My gt gt grandfather Willian Carpenter, who married, worked as an exciseman and died in Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, Wales, was born in Hereford in 1810 0r 1811, if the age given on the 1851 census is reliable. On his marriage certificate he states that his father was "William Carpenter, Schoolmaster".
On the 1841 and 1851 censuses there is a William Carpenter (1772-1858) who was a schoolmaster at the Blue Coat School, as were his sons Thomas and Robert Hobart. The IGI list 8 christenings between 1797 and 1809 for William Carpenter and his wife Mary, the first two at St John Baptist and the rest at All Saints, but my William is on the list. Neither is Emma who is living with William and Mary in 1841, aged 25 according to the census meaning she was born between 1811 and 1816, presumably another daughter.
There is a christening on the IGI for a William Carpenter in Hereford, 29 November 1812, but the parents are John and Susannah Carpenter
Is there anyone out there who has any further information about my William Carpenter's birth or any other information regarding the Carpenter family and their work at the Blue Coat School? Or could anyone willing to do look-ups in Hereford put me on their list?
One more thing worthy of note is that another son of William Carpenter Snr, James, named one of his daughters Olivia Tyrconnell Carpenter, which is interesting when you realise that the title of Earl of Tyrconnell was held between 1723 and 1812 by three successive George Carpenters. This could indicate a remote link between the humble schoolmasters of Blue Coat School and the Carpenters, Earls of Tyconnell, or, as is more likely, is a case of wishful thinking by James Carpenter, who, in 1841, gave his occupation as "Writer", only to end up in 1881 as the more respectable-sounding "Clerk to Commissioner of Taxes".
Is there anyone who can elucidate?
Worldsender
