I am trying to find information on the early lives of Emma WOOD (b 1805-6 in Barleston, Leics) and/or her husband, Isaac CLARK(e) (b 1810-11 in Rowell, Northants). I have them in all the censuses from 1841 to 1881 and I've found their deaths on freeBMD but I can't find anything on their marriage, births, siblings or parents. In 1841, they were living in Great Bowden then, in later censuses, they were living in Market Harborough (he was a saddler). They were married before registrations started in 1837. >From 1861 to 1881, there was a nephew, William DUKE, living with them. According to some family documents, Isaac was "a pillar in the Independent Chapel (Congregational Church)" in Market Harborough. They apparently have a burial plot in the Congregational Church but it's a long way from Australia so I'd be grateful if anyone has any information. Thanks Adrian Prince Sunshine Coast Australia

Hello Adrian My family too were members of the Market Harborough Congregational Church at the same time as yours. I have a few books on its history, which I will unearth and see whether I can find anything in them on your family, and will contact you again off list. The Church is publishing a new book on the history of its people, which was due to be launched on Friday 13 June, and has been compiled by Richard Pickering. It may have information about your family in it, but I am sure that Richard Pickering would help with further information if he can You can contact the church via its website at http://www.marketharboroughonline.co.uk/pp/gold/viewGold.asp?IDType=Page&ID=2013 In the C19 and early C20 the Congregational Church was one of the driving communities in Market Harborough, and many successful local tradespeople were its members. It no longer has its own burial ground, and has not had for very many years. In fact, most of my family were buried in the churchyard of St Mary in Arden, which served the town as its main burying ground until the new Cemetery opened in the 1870s on the Northampton Road. I hope that this may help a bit. Good hunting! Peter Peter B Freshwater MA MCLIP FSAScot Edinburgh, Scotland peter@hillfoot.demon.co.uk Researching BRUCE, FOLWELL, FOX, FRESHWATER, PERKINS, SWINGLER (Beds, Leics, Northants) HAUGHAN, JOHNSTONE, RICHARDSON (Annandale, Cumberland, Durham) DOW, FINDLAY, GRAY, JACK(SON), KENNEDY (Angus, Glasgow, Perth)

Adrian, The marriage is on IGI ... ISAAC CLARKE Marriages: Spouse: EMMA WOOD Marriage: 17 APR 1835 Saint Margaret, Leicester, Leicester, England ...and also on the Leicester Marriages CD ... Isaac CLARKE = Emma WOOD Leicester St Margaret 1835 (from 1st April) Regards, John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Adrian Prince" <amprince@iinet.net.au> To: <LEICESTERSHIRE-PLUS@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2008 10:50 PM Subject: [LEI] WOOD & CLARK (& DUKE) >I am trying to find information on the early lives of Emma WOOD (b 1805-6 >in > Barleston, Leics) and/or her husband, Isaac CLARK(e) (b 1810-11 in Rowell, > Northants). I have them in all the censuses from 1841 to 1881 and I've > found their deaths on freeBMD but I can't find anything on their marriage, > births, siblings or parents. In 1841, they were living in Great Bowden > then, in later censuses, they were living in Market Harborough (he was a > saddler). They were married before registrations started in 1837. > >>From 1861 to 1881, there was a nephew, William DUKE, living with them. > > According to some family documents, Isaac was "a pillar in the Independent > Chapel (Congregational Church)" in Market Harborough. They apparently > have > a burial plot in the Congregational Church but it's a long way from > Australia so I'd be grateful if anyone has any information. > > Thanks > > Adrian Prince > Sunshine Coast > Australia