Searching for Charles Davenport of Acton Parish in the first half of the 1700's

[kwiffboy]

Hi all,

I am trying to establish the father of one Charles Davenport, who was baptised on 02 March, 1740, in Acton Parish and who later married Elizabeth thirlwell (Thurwind) of Malpas, on 21 Sept 1759 in Acton Parish.

His father is shown as giving his consent to the marriage and is recorded as being "Charles Davenport from Woodhey, Father this of Brindley"

I have been to the Chester Records office on two occaisions now, and have searched the Acton records and also those of surrounding Parishes without success.

The following four generations are all very local, and as there is such a strong Davenport link with Calveley just up the road, I suspect he must have been born and raised in the area, but I cannot find any record of him.

To possibly help (or muddy the water) I have found reference to a wedding between a Charles Davenport and Elizabeth Painter (I think it was in the Acton records) on 28 February 1727. I dont know if its the Charles I'm looking for or not.

If anyone has access to the records I'd be very grateful if you could have a look and see if you can spot what I cant, or point me in the direction of where to look next.

Regards,

Matt.

[Jo Harding]

Hello kwiffboy,

The last I heard, the Parish Registers of Acton were held by the church. All the records are kept by people locally. Someone who went to look at these discovered that a number were under the stairs in a house!

The name Davenport is well known in that area.

Have you tried the Cheshire parish Database which is online?

http://www.csc.liv.ac.uk/~cprdb/

There are many small parishes which could have what you are seeking which are not on this however.

There are some local history books by Frank Latham which might give you some clues. Also, the parish booklets compiled by the RO. These are in libraries as well as the RO.

Jo

[kwiffboy]

Hi Jo,

Thanks for the reply.

I have looked on the Cheshire parish Database but Actons records are not on there yet.

Would the original Parish records contain anything that the Microfiche copies at the RO wouldnt - I have definately checked all the Acton and surrounding parishes records for the appropriate time frame. To be honest I really want them to appear on the Cheshire parish database as it means I wont be able to misread or just plain miss an entry which I suspect is what I've done with the old handwriting in the records(twice  ).

I've also gone around every feasible graveyard trying to find some reference but without luck so far.

I'll try the books you suggested - easiest and warmest option for sure! I do also have a copy of Lysons Cheshire - much later, but it may just suggestion something.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Matt.

[Jo Harding]

Hello kwiffboy,

I doubt the actual PRs would have anything else to what you have seen but you never know. Did you look at the Parish Registers, or the Bishops' Transcripts? I have occasionally seen differences in the two.

There are very many small parishes in this area and some of them have records missing, or incomplete. In those days, I don't think the records can be considered 100% reliable, sometimes the vicar put slips of paper in his pocket with the details on, then lost them.

There is a Nantwich Family History Society which covers the Acton area. Have you approached them? They used to meet on the third Monday of the month in the library in Nantwich.

A friend of mine had problems with Acton records and I believe that the Cheshire Record Office is not happy with the situation.

Given the Davenport interest locally, I should think there must be something on this line somewhere. Question is where?

Jo

[Cancan]

Hi,

Manchester library has a microfilm for Acton couldn't find a baptism for Charles Davenport 2 March 1740.

I couldn't see a marriage for 28 Feb 1727.

And pages seemed to be all there!!


But I did find the Marriage for:

Charles Davenport to Elizabeth Thirlwell, parish of Malpas married in Church by license
2 September 1759 by Jos Brereton (vicar)
Both signed
W. Thos Davenport  Samuel Stevenson


Cancan

[Jo Harding]

I thought about this again and in view of the areas you mention, wonder about something in Wrenbury, Harthill, or Cholmondeley Private Chapel. Have you looked at these?

The situation with Cholmondeley Chapel is not great as many of the records are missing. They have what is available on microfilm at the RO.

I have often looked at the Harthill PRs and Davenport is not a name I remember in these. It was a large parish, so I couldn't swear to it not being there.

I take it you have looked in Nantwich itself?

Jo

[chesters]

Matt, the marriage of Charles Davenport and Elizabeth Painter that you mention is actually at Whitegate, which is on the CPRdb.

Jo, are the few pages of BTs for Cholmondeley that are on microfilm all that are left then? I looked a few months ago and I think there were some from the 1600s and some from early/mid 1800s.

Chesters.

[kwiffboy]

Hi all,

Thanks for the reply and sorry I’ve not been able to respond for a few days.

Cancan, Thanks for looking at the records again. Oddly I definitely have a record of Charles Davenports Baptism on the 2nd March 1740, in Burland to Charles and Elizabeth Davenport. There are also records of siblings James (1742), George (1744), Elizabeth (1746) and Catherine (1748). In my notes they are all from the microfiche MF39/01 – Acton Parish Records. The first three shown as born/living in Burland, the last two in Woodhey

Jo, It’s been about 6 months since I was last at the RO (redundancy and setting up a new business took priority).  Although I’m certain I looked at all the surrounding parishes – I recall looking at a map in the RO and then searching each adjacent parish – I don’t recall which they actually were and I found nothing of relevance to record in them so don’t have them in my notes.

Therefore, following looking in to the LH books you suggested I’ll take a trip and check the parishes you mention to be sure.

Chesters, thanks for confirming the marriage  - it was on the same page  as my Acton notes, In a different pen, so I presume I’ve sourced it from somewhere else. I can’t now recall if I have looked at the Whitegate records for that time period (and when I did look I was looking for Ravenscroft’s), so it is possibly the route to success.

Thanks to all for your help. I’ve got some good leads to go off now.

[Jo Harding]

Hello again,

To Chesters,

Yes, the RO's microfilm of Cholmondeley Chapel BMDs is all there is available. Most were lost in the past.

To kwiffboy,

When you search for records, you need to record all the places and dates you have looked at. Otherwise, you find that you cannot recall what you have seen. The situation you are in now.

There is an excellent local history book on Acton and it is by Frank Latham I think. This series are all in white covers and kept in the RO and most of the Cheshire libraries. They are out of print now mainly, though you can sometimes pick them up secondhand.

Jo.