MERRETT of Corsham, Wiltshire

[Sophronia13]

I would like to find the baptism of James MERRETT who according to census records was born between 1840 and 1845 in Corsham, Wiltshire.  His parents were James S. MERRETT of Corsham and Charlotte SALTER of Isle of Wight.

There is nothing on FreeBMD for a James MERRETT registered Chippenham (District for Corsham) in that date range.

Nancy Frey
Newcastle, Ontario, CANADA

[colinsorigins]

Hi Nancy

Your James is certainly elusive.

According to my version of the 1851 census he was 11 years of age and was therefore born about 1840.

I also could not find him in FreeBMD, nor in Wiltshire BMD or the full national BMD images published on Ancestry.   This suggests his name has been entered incorrectly, e.g. perhaps John for James or Werrett for Merrett.

I was surprised not to find him IGI, but maybe the family had reverted back to the Independent church at the time of his baptism.   It is probably worth checking the Church of England parish register[available on film through LDS] in case he has been missed off of the IGI.   Thereafter you need to find where the Independent records are kept.

Good luck

Colin

[Little Nell]

There is an adult baptism recorded for a Sarah Merritt in Corsham in 1850.  Her parents are listed as James and Charlotte and Sarah was born in 1831.  Is she a sister?

A son William was baptised in 1837 and an Edgar in 1838, with the same parents.  Older sibling George is there in 1835.  It does seem odd that James is not there.  I wonder if he was baptised elsewhere?  Have you found the family in 1841?  That may help.

Nell