Happy New Year to everyone. I am seeking a baptism of a William Hart(shorn) who was born c.1809/10 according to later census in Watnall or Langley. I suspect he is the son of Thomas and Hannah (nee MEAKING) who married in 1808 in Greasley parish and baptised several children there. Thomas Hart came from West Hallam, Derbyshire and had returned there by 1824. They were coal miners. William also made his home in West Hallam and is mentioned in the Royal Commission on the Employment of Miners as a butty who was injured in a roof fall. Thanks Jane

Jane, With hundreds of possible baptisms for William Hart and William Hartshorn around 1810, you really need to make a strong case for his exact surname, age and birthplace. Unfortunately, it's doubly difficult because they moved around and you don't have the advantage of a post 1837 marriage that would give his father. What you don't give is data from post 1841 censuses that could be checked for consistency of name, age and birthplace. If you could identify his siblings, then you could give some credence to commonality of birthplace. Being a coal miner, it's doubtful his father left a will. There is also the option that a parent, sibling or other relative can be found with him in later census. You might also look at naming patterns. But with so many variants creating so many possibilities, it's a very difficult ask. Peter