Good morning, and thank you Chris for providing me with the details of my Samuel FIRTH christening,(b.29th Jan 1804.) also John FIRTH his brother (b.7th Dec.1800.) My 2 boys parents were, at that time, of Birkenhead. Like most things in family research, it did however leave me pondering if the other children, born in different parishes,were/are of the same family. 1.Betty.... b.21st Jan.1798 Burley 2.Joseph....b.2nd Nov.1806.Little Gormersal 3.Margaret.b.25th Sept.1808.Little Gormersal 4.Elias.b.4th Aug.1811 Little Gormersal were,/are of the same family. The parents of all of these children are John and Sarah. However, it set me thinking about the Old Poor Law, of which I am, alas, now a bit rusty.Having now Googled, I have found a web. page you may like to read. http://www.historyhome.co.uk/peel/poorlaw/plaa.htm I know at one time most people took their children back to their parish of origin to be christened, and if they did not belong to the parish where the christening was done, it was noted in the records.One of my ancestors was christened In one parish, and the parish he moved to, also recorded the fact in their christening records. Mainly I think, because he was renting land and if he fell on hard times before his allotted time of becoming of their parish, they would not be responsible for poor relief for him or his children.He did eventually settle there. Unfortunately however, I think in some instances it was also mentioned to differentiate one branch with the same named parents, from another.Having said that, all is not lost, I shall tuck them away as being possible.Ah....the pitfalls of research.!! All I am sure of is that Samuel and John are definitely mine. I hope I have not bored you, and would be quite pleased if someone more knowledgeable can give me their views.I base my findings on what I know of Devon, where we had mainly "ag.labourers",some of mine who ended up on poor relief, and, in my lovely grandma's case, the dreaded workhouse. However, things may have worked slightly different in Yorkshire, and I am now dealing, I believe, with "weavers". regards from, Annabelle.
I wonder if anone on the list can help me get back via email to Geoff Gaukrodger of Auckley, Doncaster. In 1998 he wrote me about his grandmother Annie HEWITT nee HARGREAVES 1858-1928. At that time I hadn't done the research that I now have to hand. His Annie and my Hargreaves are all connected as cousins and I can now answer a number of the questions that he posed in his letter to me. So can anyone help me get back to him easily via email please? . I already have his phone number from BT online but think phoning after almost ten years is likely to be a bit of a shock and email is gentler. Thanks. Any help appreciated. Alison Alison Hargreaves-Lyons in Brisbane, Australia is seeking: AMBLER, BAILEY, CLAY, CRABTREE, DRAKE,HALEY, HARGREAVES,HEWITT, HOLDEN, JAGGER, MOLYNUEX, RUDD, TAYLOR, UTTLEY, WILSON in Halifax area, WRY.