Marriage record for William SPRIGGS and Elizabeth SMITH

[witchetty]

On 10 Feb 1813 William SPRIGGS and Elizabeth SMITH were married in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.

Does anyone live near the record office, or already have an image of that marriage?

I am interested to know if the record gives an indication of William's occupation.

The fellow I already have was in the 4th Dragoon Guards.
I know his wife's name was Elizabeth.
I know they had at least one child born in 1820.

Thanks for your help.

[johnP-bedford]

As per the BFHS Surnames Index the marriage was at Biggleswade in 1813, William Spriggs was a single man and Elizabeth Smith a spinster. You could send a message to Beds Family History Society via their facebook page to ask for further details. Failing that send an email to Beds Archives.

Cheers John   

[cuffie81]

The BFHS transcript doesn't have much more info.

The abode for both William and Elizabeth is blank, which, in BFHS transcripts, normally means both were of the parish.

The witnesses were Joseph Sals and John Woolfrey.

John Woolfrey is a witness for many of the marriages around that time so may have been a clerk; an 1841 census record seems to support that.

[witchetty]

If both were "of this parish" there's every chance that this was a different William SPRIGGS.

The people I'm researching might well have married in Ireland, since the 4th Dragoons were an Irish regiment.

Their daughter became a convict, and used a number of aliases, including SMITH, so folk have thought this marriage might explain why she chose that name.

I was just hoping to either scotch that notion, to validate it

Her other aliases have an understandable connection to people she knew.

Who knows, maybe she just figured SMITH was a good anonymous name to use.

Thanks for taking the time.

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

I think you are right that William SPRIGGS married an Elizabeth SMITH, I found this,


Templemichael, Longford, Ireland
Birth Date:  18 Nov 1816
Baptism Date:  24 Nov 1816
William SPRIGGS
son of William, a Private in the 4th D. Gs and Elizabeth SMITH


It's only a transcription so I can't see if there is anymore info. but I think it looks like them


Regards,
Daisy

[witchetty]

Daisypetal, thanks.

I found that record on FamilySearch.

Much appreciated.

Off course, that still leaves the marriage in Biggleswade in the running.

Or there might have been a marriage in Ireland.

[Daisypetal]

Hi,


I found it in "Ireland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1620-1911" at Ancestry, just a transcription that doesn't mention his occupation.

So I went to FindMyPast and looked there, it doesn't come up using the usual "Britain" search, I had to change that to Ireland. It is in the "Irish Parish Register Baptisms & Confirmations, Ffolliott Collection" record set. That has an image of a transcription which gives the 4th Dragoons info.

Most of that was new to me, so it was fun learning new things

[johnP-bedford]

FindMyPast have a couple of Military records for William Spriggs, private in the 4th Dragoons.

The first where he attested at Stamford, Lincs aged 19 on 12 Feb 1799, saying he was born Bringhurst, Leics (1780) and he was discharged on 5 Nov 1818 at Dublin, aged 38 on medical grounds (as a result of a fall from his horse 12 years ago at Durham).

The second relates to his pension which started 20 Nov 1818, and has his death aged 78 on 30 Mar 1859, which may be in Leicester(shire)

** also cuffie81 does it say if the marriage in Biggleswade was by Banns or by Licence ?

cheers John     

[witchetty]

Thanks, johnP-bedford.

I'm thinking that might be his father or an uncle.

My guy had a daughter born in Yorkshire in 1820, more than a year after the other William was discharged. The christening record says he was currently a Dragoon, living at the barracks in Fulford.