Chiswick/Isleworth birth 1770-80 John House

[worldsender]

Am I right in thinking that most Chiswick/Isleworth/Brentford birth have not been added to the IGI?

I have been trying to trace the birth of a John House which took place in Chiswick or Isleworth probably between 1770 and 1780.

"John House of the Surrey Cavalry of Chiswick" married a Grace Hill or Heal in Barnstaple in 1797 and their first child, Elizabeth, was christened in Barnstaple in 1798. John appears to have been demobbed there and the couple were subsequently mentioned in a North Devon settlement examination:

"John House of the Surry Cavalry, born in Ilesworth(sic) Middlesex; lately married to Grace Hill of Barnstaple May 1797"

I haven't been able to examine the details of this settlement examination, so the next thing I know know about the couple is from the IGI which shows they had a further 5 children between 1803 and 1814, but all of these were christened in Mortlake, Surrey, just across the river from Chiswick and Isleworth.

By 1841 Grace is a widow and working a servant in the household of George Hood, surgeon, in Mortlake. There is also an undated miniature of her belonging to a descendant
of hers living in Canada, of which I have a scanned copy. In 1851 she is in the almshouse at East Sheen (Mortlake) and she dies in 1855.

There is no record of a birth of a John House in Mortlake or Barnes, so I am given to believe that the sources stating that he was born in Chiswick or Isleworth are correct. Yet I can find no mention of Chiswick on the IGI or Hugh Wallis and the latter gives data for Isleworth only appears for the period 1813-1852. As to the year of John's birth, his wife was born in 1777, so he is likely to be of a similar age or slightly older, and so I should say between 1770 and 1780.

I live in Sardinia so I can't go bombing around West London looking up parish registers at the moment. Could anyone who has access to them please do me a favour and see if they can find a birth for my gt gt gt grandfather John House?

Regards,

Chris Pain

[dawnsh]

Hi Chris

Am I right in thinking that most Chiswick/Isleworth/Brentford birth have not been added to the IGI?

Yes you are.

I've got a London Metropolitan Archives look-up message at the top of the London & Middx boards.

I'm going on a regular basis but I'm trying to clear up some of the older answered threads first.

I'm happy to add you to my look-up list as long as you are aware I can't give a definite date for when I'm going to get a result for you. Some look-ups are easier than others if actual dates are supplied, some look-ups are very time-consuming.

If you are really desperate for an answer, the LMA do offer a look-up service but charge a minimum £30 look-up fee (and there's no guarantee what you're looking for exists in the registers).

If you want to be put on file, let me know.

Dawn

[worldsender]

Yes please Dawn, do put me on the list. I'm not in any hurry. I've been stuck here for a year or so and however long it takes isn't going to make any difference.

I see you've got some Chelsea people among your ancestors. From what part? I was brought up at the World's End, Chelsea, though my dad's family didn't move there form Mortlake via Shepherd's Bush and Fulham until the 20s.

If you need to know anything about Chelsea history I know quite a lot and for what I don't know I've got loads of books, lots of old photos.

Thanks for the reply and the offer.

Regards,

Chris

[dawnsh]

Hi Chris

I've added you to my list.

I see you've got some Chelsea people among your ancestors. From what part?

Mainly around the parish of St Lukes, 2 coincidences - some are in service in Elm Park Gardens, and then after WW2, thats where my mum grew up and I have a marriage at St Saviours Church in 1864 of my gg-grandparents and then my parents married there in 1961. My mum had no idea until we started doing her tree. Thanks for asking.

Dawn

[worldsender]

Dawn, have or and your mum read "World's End: A Memoir of a Blitz Childhood" by Donald James Wheal. Maybe it's a bit before your mum's time if she was married in 1961. Donald Wheal was born in Chelsea in the early 30s and lived at the World's End in the Guinness Trust buildings until the 1944 bombing which killed 86 people. The book also contains quite a lot of information about Chelsea in the 1800s through the eyes of his grandmother brought up at the World's End at a time when the major attraction was Cremorne Gardens.
I recommend it.
Regards,
Chris

[dawnsh]

Hi Chris

Thanks for the recommendation, have just checked our library stock and they have a copy!! (they've actually got 25 across the borough and we're not even in Chelsea) so I'll go and get it today.

Dawn