Symonds Norfolk research question

[Yellow Peril]

I have proven links back to my 5xGgf Robert Symonds buried in West Lexham Churchyard. From his age and year of death I suppose him to have been born in 1760, but I can't prove his place of birth. I've checked (as best I can - Parish records etc.) for surrounding area and have come across a Robert Symonds born in Necton 1760. As Necton is only a few miles from West Lexham and I can't find a death listed for the Necton Robert (I have found those for all his siblings) I think it's a reasonable possibility that they are one and the same, but and it is a big but - how can I prove it?

Obviously I have the Necton Robert's birth date, but not WL Robert's - any suggestions?

I've seen his will which has no address nor birthdate, I'm stumped.

[diddymiller]

Hi & welcome to RC.

was Robert married - do you have marriage details / children where born etc. - he could have moved to west lexham when married - so knowing about his marriage might help.

i think the moderators will move this to the Norfolk board where more specialist help / local records is available.

Diddy

[Yellow Peril]

Robert was married in West Lexham and his wife was from there and it says of him 'of this parish' which of course doesn't mean he was born there. Also typically his marriage record was just one away from when the father's name had to be included.

If I could find the WL Roberts birthdate from some other source, it would pretty much confirm or disprove the link one way or another.

[Ruskie]

Unsure if it was the done thing at this point in time ... but would parish records of his children's baptisms say where Robert was from?

Roberts baptism ... any unsual names for his parents which were carried down the line?

[Yellow Peril]

'fraid not on either score - lot's of Roberts and Johns.

Necton Robert's dad was Robert and WL Robert had the odd Robert, John and Jonathan passed on.

[Ruskie]

You seem to have been fairly thorough in your research, and I'm sure you've done this but will mention it anyway ... I take it you have searched for variations of the surname Simmons, Symmons, Symons (there are bound to be others) ...

Another thought - as you are unable to find baptisms for the possible 'other' Robert, have you searched for marriages for other Robert Symonds in the area, and baptisms for two families with Robert as father?

[Yellow Peril]

I think I've done all you've suggested, but to no avail. I did find two other Robert Symonds born in 1760 both from Fakenham, but sadly both died in infancy.

I've been desperately trying to think of some obscure listing that could show WL Robert's date of birth. He was a Mole catcher and I've even tried their guild (yes there is one) but again no joy.

[Ruskie]

Well, everything is pointing towards Necton Robert being yours. I know you want more proof, but it looks like it's just not there to be found. 

With Necton and West Lexham being around 6 miles apart it would have been an easy walk back in those days.  Very feasible that he could have been born in Necton and travelled to WL for work. Due to Robert being buried in WL and being OTP of West Lexham when he married, you are looking for a Robert Symonds who was also born there, and there doesn't appear to be one. I understand that you want to be sure you have the correct Robert, but I think you might either have to accept that you'll never find him, or pencil in Necton Robert as yours.

Have you looked at Necton Robert's parents? Do either of them have any traceable links to West Lexham? I don't suppose Necton Robert's father was a mole catcher? 

Have you considered things like tithes, taxes etc for a Symonds family living in Necton at the time? (something I have no experience with).

Are there any Symonds families living in Necton and christening children at the time? If so, is there a gap in any of the families where your Robert may fit in (and may have been missed off the register or not baptised?) If not, and if there were only Symonds in WL, this may add a little more weight to Necton Robert being yours.

Sorry I can't think of anything more to suggest. Maybe some more experienced researchers will be able to give some more ideas about where to look ...

[Yellow Peril]

Before my Robert in West Lexham, there doesn't appear to have been any Symonds there at all.

I've found deaths listed for all Necton Robert's siblings but not one for him and his father Robert and Mother Sarah (nee Abel) came from Letton (a tiny hamlet who's church had disappeared even at the time of their wedding in 1758) who married in Cranworth (with Letton), then for some reason moved to Nection. They seem to be the first Symonds in Necton (there are Symonds still there) and most appeared to go into the building trade.