David,
I managed to seize a window of opportunity today (as they say) and ran up the hill to Shire Hall and the CCRO (v. busy week)
In Little Gransden I looked in the original baptism register and discovered a double entry for 3rd July 1826:
Jane, baseborn dr. of Ann SPARKES, now WRIGHT of Little Gransden
and: Mary Ann dr. of Thomas, farmer, and Ann WRIGHT.
Earlier I had found a marriage in the transcripts that said:
13-12-1825: Marriage between Thomas WRIGHT and Ann SPARKS w. of Long Stow. (I presume w. meant widow)
These above entries might well clear up a family conundrum...
East Hartley entries: Marriage 28-02-1788 (in the old calendar this would have been the year 1787/8) William CARTER bac. ,farmer, and Elizabeth MERRILL spinster b.o.t.p. Witnesses: Joseph Parker and Thomas Abbott
Burials: 27-05-1770: Thos. MERRIL son of Thomas, farmer, and Catharine
07-01-1784: Catherine (sic) MERRIL wife of Thos.,farmer
07-07-1808: Thomas MERILL, farmer, aged 80
The Croydon burial had no date, only the year 1812 for William CARTER of East Hatley, 55; neither did the next burial entry - the next one that did was for 26th Sept. 1812. (i.e. the closest to being able to date your entry would be to say that it occurred before Sept. 26th 1812)
The Eltisley burial was the jewel in the crown:
13-05-1832: Edward REVEL, Monk's Hardwick, St Neots, 41 (run over by his team)
I know what the vicar meant, but it sounds as though the goal celebrations on Match of the Day got seriously out of hand...
Keith