Baptisms - FREEMAN - Green End, Hemel Hempstead

[KerryfromOz]

Yesterday I received a Birth cert dated 12 Aug 1839 for Ann Freeman and the address of the birth was listed Green End, Parish Hemel Hempstead.  Parents listed are Thomas Freeman soldier and Dorcas Freeman formerly Merridan who listed her address as BoxMoor but this has been crossed out and Green End written below it.

Is there anyone who could check Hemel Hempstead Parish records for Ann (listed above), also her brother William (my grt, grt, grandfather) born in 1837 and another brother Joseph born about 1833/34.

This family is hard to pin down.   These three siblings are always listed as being born in Bovingdon but I know from the MARIA FREEMAN THREAD that there aren't any PR's for them there.

Any help appreciated.

Kerry from Oz!!

[Rick]

Hi Kerry

Green End is an area now within Hemel Hempstead which was once a separate place between Hemel and Boxmoor.  As far as I am aware, it has never had a parish church, and as it is equi-distant from both Boxmoor and Hemel, it may be that the children were baptised in either church.

St John's Boxmoor was not built until 1874, however, HALS does hold records for Boxmoor from 1830, so St Johns must have replaced an earlier church.

St Mary's, Hemel is an ancient church built from roman bricks.  HALS records for the church start from 1558.

However, it looks as though Thomas may have married Dorcas at Bovingdon, which is a small village close to Boxmoor.  There are actually 2 entries with different spellings for Dorcas' surname on the BVRI which would seem to indicate that the entry is not very clear.

FREEMAN, Thomas to Dorcas MERITON      
19 Apr 1831 - Bovingdon, Herts

FREEMAN, Thomas to Dorcas MENTON      
19 Apr 1831 - Bovingdon, Herts

http://www.stmaryshemel.org.uk/index.html

http://www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/data/places/boxmoor.htm

Rick

[petercornish]

Hi Kerry,

Found the marriage entry in the Bovingdon PRs and I can confirm the date given by Rick and also that Dorcas surname can be taken either way.   The ceremony was witnessed by James Durrent (?) and Joshua Baldwin.

Joseph is recorded as being baptised at Bovingdon on 28Aug1831 s/o Thomas and Dorcas, a labourer of Bovingdon. Further searches of Bovingdon, Boxmoor and HH parishes did not find baptisms for William or Ann.

Regards   ...   Peter

[KerryfromOz]

Thanks so much for taking the time to look for me.  I appreciate the effort.  I think Dorcas perhaps just didn't bother with Baptisms. 

Kerry

[phee]

Hi Kerry,

I think your grt, grt, grandfather - William Freeman might be my grt, grt, grt grandfather.  My William is listed in censuses (censi?) as being born in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire circa 1837 although I haven't yet found any baptism for him there.  William married Hannah Joiner nee Fountain in Bovingdon in 1858.  Hannah, the daughter of Peter Fountain, was born in Wendover, Bucks circa 1837.
William and Hannah had at least 8 children that I know of - Henry, James, Thomas, Maryann, Fred, Ernest, Alice, and Albert; also I believe Hannah had a son, George, by her first husband David Joiner.

If any of this sounds at all familiar, please get in touch.

Vicky

[KerryfromOz]

Phee (Vicky)

I have sent you a PM and yes I believe you are right with everything you said.

Kerry

[KerryfromOz]

Phee are you still around.

I have sent you 2 Personal Messages but I think you must sign back into Rootschat to receive them.  Or check the email accout you signed up with.

You were absolutely correct in  what you wrote about William & Hannah and specifically about George Joiner, Hannah's son from her first marriage to David Joiner in 1857, as well as the the children from the marriage to William.

I will send you another Personal Message today to see if it gets through.

Kerry