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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Norfolk => Topic started by: ARDEXT on Friday 11 February 11 17:39 GMT (UK)
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Hello,
I am looking for information on the birth and origins of Robert Sapy DEXTER.
Here is what I know. From the 26 Mar 1851 St Margaret Kings Lynn marriage register image on FamilySearch, I discovered that he named his father as Thomas SAPY (fisherman). He married Harriet ENEFER daughter of John ENEFER Publican. Where did the DEXTER surname come from then? I presume this indicates that he was the illegitimate child of a female DEXTER and Thomas SAPY. Are there other explanations?
I cannot find the newly wedded couple in the 1851 census but can find Robert and Harriet in the 1861, 1871, and 1881 censuses. In these he uses an age that is consistent with a DOB of 1823. In two censuses he gives his POB as Ringstead (one time recorded as Rinkstet) and once as Heacham. I also cannot find him as a SAPY or DEXTER in the 1841 census.
I have checked the Heacham records on FreeREG and can find no Bapt for Robert as a SAPY or DEXTER.
The Ringstead PRs do not seem to have been filmed by the LDS -- or at least they are not among the parish registers currently listed on the FamilySearch site, and they are not yet transcribed on FreeREG. Do they exist?
Can any of you find him (them) in 1851 and him in 1841 censuses? If the PRs for Ringstead do exist could SKS see if there is a baptism that seems to fit? Are there sources other than baptismal records that might help me determine why he calls himself a DEXTER?
Thanks for any and all help/advice you can give me.
Rick
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A possibility in 1841 indexed as DAXTER and b 1821
HO107 Piece 784 Book 23 Folio 43 Page 21
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Hello Rick
Does the marriage register image online (which I am unable to alight upon - not yet nimble with the new familysearch site) extend to showing the witnesses to the marriage? With it taking place so close to census day 1851 they may be helpful in the search. As I am sure you have already ascertained, the newlyweds were not with the ENEFER family on census night.
Anna :)
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A possibility in 1841 indexed as DAXTER and b 1821
HO107 Piece 784 Book 23 Folio 43 Page 21
Hi Carole
I think that chap's still showing as unmarried in 1851 (?)
Anna
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Yes - he is. Now shown as Robert Dexter b 1822 Hickling . As the census was taken on 30th March and he was married on 26th March - can't be him
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Possible newlyweds:
1851 census: HO107/1829/323/46
Whincop Street, St Margaret's, King's Lynn
Robert SEAPY Head Mar 27 Ship's Captain Norfolk Ringstead
Harriett do Wife Mar 23 Ship's Captain's Wife Norfolk Lynn
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This family might be worth a look for Robert's parents (Thomas is a fisherman which accords with the information on Robert's marriage certificate):
1851 census: HO107/1827/346/38
Snettisham, Norfolk
Thomas SEAPEY Head Mar 48 Fisherman Norfolk Snettisham
Ann do Wife Mar 51 Norfolk Ringstead
Hannah do Daur 15 Norfolk Snettisham
William do Son 13 Scholar Norfolk Snettisham
Susannah do Daur 7 Scholar Norfolk Snettisham
This same couple with more children (no Robert with them unfortunately) was also in Snettisham in 1841 as SAPY: HO107/782/20/35
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A marriage from Familysearch:
Marriage, 4 Nov 1825
Thomas SEAPY
Ann DEXTER
Snettisham, Norfolk
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Just beat me to it - Ann was a second wife and Robert born either within or without any previous marriage
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THANK YOU ALL!
Thats him/them in 1851
The marriage register entry said that he was living at Whincep Street -- (At least that is what it looks like to me.) She was living at Tuesday Market Place.
And I think that you are correct on the Snettisham marriage too. (Is Snettisham located nearby?)
And I think you have his parents Ann and Thomas as well.
SO now I am even more confused. Four days earlier in 1851 he was called/calling himself? Robert Sapy DEXTER and now at the census he is Robert SEAPY. In all of the other census years he is a DEXTER. So lets say he was born two years before his parents married in 1825. Why would he call himself DEXTER rather than SEAPY/SAPY?
Rick
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So lets say he was born two years before his parents married in 1825
I wouldn't think that Thomas was necessarily his biological father. It's more likely that either Ann was previously married or - more likely - that Robert was her illegitimate son
If Thomas brought him up - he probably adopted the Dexter surname when he married whilst retaining his birth surname as his middle name
If he was born within a legitimate marriage - he may not have adopted the Dexter surname - but that's just a personal opinion
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Thank you Carole. I hadnt quite thought of it that way. Now-- how would I go about finding a baptism for him?? It would seem Ringstead is the likely place -- since Ann (his possible mother) claims birth there too. Do you know if the Ringstead PRs exist?
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Hi
Sorry I don't - perhaps somebody with more knowledge of Norfolk will be able to help with that info
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It looks from this link as though the Ringstead St Andrew baptisms are to be transcribed but have not yet been done/completed:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tinstaafl/#R
(which at least suggests that they still exist!)