How to verify a baptism record

[coopsk]

Hi, this is my 1st message & I hope someone can help please.
I have attached a marriage record for Thomas Cooper & Eliz Board for 1658-07-01 in Runcorn
However I am struggling to verify Thomas Baptism. When using FindMyPast to search "Cheshire Diocese Of Chester Parish Baptisms 1538-1911" for Thomas Cooper born 1638 +/- 5 years, I am given 3 results:
  1. Thomas Cooper b1633 in Winwick - father Thomas
  2. Thomas Cooper b1637 in Sandbach - father Jacobi
  3. Thomas Cooper b1638 in Macclesfield - father Thomas
How can I best determine which is my Thomas?

Many thanks if anyone can provide some advise please
Cheers  Keith

P.S. If I do a similar search for Eliz Board, I get NO results!

[Guy Etchells]

This may sound harsh but basically the same way as you have found and confirmed matches back to the 1658 marriage.

You work from what you know to what you want to discover.
I would also assume a marriage slightly later perhaps age 25 +- 5 years rather than 20+- 5 years.

Do you have any later details to confirm who you are looking for; I assume you have at least some of the children of the couple? Do you have a will for instance that ties the couple (or even one of them) to their children? Have you looked for burial registers and grave plot registers (you may find generations of a family in the same grave)?
The more records and details you hold about the later generations the more clues and facts you have to hand to help discover and prove the earlier generations.
I would also suggest trying to find as much as you can about the children of your families as it is not uncommon to find they turn up confirming details about their parents.
Cheers
Guy

[garstonite]

A warm welcome to Rootschat Keith
so I know I have the right couple
all have Thomas as the father
14th July 1659 - Samuel Cooper - Runcorn
6th December 1660 John Cooper - Runcorn
1st November 1663 - Robert Cooper - Runcorn
19th September 1671 - Ann Cooper - Runcorn
14th August 1673 - Thomas Cooper - Runcorn

are these the children you have for Thomas / Eliz ??
ADDED
This is only 6 years after the end of the Civil War - and men were moved from pillar to post during that period - Have you considered he might NOT have been born Cheshire ?
there were battles in Chester - Nantwich - Middlewich - etc - not that far from Runcorn - and Cromwells men were left in these towns to keep the locals in place ...just a thought 

[coopsk]

Thanks for responding. Yes, I have those 5; Robert is my main interest.
I am struggling to verify Roberts father Thomas baptism (3 possible) & can find nothing for Eliz
Cheers  Keith

[coopsk]

Sorry, just saw the 2nd part to your post. Yes I could widen my search, but this will potentially give me more than the 3 possible ones I have (for Thomas) when I am trying to narrow down the list!

[garstonite]

The only possible I can find for Eliz Board

Elizabeth BOORD
christened 11th July 1641
St Michaels church , Macclesfield
father John
..........
was Thomas and Elizabeths first child also John ?    just a possibility
Thomas and Elizabeth married 1st July 1658 - around Elizabeths 17th Birthday - IF that is your Elizabeth - BUT - it could also point to the Macclesfield baptism you found for Thomas Cooper 1638- were they BOTH from Macclesfield
the mind boggles ...lol
welcome to research
I would certainly not rule out those TWO Macclesfield baptisms - at least keep them on a separate piece of paper ..
good luck 

[coopsk]

many thanks to you both. You ideas have certainly given me food for thought

[LizzieL]

Do you know when Thomas Cooper died? There is a Thomas buried in Runcorn in 1785 and looks like he left a will.

added
two of the witnesses to Thomas's signature on the will were Nathanial Cooper and Thomas Board. maybe brother and brother in law.
He mentions wife Elizabeth and children John, Samuel, Mary and Ann

Mary Cooper bapt 26 Feb 1664 at Runcorn. Father's name abbreviated to Thom.
No mention of Robert and Thomas jnr in will.

[LizzieL]

Nathanial Cooper baptised Runcorn 13 May 1632 s/o Robert