Martha Janes/James/Jeens? - Minchinhampton and Woodchester 1780-1873

[sally_maria]

I'm trying to find more information on Martha, and as I've hit a brick wall, I hoped someone might have some good ideas

The first actual record I have is her marriage to William Ball in Woodchester in 1814, and then she was listed as of this parish, but the census records from 1851 onwards give her place of birth as Minchinhampton. I can't find any record of her baptism or her parents' names.

One of the witnesses at her wedding was William Jeens, and I'm wondering if he was her father or brother, but still nothing. Martha's daughter married a William Garland, and after the daughter's death, W Garland married Sarah Elizabeth, the daughter of a William Jeens from Minchinhampton. It seems a strange coincidence if they weren't related, but I just can't find the records to substantiate it.

Thank you for any help you can give me.

[Galium]

There is a marriage of William Jeens and Mary Mace at Minchinhampton 21 October 1779 (by Licence).
There don't appear to be any baptisms of children born to them at Minchinhampton except for John and Ann baptised  26 March 1797.

If you subscribe to Ancestry, you will see that there is a will in the Gloucestershire wills database of William Jeens of Minchinhampton proved in 1827. He mentions his wife Mary, eldest son William and younger children Martha, Ann and John. It was written in 1808, so before Martha was married.
Accompanying documents in which the named executors resign themselves and appoint another executor say that William was a tailor.

[sally_maria]

Thank you, that is wonderful. :-) William Jeens the younger, whose records I have, was a tailor and the presence of a daughter named Martha is pretty convincing.

I've been wondering about a connection since I first saw the coincidence of names more than 20 years ago, but it's lovely to be able to prove it. William Garland's wives were first cousins, which explains why Martha left him everything, as she didn't have any children of her own still living.

[Victor Harvey]

Hi,
Source: Glos Archives (GA) PFC 375 IN 1/8 1, St Mary, Woodchester, Marriage
William BALL, of this parish, and Martha JAMES, of this parish, were married in this Church by Banns, with consent of parents, this 27th day of November, 1814.
Both signed in the presence of William ? and Emma SMITH.
I also tried to find the baptism of Martha at Holy Trinity, Minchinhampton, but the microfiche was too hard to read. I have, therefore, pre-ordered the actual PR for next Saturday and will get back to you with my findings.
Victor

[sally_maria]

Thank you, Victor, that would be great. A baptism record would be the final proof of the connection.

[Victor Harvey]

Hi,
I have this morning checked for a baptism at Holy Trinity, Minchinhampton, 1791-1796, for Martha, via the An*****y website, and there is NO record.
You could try the An*****y transcribed Gloucestershire records for a specific person, but be warned, these were transcribed in China, and there are a number of glaring mistakes.
Victor

[sally_maria]

Thank you very much for looking, Victor, and I'm sorry you had the wasted effort. How unusual would it have been at that time for her not to be baptised at all - given that Galium wasn't able to find a baptism for her brother William either? Or should I be looking in other parishes?

[Victor Harvey]

Hi,
Well, the surrounding parishes are many. Avening, Chalford, Cherington, Nailsworth, Rodborough, Sapperton, Thrupp & Woodchester. A bit of a search!
I think your best bet is to access An*****y and try searching in the Gloucestershire BMD Indexes for an individual. You could try searching for Martha JAMES + variants, or go to the digitalised Gloucestershire PRs and check each parish in turn.
If you don't have An*****y at home I could try doing a lookup for you at my local Library, where I can do lookups for free.
Victor

[sally_maria]

Yes, good point. I'm pretty sure it's not Woodchester, because I have a copy of a transcript of the registers, and she doesn't appear in that, but that still leaves plenty of options. I do have An*****y access here, and haven't found her previously, but I'll keep looking. Thank you for your help, and the offer.