From: "rick smith" <[email protected]> > Thomas who was born in Heath and Reach, Beds in 1821 married Sarah > Hale on > 15th November 1841 at Potsgrove. Thomas' father was William (from > marriage certificate) - any more information on William and mother > much appreciated > > Sarah was christened in Thorley Hertfordshire on 21 April 1822 to > Samual Hale (b c1791 Thorley) and Sarah Haggar (b c1791 Thorley) who > were married in Thorley in 1811. Anything about Samuel and Sarah's > ancestry also much appreciated > > Any theories why Sarah moved 55km would be intriguing too!> There was usually a very simple reason why people moved relatively long distances in those days - and 55km or about 35 miles isn't a lot - and that was to seek work. What were called hiring fairs were held in major towns, at which farm workers and domestic servants offered their services to would-be employers. A vast number of young women were in domestic service in large houses. If Sarah was one such and she went to a hiring fair, say, 10 miles from where she lived and was hired by an employer who lived 25 miles in the other direction, then there is your possible answer. If you've ever seen the film of Thomas Hardy's novel, Far From the Madding Crowd, there is a scene of a typical hiring fair in that in which men are lined up and offering their services as shepherds and ag labs. This accounted for a good deal of movement in the 18th and 19th centuries. -- Roy Stockdill Professional genealogical researcher, writer & lecturer Newbies' Guide to Genealogy & Family History: www.genuki.org.uk/gs/Newbie.html "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." OSCAR WILDE