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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Kent => Topic started by: yelkcub on Thursday 05 August 10 21:00 BST (UK)
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Using FS Pilot has unearthed a family christening that I had previously not come across: James Page (son of Henry William Page and his wife Ann), christened Bexley Heath 8 September 1844. No church is specified in the record, and I'd like to know which would be the most likely church at that time, or are there multiple possibilities? This couple's first two children were christened at St James, Westminster, so I'm assuming the Bexley Heath christening will have been C of E. From the register I would be hoping to learn the couple's address at the time, and the occupation of the father ... who died of consumption less than a month after the christening on 1 October, aged 29 years 9 months. The birth certificates of his first two children have him 1. living in Chertsey, an innkeeper and 2. living in Howick Place, a barrister's clerk. A man of mystery!
I'd be grateful if someone with knowledge of Bexleyheath at that time could tell me which is the most likely register to consult
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There would only be the one parish church ie. C of E in Bexleyheath at that time see http://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/bexh_plc.htm
Casalguidi :)
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No church is specified in the record
I think you'll find that there is.
What you're looking at is the BVRI which is included in the site mentioned. The entry shows "Source Film Number 1469314". This film number can easily be looked up in the Family History Library catalogue which lists it as the Chapelry of Bexleyheath within the parish of Bexley. The name of the church is Christchurch (see the NW Kent FHS site).
BTs are held at the Centre for Kentish Studies in Maidstone and the original registers are at Bexley Local Studies and Archives. You can also order the BTs for viewing at a Mormon Family History Centre.
There is a published transcript of Bexley registers but I can't recall the coverage. You may want to investigate.
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Many thanks to you both for these replies. I have also learned something valuable about how to get more from a FS record.
Best wishes from Cornwall IAN
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I would just like to add a public thankyou to the staff of Bexley Local Studies: I telephoned and then, as requested, emailed the details of the baptism I was interested in ... within an hour I had a reply giving full details of the entry. That must be a record.
Unfortunately, no address was included in the details, and the father's occupation was simply 'gent'. As the father, Henry William Page, must already have been very ill from the consumption from which he died 1 Octover 1844, I'm wondering whether his wife and three young children may have been living apart from him. He died at his father's house, 20 Bury St, and his father was the informant.