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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Sussex => England => Sussex Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Katie123 on Saturday 01 October 05 14:49 BST (UK)

Title: help with a brickwall!
Post by: Katie123 on Saturday 01 October 05 14:49 BST (UK)
Hi everyone,

I have been tracing my family history and have been focusing on the HUNT line.  I managed to get as far back as WILLIAM HUNT, who born in 1816(ish), Westham, Sussex (according to the 1861 Census). 

William died in 1865, so there is no further Census information about him (I did manage to track down the 1851 Census, where it just said 'West Ham', so I thought for ages it was a reference to London). 

I got a hold of a copy of William's marriage certificate to a Sarah Kingham - they got married in 1845 in London.  On the marriage certificate, William's father is listed as being JOHN HUNT, who worked in the leather industry (I don't have the certificate in front of me, and can't remember his occupation details specifically). 

I have since attempted to find the birth record of William, in a hope of attaining further information about him, thus allowing me to get further with my research.  However, using the internet as my only source, I have so far come up with zilch!! ???

Would anyone be able to please help me with the following:

1.  When (and where, presumably Westham) was William   Hunt born?
2. What was the name of his mother?
3. Did he have any siblings?

If anyone can help me with any aspect whatsoever of my query I would be very, very grateful indeed.  I have been puzzling over this side of my family for a while now and would love to get further back!!

Many thanks,

Katie  :)
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: sillgen on Saturday 01 October 05 15:09 BST (UK)
In the 1851 census index for Westham there is a Hunt family headed by Harriet Hunt, widow age 49, pauper, born Brede.   She has a son called William.   A look up in 1841 might find her husband who may be a brother of your William and give you another angle to work at.  It might find William too.
Only using the internet does mean that you are missing many potential sources of information.   Are you near London?  If you cannot go to a Sussex record office then the Society of Genealogists in London has many parish records.  If you are near an LDS centre (worldwide and listed on www.familysearch.org) then you can order the film and search it there.   Westham registers are not all on the IGI.   I think they stop at 1812 - unless more have been added recently - so you really need to look at the original register to find William.
Good luck
Andrea
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: Chris in 1066Land on Saturday 01 October 05 16:34 BST (UK)
Hi there

1841 for Westham - HO107/ 1117/ 2 - Westham

HUNT James, 40, Ag Lab
........  Harriett, 35,
........  Maria, 17
........  James, 14
........  Pricella, 11
........  Thomas, 8
........  Caroline, 6
........  David, 4
........  William, 2

All born in Sussex - it is not indicated where James, 40 was born

Hope it helps

Chris in 1066
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: Chris in 1066Land on Saturday 01 October 05 16:41 BST (UK)
Hi again

Just found this - but no sign of William at all

HO107/ 1117/ 2 - Hardcombe Street, Westham

HUNT John, 70, Poor Man
........  Fanny, 67

Both born in Sussex

Chris in 1066
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: Katie123 on Saturday 01 October 05 20:03 BST (UK)
Thank you to both Chris and Andrea for your help with my problem...I think I might be getting there!

Katie

PS Chris - I visited your website and it was a real treasure trove of information! : )
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: Chris in 1066Land on Saturday 01 October 05 20:54 BST (UK)
Hi Katie

Sorry, I forgot to say 'welcome to rootschat, and especially the Sussex boards'

That are quite a few on here who are just itching to help you.

Glad you found my 1066genealogy site - the whole purpose of it is to help family historians with their research.

Looking forward to helping you where we can

Chris in 1066
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: venusian on Saturday 01 October 05 21:39 BST (UK)
Hi Katie,
               just to say welcome to rootschat and the Sussex board in paticular.I hope together we can solve your headache!!

All Best Wishes

Diane

P.S. I wonder if anyone on here has access to the Westham Parish Records or if anyone is visiting the records office in the near future? ;D
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: venusian on Saturday 01 October 05 21:59 BST (UK)
Hi Again,
                Chris my eyesight is not so good today,

HO107/1114/ 13    EASTBOURNE  1841  ED 3

 I have found some Hunt's that might be relevant please could you have a look especially Folio 20 page 31. Katie did give a list of children christened Westham father John on SXP and I am sure that some of the Hunt's in Eastbourne match.Thank You,

Diane ;D
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: mnmilt on Saturday 01 October 05 22:23 BST (UK)
Hi,
This may be John and Fanny's marriage

Extract from the Sussex Marriage Index:
Place: Westham, East Sussex,  Date: 25 Oct 1795:
Subject: John HUNT
Spouse: Frances WOODS, botp (lic)
Extra Information: w: Thos HOATHLY John CHRISTIAN

I also have a record of a John Hunt being christened on 21 Dec 1771 in Eastbourne.  The age and general location would fit with the John that Chris mentioned.

 
Also, I think that the address that Chris gave should have been 2, Handcombe St rather than 2, Hardcombe St.


Regards

Mark
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: Chris in 1066Land on Saturday 01 October 05 22:32 BST (UK)
Hi Diane

HO107/1114/ 13 / Folio 20/ Page 31 - Eastbourne Town

HUNT William, 26, Ag Lab
........  Elizabeth, 21
........  Charles, 9 months
CLIMPSON Ruth, 14

All born in Sussex

Chris in 1066
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: venusian on Saturday 01 October 05 23:23 BST (UK)
Hi Again,
                 Katie listed the possible siblings of William (The children of John and Fanny) as being Abraham,Henry,Charles,Harriett and Fanny and hopefully her William.
 I to had a look at the I.G.I  AND found a John Hunt christened Eastbourne 06/01/1771 ,Parents ABRAHAM HUNT and SUSANNAH WILKINS.
  The most interesting thing is the similarity between John's brothers and sisters and the names of his own children.
 Abraham,James,William,Henry,Thomas,Elizabeth and Lucy.

Diane
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: mnmilt on Sunday 02 October 05 00:17 BST (UK)
Diane,
That's the John Hunt that I mentioned in a previous post.  In case he is the right one, here are some more details

1-Abraham HUNT b. Abt 1739, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, c. 12 Apr 1741, St
  Mary's Ch, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, d. Jun 1819, Eastbourne, Sussex,
  England, bur. 12 Jun 1819, St Mary's, Eastbourne, Sussex, England
 +Susanna WILKINS b. Mar 1741, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, c. 12 Apr 1741, St
  Mary's, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, d. Feb 1829, Eastbourne, Sussex,
  England, bur. 2 Feb 1829, Workhouse, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, m. 7 Aug
  1763, St Mary's, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, par. Thomas WILKINS and
  Susannah CARTER
|--2-Abraham HUNT b. Abt 1764, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, c. 18 Mar 1764, St
|    Mary's, Eastbourne, Sussex, England (m Elizabeth Wood)
|--2-Elizabeth HUNT b. Abt 1766, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, c. 20 Apr 1766,
|    St Mary's, Eastbourne, Sussex, England (m Thomas Bush)
|--2-Susanna HUNT b. Abt 1768, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, c. 14 Feb 1768, St
|    Mary's, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, d. Abt 1843, Eastbourne, Sussex,
|    England (m Francis Bradford)
|--2-Thomas HUNT b. Abt 1769, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, c. 19 Mar 1769, St
|    Mary's, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, d. Jul 1770, Eastbourne, Sussex,
|    England, bur. 25 Jul 1770, St Mary's, Eastbourne, Sussex, England
|--2-John HUNT b. Abt 1771, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, c. 31 Dec 1771,
|    Eastbourne, Sussex, England
|--2-James HUNT b. Abt 1773, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, c. 31 Jan 1773, St
|    Mary's, Eastbourne, Sussex, England
|--2-Lucy HUNT b. Abt 1775, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, c. 29 Oct 1775, St
|    Mary's, Eastbourne, Sussex, England
|--2-William HUNT b. Abt 1778, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, c. 18 Oct 1778, St
|    Mary's, Eastbourne, Sussex, England
|--2-Mary HUNT b. Abt 1780, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, c. 10 Dec 1780, St
|    Mary's, Eastbourne, Sussex, England (m Joseph Wilkins)
|--2-Henry HUNT b. Abt 1784, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, c. 19 Sep 1784, St
|    Mary's, Eastbourne, Sussex, England (m Sarah Avery)


Regards

Mark
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: Katie123 on Sunday 02 October 05 11:13 BST (UK)
Thank you all so much for your help!  It's quite a bit to get my head around  :)

So, do you think that my William Hunt (b. 1816, Westham) could be the son of John and Fanny?  That's where I got in a muddle you see; I thought that the age gap would be too great, although I suppose that Fanny (b. 1773?) might still have been able to have had William aged 43ish.

I think Fanny Hunt must have died sometime between 1851 and 1861, as I can't find her in the 1861 Census.  However, I can find a John Hunt, who was born in Westborne, Sussex and is living in Croydon (aged 86) with a servant called Mary Humphrey. 

re: the 1841 census of William Hunt, where he is shown as having a wife and child (Elizabeth and Charles) - I went on to FreeBMD and found deaths for a Charles Hunt (in 1841) and an Elizabeth Hunt (1842), both in Eastbourne.  Is Eastbourne the right area (is it nearish to Westham?)?

Many, many thanks for all of your wonderful help,

Katie  :D
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: sillgen on Sunday 02 October 05 12:07 BST (UK)
Yes, Eastbourne would be the registration disrict for Westham.   You can check that on Genuki or by clicking on the Eastbourne link on the FreeBMD record - it shows the smaller villages that are included in that district.
Andrea
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: Katie123 on Sunday 02 October 05 12:54 BST (UK)
Okay...so I think that I pretty much have it sussed now...only one thing re: William having a first wife (Elizabeth) - wouldn't it say on his marriage certificate to Sarah Kingham 'widower' or something instead of 'bachelor'?  I don't know.

Many thanks for all of your invaluable help...I wouldn't have got any further without it.

Katie  ;)
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: venusian on Sunday 02 October 05 13:30 BST (UK)
Hi Katie,
                there is a marriage Eastbourne 1839 March Quarter between,

WILLIAM HUNT
ELIZABETH MILLER

Does anyone have a fuller record?

Diane

Maybe witnessess would prove family connection.
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: mnmilt on Sunday 02 October 05 13:33 BST (UK)
Katie,
You suggested that Fanny Hunt died between 1851 and 1861 because you couldn't find her in the 1861 census.  Where was she in 1851?  If I read this thread correctly, the census information that Chris provided was the 1841 census information, in which case this may be the death of Fanny Hunt:

Deaths Dec 1845
~~~~~~~~
 
HUNT  Fanny     Eastbourne  7 209


If John is not in the 1851 census, then this may be his death:

Deaths Dec 1846
~~~~~~~~
 
HUNT  John     Eastbourne  7 270


I would recommend getting copies of these death certificates.  Often they contain some useful information such as the name of the informant which may be a relative.  That has enabled me to confirm relationships for some of the lines that I have been following.

You had mentioned that you had obtained a copy of William's marriage certificate.  Who were listed as the witnesses?  This information often offers up some additional clues.

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: Katie123 on Sunday 02 October 05 13:41 BST (UK)

Yes, I've just found the deaths of John and Fanny Hunt in the 1840s myself - and I'm 99.9% sure that it's THE John and Fanny Hunt. 
The witnesses to William Hunt's marriage to Sarah Kingham were an Esther McDonald and (presumably) her husband, Peter.  I tried doing a search when I first got the certificate to see if there was an Esther Kingham or an Esther Hunt who married a McDonald, but I came up with nothing  :-\

But am I right in thinking that on a marriage certificate it would say 'widower' or something?  I don't know if this applied in all cases, but I think I've got a few certificates relating to a different part of the family that has 'widow', 'widower' or 'formerly' written in the marital status box.

As always, many thanks for all this fantastic help,

Katie  ;)
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: Katie123 on Sunday 02 October 05 13:43 BST (UK)

I also found the marriage that Diane discovered - I think it is more than likely to be the right William and Elizabeth as their son would have been born several months afterwards...
I think ordering the certificate would possibly be the best way forward with that, unless, as Diane said, anyone has the marriage details at their disposal?

Thanks

Katie  ;)
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: mnmilt on Sunday 02 October 05 21:12 BST (UK)
Katie,
Please can you post the 1861 census information that you mentioned?  That may provide us with some more clues to follow up on?

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: Katie123 on Monday 03 October 05 10:17 BST (UK)

Okay, here is William Hunt in the 1861 Census:

15 Marine Street, Bermondsey

William Hunt - 45 - night porter - b. Westham, Sussex
Sarah - 40 - b. St Michaels, Herts
Sarah - 12 - b. Rotherhithe, London
Jane - 15 - b. Rotherhithe
William G.  - 8 - b. Rotherhithe
Thomas - 5 - b. Rotherhithe
Emma - 2 - b. Rotherhithe
Louisa - 5mths - b. Bermondsey

(NB Thomas Hunt is my great great grandfather)

The only other factual information I have about William (apart from his marriage certificate to Sarah) is his death certificate.  He worked as a policeman, sailor and some kinf of attendant just before his death.

I'm pretty sure that he did marry this Elizabeth Miller first! ???

Many thanks,

Katie  ;)
Title: Re: help with a brickwall!
Post by: estelle on Thursday 24 June 10 12:15 BST (UK)
Katie   I have just noticed on Google your "help with a brick wall" re William Hunt born 1818 Westham  who married  Sarah.  My great grandmother was Eliza Jane Hunt born 1851 at Rotherhithe.  She married Ernest Mark Brooks & travelled to Australia with my Grandmother Florence age 12 months old.  I have Thomas b 1855/56 marrying Amelia Ann Green is this correct?  Eliza called one of her daughters middle name Fanny, I wondered where it may have come from !!!  On Eliza's marriage cert she has her father William Hunt (dec) profession a Engineer, now I find today  on the 1861 census he was a night porter at a wharf, and on the 1851 census was listed as a Police Constable.  After his death Sarah was a milliner as was her daughter Amelia.    I would be delighted to share information.