Hale family of Warfield

[EBrand]

Hi All,

A Note: This is my first time researching Berkshire ancestors so I'm not very familiar with what is/isn't available or where to look. I only have an Ancestry subscription which hasn't been much help for my Berkshire ancestors. Any advice will be much appreciated.

My goal is to find a possible baptism record for Stephen HALE, find out how many siblings he had, the dates of death for his parents and if possible their ancestry.

My ancestor Stephen HALE came to Western Australia with his wife Emma HARDING and two kids (one would die on the journey) on the Simon Taylor in 1842. According to his death registration in the WA BDM Index he died aged 90 in 1896, giving him an est. DOB of 1806. His parents were also named as James HALE and Mary SWAINE.

Stephen is present in Warfield in the 1841 census, a 25-year-old brick maker, with his wife Emma and daughter Mary. This is where we start to see the age discrepancy, as this would give him an est. DOB of 1816. (I know Censuses weren't incredibly accurate for age, especially the 1841 census)

Stephen's marriage to Emma HARDING took place in Warfield on the 25 Dec 1838 in Warfield, Berkshire. His age was given as above 21 and his father's name given as James HALE.

So far I've found a marriage index record for James HALE and Mary SWAINE for the 12 Feb 1809 in Easthampstead, Berkshire. I've also found a baptism index record for a George HALE born to a James and Mary in Warfield, Berkshire on the 20 Sep 1809. These are from Ancestry.com. However, I've not been able to find anything else.

Thank you for taking the time to read this,
EBrand 

[Little Nell]

Generally speaking, there are only transcriptions and indexes of Berkshire records to be found online, so it can be tricky.  FindMyPast have the transcriptions and indexes.

I have found a burial record for an infant George Hale in Easthampsted on 5 Dec 1809.  Unfortunately no clue if this is the son of James and Mary.

I also found a burial record for a James Hale (resident of Warfield) in Easthampsted on 12 May 1810.  Again no further clue.

The marriage record of James & Mary has the following witnesses: Mary Brinn, Joseph Brinn and John Welch.

The witnesses for Stephen & Emma's marriage were Robert Hatt and Mary Hatt.

Stephen's age in 1841 could be anything from 25 to 29 - ages were rounded down.  The 1838 marriage record states that he is 'above 21.'

There don't seem to be any other Hale baptisms with those parents in Berkshire in that area, but the location puts it within relatively easy distance from both Surrey and Hampshire. 

Equally, I'm not having much luck with finding a possible baptism for James in Berkshire. 

Nell

[EBrand]

Hi Nell,

Thanks for having a look, anyway!

I figured it might be a tricky task. I might have a go at seeing if there are any other people with the surname Hale in the general vicinity in the 1841 Census - although that won't really prove anything.

EBrand

[LizzieL]

If a birth about 1806 is correct, then Stephen would be born before James and Mary married. have you looked for a baptism for a Stephen with surname Swain?

[LizzieL]

Maybe part of wider Hale family
A Jane Hale married a John Cutter in Warfield on 31 May 1830. A Cutter family are on 1851 census which may be the same couple (haven't checked mmn of children yet) in Cookham
Piece number 1694, Folio 300, Page 18
Jane was born about 1808 in Hurley.

A George Hale was buried in Wargrave on 08 Jul 1802 (no age given). Could he be grandfather of baby George?

[LizzieL]

More Hales

Charles Hale bapt 20 Oct 1839 Wargrave s/o William  and Elizabeth
William Edward Hale bapt 24 Apr 1842 s/o William (occ gardener) and Elizabeth
Alfred Hale bapt 13 Jul 1845 Wargrave s/o William (occ gardener) and Elizabeth

Rosanna Hale bapt 09 Feb 1840 Wargrave d/o John  and Elizabeth

James Hale bapt 10 Dec 1815 Wargrave s/o Thomas and Martha
Elizabeth Hale bapt 08 Nov 1818 Wargrave d/o Thomas and Martha
Margaret Hale bapt 09 Jun 1822 Wargrave d/o Thomas and Martha
Sarah Hale bapt 13 Jun 1824 Wargrave d/o Thomas and Martha

[LizzieL]

Found William Hale (the gardener) and his wife Elizabeth in 1851,they were both born in Tring, Herts as were their two oldest children, others born in Wargrave.

[LizzieL]

There is a William Hale bapt in Tring that matches age on census
Birth 05 May 1799, Bapt 28 Jul 1799
s/o Stephen and Jane.

added
marriage in Tring
1 March 1823, William Hale and Elizabeth Tomkins
wits Henry Brown and Henry Montague (probably parish clerk as he witnesses a lot of marriages)

[LizzieL]

Stephen Hale married Jane Cutler on 13 Dec 1795 in Tring. One witness is Zelpha Hale.

Is this a coincidence of the two Stephen Hales, and William Hale (s/o Stephen of Tring) just happened to come to Wargrave where a completely unrelated Hale family were living?