wider family
There's a Robert Bray of right sort of age (given rounding) in Westfield in 1841, but not with family. Possibly the same one buried in Brede 14 June 1846 age 28. Robert baptised Ringmer 19 Oct 1817, so maybe not reached 29th birthday before he died.

[LizzieL]

There's a burial for a Margaret Bray at Bexhill on 07 Jul 1879 age 90. Notes say Battle Union, so I suspect she died in the workhouse

[LizzieL]

Found Margaret in 1851 and 1871, housekeeper to James Burt, widowed and born Ringmer.
Also in James Burt's household in 1841

[LizzieL]

James Burt was born in Hooe, Sussex and is a widower. In 1841 there is an 11 year old George Burt in the household.
James Burt was baptised in Hooe on 11 Mar 1804 s/o James and Hannah. James Burt snr married Hannah Sarjent in Hooe on 7 May 1803. James Burt jnr married Elizabeth Lansdell on 05 Dec 1827

If the Bray family were removed to Bexhill, John Bray must have been from that area. There is a John Bray baptised in Hooe, nr Bexhill on 3 Jan 1779 s/o John and Lucy. John Bray married Lucy Glid on 04 Apr 1777 in Hooe. John and Margaret called their oldest daughter Lucy. 

Was hoping to find a connection between Burts and Brays and a David cropping up, but nothing so far