The Curious Case of the Missing Marriage (18th century)

[QueenoftheWest]

There may be clues in the naming of the children.  17/18 the century naming patterns are on the net.

I had a look at their children's names, but they didn't really give me any clues:

Sarah Head (c.1726-1786) m. Charles Gibbons
Elizabeth Head (1730-1730)
Charles Head (1731-1773) m. Hannah Carpenter
William Head (1732-?)
Baty Head (1735-?)
John Head (1737-?)
Elizabeth Head (?-1738)
Baty Head (1739-1740)

He named his second son, William, after his father, and he named his first daughter after his mother. He had an uncle Charles, who may have inspired his first son's name.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Queenie 

[QueenoftheWest]

Wiltshire Record Office also has this

(1) HEAD, Vincent:  HIGHAM, James Churchwardens of SS Peter & Paul
Wentworth, James, Brinsden, John Haines, Robert Overseers of the Poor

Vincent actually left part of his estate to James, which I found a little odd, seeing as there is no obvious relation between them. It's not often I see friends as beneficiaries in wills.

Queenie 

[Capetown]

Baty HEAD 1735?
Baty HEAD 1739 to 1740.

Seemed important enough to try and carry on this name.

?  Male or Female.

Not a Christian name I’ve come across before.

? Or is it a family surname.

My late Grandad’s middle name was a surname from many generations before his birth and his Son also carried the same middle name.

[QueenoftheWest]

Baty HEAD 1735?
Baty HEAD 1739 to 1740.

Seemed important enough to try and carry on this name.

?  Male or Female.

Not a Christian name I’ve come across before.

? Or is it a family surname.

My late Grandad’s middle name was a surname from many generations before his birth and his Son also carried the same middle name.

Funny you should mention it, because I have always wondered about that name. I had a look at the Marlborough parish register I while ago and quite a few people had named their daughter "Baty." I do wonder if it was meant to be Betty i.e. Elizabeth. Vincent also had a daughter called "Baty" with his second wife.

It's a shame that none of the names of Vincent and Frances' children gives me any clues, but having an ancestor called Vincent is quite a gift anyway, especially when half of my male ancestors were John or William!

The search continues...

Queenie 

[Gadget]

A possible -Bathia



https://www.whatsinaname.net/php/search.php?action=search2&search_name=batty

[jonw65]

Elizabeth Head (1730-1730)
Baty Head (1735-?)
Elizabeth Head (?-1738)
Baty Head (1739-1740)

Baptism
Baty d Vinson Head, 15 July 1735

Burial
Elizabeth d Venson Head, 1 Aug 1739

Baptism
Baty d Venson Head, 30 Aug 1739

Burial
Baty d Vanson Head, 8 Feb 1739/1740

Then there is a baptism of another one, by Vincent's second wife
Baty, d Vinson Head, 11 Aug 1743

Who you seem to have in Vincent's will, as Betty, wife of William Few (married 1778)

So it looks like Baty = Betty (or Elizabeth)

[jonw65]

I found Vincent's name on an FindMyPast index to the Martin-in-the-Fields settlement examinations, which also mentioned his wife, Frances. It took place in 1725. Recently, the images were uploaded to FamilySearch (hurray!) and I was finally able to read it:

That's a brilliant find, good to know that these images can be seen (while we wait for the new digital images to appear on ancestry)

After being forced to take a break from family history due to health problems, I have returned with renewed gusto

Welcome back!
Hope you are fully recovered, or well on the way.

[QueenoftheWest]

I found Vincent's name on an FindMyPast index to the Martin-in-the-Fields settlement examinations, which also mentioned his wife, Frances. It took place in 1725. Recently, the images were uploaded to FamilySearch (hurray!) and I was finally able to read it:

That's a brilliant find, good to know that these images can be seen (while we wait for the new digital images to appear on ancestry)

Welcome back!
Hope you are fully recovered, or well on the way.

Thank you for your kind words  It is more of a chronic sort of illness, so there are ups and downs.

I must ask, what are these new digital images on Ancestry? Are they uploading all the Poor Law records? Sound exciting! 

Queenie 

[jonw65]

Hi Queenie
Yes, Westminster records have moved to ancestry. As a result, the images on findmypast have been removed. Parish registers are already up, not sure how complete they are, they are new digital images rather than the old black and white microfilm ones.
They also have some wills and cemetery registers. We were promised more to come, but these things tend to take time!

Take care
John