marriage 1830 - 1837 Thornhill, Dewsbury

[chopsuey1]

William Clegg of Thornhill and Sarah Westmoreland (possibly of Edge End, Thornhill?).
First child Sarah Ann was baptised December 1843.
Can't find any record of marriage on Free BMD etc after 1837.  Could be a second marriage?

Can't find any clues.

Any help will be much appreciated.

(This is my first request on Rootschat - a new beginging for me!)

Chopsuey1

[BumbleB]

Hi, and welcome to Rootschat. 

This may be a very stupid question, but how do you know that William married Sarah Westmoreland?  The records for Thornhill churches do not show a marriage between those two names. The baptism details for Sarah Ann just say William and Sarah Clegg as parents!

[chopsuey1]

Hi BumbleB
Thanks for the reply.

I think I know that William Clegg married Sarah Westmoreland because I have her (Sarah Ann's) sister's birth certificate (Martha Clegg - born 1849), and it says that the mother, Sarah Clegg, was formerly known as Sarah Westmoreland of Edge End, Thornhill.  Looking at old maps, I see there is (or was) a church at Edge End - maybe they got married there?  OR - there is another child of the marriage - William - born around 1852.  This is shown on the census of 1851, but it has been badly burned and I have to rely on a transcription - but he was born at SHEPLEY.  Maybe Sarah came from Shepley and went to see her parents to give birth?  Maybe they married there?  Even so - I can't find a record.

Regards
Chopsuey1

[BumbleB]

Thanks!  See, I said it was a stupid question   

According to the catalogue from West Yorkshire Archives, the only pre-1837 church in Thornhill is St Michael and All Angels.  St Paul at Shepley did not come into being until 1848 (marriages from 1850), and there is no church listed for Edge End. 

Sarah Ann, Martha and William were all baptised at St Michael and All Angels.  Residence in each case is  Thornhill or Thornhill Lees.  Plus I can see a few other children to these parents:

John baptised 14 January 1838
Mary Johnson baptised 18 July 1841
Sarah Ann baptised 24 December 1843
Joshua baptised 26 December 1847
Martha baptised 31 March 1850
William baptised 11 April 1852
Samuel baptised 27 May 1855
Hannah baptised 23 May 1858
and finally Tom baptised 31 March 1861

[J.R.Ellam]

Hi

Thornhill is one of the old churches and the records start in 1580.
they might be chapel goers have you seen them in the GRO.

John

[chopsuey1]

Hi BumbleB
Thanks for the interest.

The first census I can find is 1851, and though badly burned, it does not show John and Mary Johnson as living with William and Sarah.  Although I can't find ANY marriage for William - do you think that the first two children were from a first marriage?  With the name Mary Johnson - followed, presumably by Clegg, maybe she was named after a forebear, or her mother was a Johnson?  Do you have anything to suggest that?  Or any lead for that matter!

By 1861 the family had moved to Thornhill Lees, and Sarah Ann, Joshua, Martha, and even William (jnr) at the age of 9, were working in the glass works.  (Presumably Kilner's).  Samuel, Hannah and Tom were at home.

No sign of the first two children.  Of course, they could have died?  Any suggestions please?

Chopsuey1

[BumbleB]

First marriage - who knows?    I, also, had assumed that Johnson was a family connection - surnames as middle names occur time after time in my families. 

I haven't check out the burials at St Michael and All Angels, I have to admit.  I'll see how this evening goes and try and check them out for you.

[Calverley Lad]

I  have access to the Thornhill registers from 1580's to 1812, including BMD records.
The Clegg family were well established in Thornhill, no sign of any Westmoreland families though?
 Brian