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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Hampshire & Isle of Wight => England => Hampshire & IOW Lookup Requests => Topic started by: scottiow on Saturday 01 August 09 23:22 BST (UK)

Title: John Swift
Post by: scottiow on Saturday 01 August 09 23:22 BST (UK)

Hello,

Can anyone find a parish record and any info on John Swift born abt1805 Andover? Have been trying to find his birth record for ages now!

he later moved to bath and married margaret jones

any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

all the best

scott

Title: Re: John Swift
Post by: patrish on Saturday 01 August 09 23:58 BST (UK)

Are you sure that he was born there, does he appear on any census which gives it as Andover  ???

Title: Re: John Swift
Post by: scottiow on Sunday 02 August 09 00:30 BST (UK)

The  1851 and 1861  census say he is born in andover abt 1805-6, on these census he is living in somerset, bath, in lyncombe and widcombe, sorry i didnt clarify this on my initial post. Any Suggestions???

Thanks for you time and help,

all the best

scott

Title: Re: John Swift
Post by: patrish on Sunday 02 August 09 16:19 BST (UK)

I've had a good look through the IGI but cant find anything, both census do confirm that he was born Andover circa 1805.

Just looking for any Swifts any dates born in Andover, it would seem that this is a very uncommon name for that area, I only found a Henry c. 1500 and an Eliza b 22.11.1820 parents James and Mary.

This is a very useful site for Hampshire  http://www.knightroots.co.uk/

I looked at the parish records for St. Marys Andover  baptisms 1746 - 1783 and did not find one Swift, neither in the marriages 1747 - 1769  :(

Title: Re: John Swift
Post by: patrish on Sunday 02 August 09 16:41 BST (UK)

Do you have his marriage cert to Margaret Jones, it would help if we could find his fathers name. :)

I cannot find it on the IGI or free bmd

There is no sign of any John Swift born Hampshire on the 1841 either.

According to the first census  which is all we have to go on, in   1851 his first child is born around 1837, if he was born c. 1805 that would make him almost 40 when he married, I am wondering if he was perhaps a mariner in earlier life with the Hampshire connection. ???

Also is could be that he might have thought he was born in Andover but wasn't  ???

The probabilities are endless really.  We need to find his fathers name and occupation .

Title: Re: John Swift
Post by: bearkat on Sunday 02 August 09 18:17 BST (UK)

There is a baptism for John Swift in Andover 4th March 1807 (born 8th Feb) - parents James & Elizabeth

Title: Re: John Swift
Post by: scottiow on Sunday 02 August 09 18:35 BST (UK)

Hi once again patrish thanks for your time and help, and thanks to you bearkat.

Patrish as you say the possibilities are endless and that is why it has taken me so long to make progress on him. You have confirm the results from my search as i couldnt find anything and also found that swift was not a common name there. I have not found a marriage certificate yet, would there be one as his frist child would be abt 1837 which is about the start of the certificates registration?? May have just been before hence why i have not found a certificate as yet.

I have not found him on the 1841 either but do remember finding a john swift on the 1841 census serving as a soldier in portsmouth. However i think the date of birth was slightly different.

Bearkat thanks for your help, could you tell me where you found the record for this entry.

Thanks for your help and time

all the best

scott

Title: Re: John Swift
Post by: patrish on Sunday 02 August 09 20:14 BST (UK)

Quote

There is a baptism for John Swift in Andover 4th March 1807 (born 8th Feb) - parents James & Elizabeth

Can you tell me also please Bearkat. :)....I was searching for hours today and couldent find anything  ???

What a co -incidence 8th Feb is my birthday  also  ;D

Title: Re: John Swift
Post by: scottiow on Sunday 02 August 09 21:09 BST (UK)

thanks for all your help

cheer
scott

Title: Re: John Swift
Post by: Daisypetal on Monday 03 August 09 21:27 BST (UK)

Hi,

Remembering ages were rounded down in 1841, this looks like John :)


1841  HO107/970/10  f.35  p.17  Walcot, Somerset
Crescent Field Gardens

John SWIFT    30    Porter    N 
Margaret        30                Y
Edward           3                 Y
John               1                 Y


Regards
Daisy

Title: Re: John Swift
Post by: scottiow on Tuesday 04 August 09 12:57 BST (UK)

Hi Daisypetal thanks for your help. I have done lots of searching and have never come across this record. I know the 1841 census birth dates were rounded, but did they round them up aswell, as the record which seems likely for my john  swift has him born 1807?

Looking at the census record it seems very likely due to the names as he married a margaret and the place is good too, just next to were they later live.

all the best

scott

Title: Re: John Swift
Post by: Daisypetal on Tuesday 04 August 09 13:14 BST (UK)

I'm not sure about rounding up the ages but 'your' John would be 33 or 34 so rounded down to 30.

I've seen ages change, by choice or mistranscription on every census, so I always allow some leeway about them.

Daisy

Title: Re: John Swift
Post by: scottiow on Tuesday 04 August 09 13:34 BST (UK)

I see. Yeah i have stumbled across some big variations in age for what is clearly the same person before, which is why i usally leave it as an approx until i can confirm the d.o.b from a record.

thanks again

all the best

scott

Title: Re: John Swift
Post by: patrish on Tuesday 04 August 09 15:42 BST (UK)

Quote

I know the 1841 census birth dates were rounded, but did they round them up aswell, 

No

1841 Census.

The ages of people over 15 years old were usually rounded down to the nearest 5 years. Therefore, someone who was actually 24 years would have their age listed as 20, and someone who was actually 27 years old would have their age listed as 25.