Hi Sue & all, You don't say Sue if you have an occupation for Thomas Moreton. Birmingham/Coventry/Leicester areas have had family connections with 'Banburyshire' over many years, but occupations do feature quite strongly for the 'possible reason' as does the time span of interest Also if Thomas was originally from Birmingham area - & the family had fallen on hard times, maybe they could have been ordered back by the parish they were living in - around that time many places were struggling with the ever rising costs of those families claiming 'poor relief', (after the enclosures of common land) Banbury very much so. Hard times for those that needed the most help! - but for the parish overseer - a job 'well done' if he could remove a family & the price of keeping them from his own parish -- they then became someone elses burden! Another alternative for the family was the local Workhouse:>( But as you say 'speculation' at this point. Come on all you other list *thumb twiddlers* lets have a response. Ideas/thoughts/info please --- anything to take your minds off of *FOOD* ......... Again! ;>)))))))) Angela Admin Banbury list > My gg grandfather, John Morton, was born in Birmingham in 1770; his > father was Thomas Moreton, who married a Martha Batman in 1761 in > Banbury! The only Martha Batman (or Bateman) I can find who makes any > sense at all is born in Bloxham in 1735, daughter of Edward Bateman and > Alice Coleman. > > Thomas and Martha's first three children were born in Banbury; then it > seems they moved to Birmingham, his home town, and the rest of the > family was born there. > > Since a dozen heads are always better than one, I'm curious to know a > couple of things: > > Is there a logical economic connection between Banbury and Birmingham - > or at least was there one in 1761? One that would cause Thomas to move > to Banbury, meet a local girl, fall in love, have some kids, but > eventually move back to Birmingham because his prospects were better > there? (All speculation gratefully received!) > > Secondly, do you suppose the Martha Batemen of Bloxham is the right one? > > Sue in Toronto

Sadly, no occupation for Thomas as yet. Son John was a buttonmaker, his son was a soldier then a policeman. Thomas did send me a psychic message that he was fond of kippers and doughcakes, but I think Martha used to smoke the kippers herself, and whomp up a batch of doughcakes - she spurned anything you could just buy in the supermarket. Angela Allen wrote: >Hi Sue & all, >You don't say Sue if you have an occupation for Thomas Moreton. > >Birmingham/Coventry/Leicester areas have had family connections >with 'Banburyshire' over many years, but occupations do feature >quite strongly for the 'possible reason' as does the time span of >interest > >Also if Thomas was originally from Birmingham area - & the family >had fallen on hard times, maybe they could have been ordered back >by the parish they were living in - around that time many places were >struggling with the ever rising costs of those families claiming 'poor >relief', (after the enclosures of common land) Banbury very much so. > >Hard times for those that needed the most help! - but for the parish >overseer - a job 'well done' if he could remove a family & the price >of keeping them from his own parish -- they then became someone >elses burden! >Another alternative for the family was the local Workhouse:>( > >But as you say 'speculation' at this point. > >Come on all you other list *thumb twiddlers* lets have a response. >Ideas/thoughts/info please --- anything to take your minds off of >*FOOD* ......... Again! ;>)))))))) > >Angela >Admin Banbury list > > > > >>My gg grandfather, John Morton, was born in Birmingham in 1770; his >>father was Thomas Moreton, who married a Martha Batman in 1761 in >>Banbury! The only Martha Batman (or Bateman) I can find who makes any >>sense at all is born in Bloxham in 1735, daughter of Edward Bateman and >>Alice Coleman. >> >>Thomas and Martha's first three children were born in Banbury; then it >>seems they moved to Birmingham, his home town, and the rest of the >>family was born there. >> >>Since a dozen heads are always better than one, I'm curious to know a >>couple of things: >> >>Is there a logical economic connection between Banbury and Birmingham - >>or at least was there one in 1761? One that would cause Thomas to move >>to Banbury, meet a local girl, fall in love, have some kids, but >>eventually move back to Birmingham because his prospects were better >>there? (All speculation gratefully received!) >> >>Secondly, do you suppose the Martha Batemen of Bloxham is the right one? >> >>Sue in Toronto >> >> > > >============================== >New! Family Tree Maker 2005. Build your tree and search for your ancestors at the same time. Share your tree with family and friends. Learn more: http://landing.ancestry.com/familytreemaker/2005/tour.aspx?sourceid=14599&targetid=5429 > > > >