Hi Geoff
That was straightforward. The first district in Luton that I checked.
HO107/004-13 Folio 9A
East Hyde hamlet, Luton
Reuben Dunham 15 Male servant born in Beds
In household of Thomas Cox farmer
Not much use in trying to establish his parents! But 3 pages earlier was the only other Dunham family that I could see in East Hyde, so there must be a chance that Reuben is connected to them
Folio 7B
Sophia Dunham 40 straw plaiter
George Dunham 15 ag lab
Hannah 15; Elizabeth 13; Naomi 10
Hannah Garrett 4
All born in Beds
Ages over 15 in 1841 were rounded down to the nearest 5 below so 15 covered ages 15-19
On the assumption that Sophia was a widow in 1841 I checked the NBI and the only burial that fits is of a Samuel Dunham at Luton on 1 Oct 1831 age 33, which would explain the lack of children after Naomi if he was Sophia's husband.
So there is the possibility that Reuben’s parents were Samuel and Sophia.
The IGI (controlled extract not a member submission) has a marriage of Samuel Dunham and Sophia Perkins on 28 May 1819 at Luton St Marys
But you would need either preferably the parish register to confirm his baptism, or as a minimum his marriage cert which would name his father, hopefully as Samuel deceased.
I’ve just looked at the 1851 to see when he was married – around 1847 judging by the age of his eldest child, but guess who was a visitor in his household – none other than Hannah Garrett aged 14! I think that makes the connection between Reuben and Sophia even more plausible.
Let me know if you need census details from 1851-71 for Reuben
Hope this helps
Regards
David
PS If it's not a rude question, where did you find Reuben's birth without his parents being mentioned?
