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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Oxfordshire => Topic started by: Kells on Tuesday 27 December 22 23:36 GMT (UK)

Title: Ancestor born in a barn near Chinnor 1717
Post by: Kells on Tuesday 27 December 22 23:36 GMT (UK)
I am tracing a possible ancestor named Elizabeth Doyley, who married Samuel Ginger at Chinnor in 1734 (both say they were of that parish but married by licence. My Samuel was from Stone in Bucks.). I have narrowed a birth for her down to an Elizabeth Dowley, baptised 7 April 1717 at Chinnor. Written in Latin, I have translated it as: "Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Dowley of Woolwich in the county of Kent born in a barn of Richard King (senior?) of Hinton."

I can't find anyone by the name of Dowley in the region but a lot of families named Doyley in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. I can't find anyone in Kent or London that is a match with Thomas but I have very little to go on. On Elizabeth's marriage she is recorded as Doyley. I may have the wrong person, however, I am curious as to why she was born in Richard King's barn! I have access to Ancestry and have looked through the Oxon PRs but I'm not sure if I'm on track.

Any advice or assistance will be gratefully received. Thank you  :)
Title: Re: Ancestor born in a barn near Chinnor 1717
Post by: QueenoftheWest on Wednesday 28 December 22 15:15 GMT (UK)
"Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Dowley of Woolwich in the county of Kent born in a barn of Richard King (senior?) of Hinton."

Looks like Senr to me too. There is a will for a Richard King, yeoman, of Henton, which was proved in 1722. Within the document, he mentions his son Richard King, who would presumably have been known as Richard King Jr. Cannot find an obvious connection between Richard King and Thomas.

Queenie  :)
Title: Re: Ancestor born in a barn near Chinnor 1717
Post by: Kells on Wednesday 28 December 22 23:14 GMT (UK)
Thanks Queenie. I too tried the King angle but got nowhere. If they were friends, or family, would this poor woman have been left to give birth in a barn and not invited into the house? Perhaps they were travelling through and were strangers. It is quite mysterious!
Title: Re: Ancestor born in a barn near Chinnor 1717
Post by: fiddlerslass on Thursday 29 December 22 12:39 GMT (UK)
Sounds like they were passing through.Have you tried looking for settlement records, either at the Kent or Oxfordshire end, as the parishes may have communicated with each other,  or parish relief in Oxfordshire?
Title: Re: Ancestor born in a barn near Chinnor 1717
Post by: Kells on Friday 30 December 22 10:19 GMT (UK)
Thank you for the suggestion, I will see what I am able to access online for Kent and Oxfordshire.
Title: Re: Ancestor born in a barn near Chinnor 1717
Post by: Copper1 on Friday 30 December 22 12:29 GMT (UK)
End of year whimsy. I'm wondering whether your ancestor is the origination for the phrase which greets somebody entering a room who always leaves the door open  :o

Close the door behind you - were you born in a barn!? ;D
Title: Re: Ancestor born in a barn near Chinnor 1717
Post by: Kells on Saturday 31 December 22 22:41 GMT (UK)
That may be so!  ;D