Stratford

[avriltoo]

looking for the parents and marriage of Stephen Stratford born 11 Nov 1777 st. james, Westminster, Middlesex, England. his father we think was Stephen and we think his mother may have been mary. some people have her surname as furnins/furniss but we think that is incorrect. also we have no idea where they were married or where they came from. any help most welcome. thank you. Avril

[amondg]

Stephen Stratford was baptised 11 November 1777 St James Westminster to Stephen and Mary

He was BORN 30 October 1777. (Important not to confuse baptism with birth date)

Ref: Image on ancestry.

[amondg]

UPDATED
Stephen Stratford of the Parish of St James Westminster, married Mary Furniss of the Parish of St Luke Finsbury, by license 7 January 1780.  Both signed

Witness James Maddox made his mark the other witness Ann ? the ink is smudged and faded- signed

This Stephen comes from the correct parish, but it is AFTER the birth of Stephen 1777
so another Stephen and Mary?? 
Ref: Image on ancestry.

ADDED
The marriage bond is also on ancestry both were single!.

[amondg]

Found so far other children

Harriot daughter of Stephen and Mary born 7 December 1780 bap. 17 January 1781 St James Westminster

Mary Elizabeth daughter of Stephen and Mary born 26 June 1784 bap. 4 July 1784 same church.

Possible death of daughter Mary burial 7 September 1789 same church. There is a c after the entry
indicating child

[avriltoo]

could they have married after he was born?. great finds.thank you

[amondg]

Stephen and Mary lived in different parishes hence the reason for a license to marry.

If you are cohabitating you usually live in the same house/parish.

Stephen could have said he was single - a white lie, if his first wife also Mary had died.

The marriage bond seems to say he was a cook but I could be mistaken. 

Have you found out anything on Mary Furniss-Stratford?  When did she die, was there an age listed
to give us an approximate year of birth.

Are there any wills related to either family that could give clues?

[avriltoo]

sorry no clues at all, other than the family seemed to have moved to st helier etc on Jersey later. thanks. Avril

[avriltoo]

could he have married Ann Joyce first  in 1774. Saint Mary, Newington: Kennington Park Road, Southwark, England. i see a possible birth in northamptonshire 1755 and death in 1780 Bocking, St Mary The Virgin, Essex, England.