Greensleeves Scavenger Hunt...Everyone Welcome To Join In

[Tephra]

Welcome to this weeks Scavenger Hunt...... and I for one am totally intrigued by it.   

Good Luck and Good Hunting

Barbara

                                       ************************

Robert Shadforth  Senior was born in 1722.  He died in 1810, aged 88, in Hartlepool, County Durham.  He was a Weaver and Parish Clerk of St Hilda’s, Hartlepool.  He  first married Jane Shepherd (1720-1757) on 5 January 1754, St Hilda’s, Hartlepool. 

His second wife was Dorothy Middleton (1722-1766) though I have not yet found the record of the marriage, which took place about 1758; children of this marriage were Robert  Shadforth Junior born 1758, Mary 1760, Edward 1761-61.   

After Dorothy’s death in 1766, Robert Senior  married Margaret Hett (1730-1808) on 9th September 1766.

Robert Shadforth Junior married Alice Laws on 10 January 1785 at St Hilda’s Church, Hartlepool.  Witnesses were William Burrell and Ann Coulson.    Robert Junior was 27 and Alice was 39.

The next record we get is the baptism of William Shadforth, their child, which states:  “William Shadforth baptised 20 April 1788, born 7 March 1788.  Illegitimate son of Robert Shadforth (Junr) and Alice (his Wife).”

About the same time, Alice Shadforth dies:  “Alice Shadforth buried 23 April 1788 age 42 yr.  Wife of Robert Shadforth junr.”

And  baby William, aged about six weeks, also dies:  “William Shadforth bur 25 April 1788, illegitimate son of Alice, wife of Robert Shadforth”

On 17th August 1788  Robert marries Mary Whittingham at Billingham and their child, Thomas, is born on 31st March 1789.

It is worth pointing out that Robert Shadforth Senior was Parish Clerk, and Robert Shadforth Junior was not only Sexton, but also a governor of the Friary Workhouse, Hartlepool.  Clearly the Shadforth family had a fairly high standing in the area and it is possible that one of them was responsible for writing up the Parish Records.

I would appreciate help with the following:

1.  Why would  baby William be shown as illegitimate in the parish records when they clearly state he is the son of Robert?   Is there any way of finding out if Robert and Alice were separated at the time of William’s birth?  Could she have been in the workhouse?   Is there a record of Bastardy in this case?   And what of the untimely but obviously convenient death of Alice and her baby? 

2.   I can’t find any trace of Alice Laws or her family in the Hartlepool area,  so any clues as to her origin would also be greatly appreciated.

I know it’s not going to be possible to find out precisely what went on here, but I would appreciate both facts and thoughts about the situation and the ultimately desperate plight of Alice and baby William.


(ADDED:   This has just come to my attention.   It might save a lot of duplication.  http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,498454.msg3552447.html#msg3552447 )[/color]

[Lesanne]

  Hmmm... nice one.

Flowers to do and back later..

[Tephra]

Hi Lesanne........ you're here before Toni........     

[jaywit]

'Robert jnr was 27 Alice was 39'

I wonder if she was a widow?

Do the Hartlepool parish records around that time show if a bride was a widow?

[Annie65115]

My first thought - even today, giving birth is more risky for women in their 40s - there's a higher chance of hypertension, eclampsia and haemorrhage. In those days,  those could have been fatal (and never mind the omnipresent risk of postnatal infection in those days). So perhaps it's sad but not too surprising that Alice died so soon after childbirth.

And with the mother dead, the baby wouldn't last long unless a suitable wetnurse could be found. So again, sad but not surprising that little William followed Alice into the grave.

The only things I can think of re the illegitimacy is that either Robert was working away and everyone knew he couldn't have been the father; or perhaps marital relationships were not good and he denied paternity! Would his word automatically be believed in the latter circumstance?

[Tephra]

This link has just been brought to my attention.   It may help in the search.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,498454.msg3552447.html#msg3552447

[ScouseBoy]

I am confused with  "Greensleeves"  in the title.  Are you looking for the name Greensleeves?

I have heard of the family name Greenleaves  in Cheshire and Newton le Willows area. Recently.

[Tephra]

I am confused with "Greensleeves" in the title. Are you looking for the name Greensleeves?

I have heard of the family name Greenleaves in Cheshire and Newton le Willows area. Recently.

No ScouseBoy........ it's Greensleeves (her username) Scavenger Hunt.   She will be along soon.

[jaywit]

Reading the other thread I'm still a bit confused but basically has anyone seen either the original parish records or a filmed copy of them?

I'm asking in case there was something written about the child which wasn't on a transcription.

Perhaps posters don't want to say this but it has been alluded to on that thread that it may have been physically obvious that the child wasn't Robert's child although if it was perhaps mixed race  then he  may not have been actually the son of a coloured man but with our knowledge of genetics there may have been some coloured ancestry on Alice's side.

I'm sure any port town even then had it's share of children who were the result of mixed race relationships but I would wonder if these were considered to be from the lower end of society and for it to happen in a respected family wasn't acceptable.