Wicker family from Halstead

[pandacub]

Hello

I have begun a tree for the Wicker family from Halstead.  My husband is descended from Tobias Wicker and Sarah Root. This is my first research in Essex as I mainly deal with London and Scotland so I don't have much idea about what local resources might be available online to help me. 

So far I have found parish records on FreeReg and some very helpful PDF indexes of some of the parish records from St Andrews Church in Halstead.  These have helped me quickly spot the baptisms of several of Tobias and Sarah's children.  I also have Trade Directories and I've ordered some books on the history of Halstead which look useful.  Lastly I have prison records which include a George Wicker.  There is a George Wicker on my tree but I'm not sure yet if he is the same one as there were two born around the same time. 

If anyone else researching in the Halstead area can suggest any other resources I would be very grateful. 

Thank you very much. 

[CaroleW]

Hi

Just adding some dates for records purposes

A tree on Ancestry has Tobias b 21.4.1778 died 7.7.1832 - both Halstead.  His parents were Richard & Sarah Ann nee Rayner.  Think the tree owner is somewhat out with Richards details - born 1750 - died 1855 

Marriage to Sarah Root was 31.8.1807 Chelmsford

[pandacub]

Many thanks Carole.  Yes I'd calculated those dates for Tobias and found the marriage.  I'm also dubious about his parents being Richard Wicker and Sarah Ann Rayner.  So far I have the parents pencilled in as being Tobias Wicker & Catharine, with Catharine possibly being buried 29th Mar 1829.  The surname Rayner is interesting.  Tobias and Sarah had a son John who married Emma Rayner. 

I am often dubious about trees posted on Ancestry.  A friend who is a new researcher told me that I can't know what I'm doing as she managed to construct a tree going back to the 1700s in under 2 weeks.  I asked her something about confirming sources but she didn't understand what I was talking about!

[CaroleW]

You are right to question other peoples trees.  The number of errors is staggering.  The one I have quoted has Richard as born 1750 so would have been 105yrs old if he had died in 1855.

The Richard Wicker who died in Halstead 1855 was 82yrs old!!

[pandacub]

Another researcher has just pointed me in the direction of another incorrect tree which has my Husband's ancestor John Wicker being the son of Tobias Wicker junior and Harriet Norfolk.  However I am sure Tobias Wicker junior was John Wicker's elder brother. 
I have quite a few entries on my various trees that I'm unsure about.  That is why I don't post them anywhere public.  That way when I share them with anyone I can explain what I'm sure about and what I'm not and I can say exactly where I got all my information with.  Once wrong information is put out there it could be shared by goodness knows how many people. 

[essexpoet]

The sources you are using seem to be good ones. Freereg is particularly good. The compilers in general do a brilliant job but bear in mind errors can occasionally occur both in the transcription to Freereg and in the actual Parish records themselves. You may have noticed the very high proportion of the baptisms at St Andrews (which was the main C of E Church in Halstead until the mid 1800's) are in March or April which makes me wonder if that was the time they were transcribed into the Parish Register from other books or even scraps of paper or whether that particular time was set aside for baptisms.                                                                                                              The Wicker family is one I have been researching and I too have a few uncertainties so perhaps you could send me a personal message to see if we can be of mutual assistance.
I would add that Rayner is probably the most common name in Halstead

[pandacub]

Hi essexpoet
Thanks for your reply, will send you a personal message to discuss the Wicker family. 

[Vance Mead]

Have you searched the Essex Archives?

There's a will of Tobias Wicker of Halstead, fishmonger, 1832. Also a much earlier Tobins Wicker of Halstead, brick striker. To view images you will need a subscription. They also have images of the original  parish records online.

https://www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk/

[pandacub]

Thanks very much, I had not yet discovered the Essex Archives.  The site looks very helpful.  Thanks again, much appreciated.