tcrengr's Scavenger Hunt... Everyone Welcome To Join In

[jaywit]

Toni I agree with your last message.

As there is the family story that they came from Flamborough my first port of call would be to find out if anyone has access to Flamborough PRs before 1724 ( or if not perhaps pay the RO to look) and see if there were Cockcrofts there before ther first PR record we can find.

If there isn't then as you say you need to sort the family groups out.

[toni*]

what i suggest you do as there seems to be a lack of input int his hunt is to request a look up for Matthews bp. in Flamborough directly on the Yorkshire board

i personally think he was older than the 'usual' soldier  as the Fenibles seem to be more TA type and therefore i would expect Matthew to be born 1752-1772 (if he signed up in 1792 when the regt was created)

also looking for some of my own relatives on Findagrave.com i also searched for Cockcroft and there are 2 in Hartshead Moorside (West Yorkshire) circa the time we are looking but as we said previously there does seem to be a hub of Cockcrofts in Yorkshire at this time.
 

[toni*]

Some other thoughts Matthew & Hannah are having children in Halifax in the late 1780’s early 1790’s this would tie in with Matthew being born in Illingworth in 1762  Illingworth is on the outskirts of Halifax (2.8miles away from Halifax centre,) so I would say this is 95% the same person
Ovenden is betwixt the two

So Hannah & Matthew married circa 1785 the first child I can see for them is 1788
When did Hannah and Matthew stop having children? It looks to me around the time Matthew (if he is yours) signed up to the Militia
Do you have Hannahs y.o.b this may also have something to do with her not having any more children rather than it being because Matthew was away
Maybe Matthew thought the pay was better in the Militia than as a weaver and thus signed up
It would be assumed that Hannah was looking after the children can you spot any of them in the 1841 census?

There is a birth of Jesse Cockcroft s/o Matthew & RUTH in 1779 whilst Matthew (1762) would be old enough to father a child (he would be 17) is it likely to be him?

It is 90 miles from Halifax to Flamborough, quite a distance to travel but not impossible it is more likely that the Matthew from Flamborough was a seaman rather than a weaver and this is the only problem i can see so far

[toni*]

if you can find them on the census [Matthew & Hannahs children] and they were in Bridlington area Flamborough even better then this would link the 2

[jaywit]

Flamborough was a small place and the majority of the inhabitants worked either on the sea as mariners or fishermen or on the land.

Halifax was right in the middle of the weaving country, many people being involved in the wool trade in one way or another.

So the family story about Flamborough, is it possible to work out how old that story is?

I know from a story in my family that 'they came from a certain village' I have been able to prove with what I have found out that they lived in that village for less than 10 years.

Maybe a branch did move to Flamborough, this is why the pre 1724 PRs for Flamborough are important. With them you will be able to see wether Flamborough is a red herring or not.

[toni*]

there must be some truth in Flamborough because i cant see how they would just pick that name from thin air, especially with the Yorkshire connection but he could have just lived there prior to signing up.
we know that to be classed OTP you only had to live there for 21 days

from being a weaver to beign a seaman doesnt ring true although people did change their occupations especially if they were injured in the first form but this seems a huge jump, so i think its worth investigating Matthews from Illingsworth children to see if they are over in Bridlington (area) maybe one had a sense of adventure and went to sea (in a sieve)

[jaywit]

I have found this for Flamborough Cockcrofts but  again not any earlier than we already have.

http://www.cimidd.karoo.net/index3.htm#Cockroft

[toni*]

Ok looking at the 1841 census there seems to be a contingent of Cockcrofts still in Halifax (and Bradford) but I found a Richard Cockcroft b. circa 1786 in Bridlington maybe he is your best lead

[toni*]

thats good Jaywit 

in 1851 Richard (& Rebecca) are joined by Sarah Cockcroft b. 1834 in Leeds visitor