Completed My Visit to Cambridgeshire County Record Office - will do simple Look-ups

[Ian Chambers]

Thank you ever so much for your efforts Keith. It is very much appreciated.

Trust me to get a lazy vicar. 

Out of curiosity

Do they do copies of the registers as I may take a trip up to Cambridge sometime

Kind regards

Ian

[Keith Sherwood]

Ian,
The great majority of Cambs Parish Records have been transcribed and are conveniently sitting on the shelves in bound books. That's one of the reasons I'm able to offer fairly quick look-ups for Rootschatters.  On Fiche is perhaps next easiest in the location of particular records; microfilm often means wading for ages through the reel.
I would think the CFHS site has details of which records are transcribed or not - Bedfordshire Boy is the man to ask about that.
For some reason some of the most recent Parish Records - especially the large ones such as Whittlesey - have not yet been transcribed.  But it's such a privilege to be able to leaf through the original book...
Very best wishes,
Keith

[Ian Chambers]

Not sure if I have sent you this reply vian the main page.

The info you gave me threw a bit of a curve ball and needed a bit more research as the dates did not quite tie up

 a JOHN Chambers b1811 AND ANN b 1807 had a number of children including:-

 James (who went on to marry Martha Pilkerton and gave birth to the James 1864 at the heart of all this)   

and a JOHN 1841 
This I already knew from previous research

It gets confusing because having looked at the 1861 census John 1841 marries another Ann b abt 1839 with an 11mnth old son John.  I believe it is their children you found in the parish records.


It is still information that I did not know so not a wasted effort in any way

Thanks again

Ian

[Keith Sherwood]

Ian,
Is "the curve ball" a baseball term?  And if so, is it difficult to hit...?  I was just spreading the net for the baptism you were hoping to find for James in 1864, I think.  The CHAMBERS family may well have been represented beyond the 1860-1872 period I actually looked up.  And the double baptism (I don't think they were twins, necessarily) probably showed they were in not much of a hurry to baptise their children...
But I've just noticed that you gave the parents as James and Martha, so it WAS the wrong family.  Might it have been the other Whittlesey parish, St.Mary's, then?
Keith

[Ian Chambers]

I have just had a look at the birth certificate for James (son of Martha and james) on 9th May1864;  they were living in a place called Horsegate, Whittlesey at the time, I do not know if that would tell us which parish they were in.

I think I am going to have to make a visit to this place and spend some time looking them up as I can't keep encroaching on your time.  Have you got an address for the Cambs county records office please.

Thanks again for all your efforts

Ian

[Keith Sherwood]

Ian.
Their address is: Box RES 009, Shire Hall, Castle Hill, CB3 OAP  Tel: 01223 717281 
They are always closed on Mondays, and during the rest of the week they open at 9 a.m. (close between 12.45 and 1345 for lunch, which can be a nuisance).  They then close at about 5.15, though perhaps half an hour earlier on Friday.  Not exactly sure, but I'm sure you can google for their website.
They're very helpful there, in extremely cramped premises (the move to a larger building is planned in 2-3 years time).
Keith

[Mylett]

Hi Keith,

Next time you visit would you be able to look up a marriage even if I don't have a reference? (Will understand if it's too difficult).

This is what I have.

1851 Census: Queen Street Wisbech
George Gilby Head 37yrs Tailor
Mary Ann Wife 33 yrs
John F Son 4yrs
Walter Son 1yr

Trying to find marriage between George Gilby and Mary Ann (nee Frost).

Did find a cert for a marriage between George Gilby (it was under Giley) and Ann Frost 1 Aug 1841 at Walsoken in the County of Norfolk. Don't know if this Ann is the same as Mary Ann Frost?

Another point is that if the couple m. in 1841 their first child wasn't recorded until 1847 - bit unusual.

As I say, don't worry if not enough information.

All the best,
Gail (our Dynes connection)

[wdurham]

Hello, Gail -

Keith has helped me so much, I thought I would help him!

It seems to me that the marriage you have already found in 1841 in Walsoken is probably the correct marriage for George Gilby.

The 1851 census entry you have for the family is actually Queen St, Walsoken, which is in Norfolk - though Wisbech has now absorbed the parish.  George's wife Mary Ann is listed in 1851 onwards as Mary Ann, b Walsoken.

But in the 1841 census there are no Mary Ann Frosts in Walsoken.

There is however an Ann Frost, dressmaker aged 24 living in George St, Walsoken with her sister Tabitha aged 20, also a dressmaker. Both shown as born in county. There are no parents living with them.

A few doors away (on the previous page)  is Geo Gilby aged 27, tailor, living with the Allen Family, also in George Street. Interestingly, noted as born in county - all other census returns show him born in Northants.

I found a baptism for Tabitha Frost in the IGI - 12 Nov 1820, Walsoken, Norfolk, England - daughter of Robert Frost and Sarah. The entry is from a multi-parish Norfolk batch covering the single year of 1820.

There is a marriage in the Wisbech Index for Robert Frost and Sarah Camps in Walsoken in 1811. The Index stops at 1812 so no relevant baptisms, unfortunately. The pages for Walsoken can be found here:
http://contueor.com/wisbech/fenlands/walsoken.htm

And if such things interest you there are some stunning photos of the church at Walsoken here:
http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/walsoken/walsoken.htm

On the same page you can find out that whilst part of the churchyard is in Norfolk, the rectory and an extension of the graveyard are in Cambs - a nightmare for family historians when a county boundary passes right through a place in which you are interested!

So that may be a place for Keith to start! Or not - it may be that it's the Norfolk record office you need.

Or of course, it could all be a complete red herring....

Best regards
Wendy

[Mylett]

Hi Wendy,

Thank you so much for finding out this information for me - it is impossible to do from Australia. Just as well I don't live in Cambridge because I think I'd spend my days in the Record Office.
 

I am particularly grateful for the way in which you've set out the information explaining the problems with boundaries etc. And yes, I'll enjoy looking at the photos of the church at Walsoken - thanks for that as well.

I think what you've given me is looking pretty good, but to make sure it might be a good idea to check the Norfolk record office as well - have to see if someone is doing look-ups there.

I take it that Keith will most likely see this message or should I contact him to let him know that you have done the look-up??

Again, you have made some frustrated researchers in Oz very happy!

All the best,
Gail