George BROWN of Abingdon

[janbooth]

I am trying to trace the birth of a George BROWN who married Rachel GREGORY on 24 Jan 1824 at Abingdon St Helens. I have viewed the St Helens PR transcripts but unfortunately the record gives no details other than the date and their names. They had 6 children Ann, Joseph, George, Thomas, Elizabeth and Rachel all of whom, except Elizabeth, were baptised at the Independent Upper Meeting House in Abingdon between Mar 1825 and Aug 1835. Rachel BROWN nee GREGORY then appears in the 1841 census of Watlington, Oxon, without George her husband, and remains there until her death in 1876. On the 1851 census she declares her marital state as NK (presumably not known). I have no other knowledge of George at all and wonder if there is anyone researching BROWNs who has a spare George who married a Rachel GREGORY!! Many thanks in advance

Janet Booth.

[Geoffers]

[I am trying to trace the birth of a George BROWN who married Rachel GREGORY on 24 Jan 1824 at Abingdon St Helens....They had 6 children...between Mar 1825 and Aug 1835. Rachel BROWN nee GREGORY then appears in the 1841 census of Watlington, Oxon, without George her husband...On the 1851 census she declares her marital state as NK (presumably not known).]

I can't help directly - these are just some thoughts, but lack of husband suggests he was either dead, gone missing and it wasn't known what happened to him, he'd abandoned her, or was in an institution of some description.

Starting with the last, try prisons and asylums, but these often just record initials rather than full names. If she was left to fend on her own, she may have applied for help from the local Poor Law Union and/or been examined as to where she was legally settled. if any such records survive, they do sometimes go into detail and may show when/where George was born and what had happened to him.

Is there any indication as to why she ended up in Watlignton? Was she born there, or were there any other relatives living there?

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[janbooth]

Hello Geoffers,

I had wondered about George being convicted of a felony of some sort, but was unsure about how to find out. I don't know why Rachel ended up in Watlington. I hadn't considered that she might have been resettled to Watlington as she was born in Swerford and her family moved to Enstone prior to her father's death in 1813 (William GREGORY aged only 30). Her mother Sarah remarried a Thomas DAVIS in 1815 at Oxford, but I believe stayed in Enstone as there were 3 DAVIS children born in Enstone to a Thomas and Sarah after the marriage date and Rachel's sister Ruth was buried there in 1822, as was a Sarah DAVIS aged 43 in 1823 and her daughter Sarah also in 1823. The GREGORYs were masons and I have traced them back throughout Oxon to 1600, but never at Watlington.

Thanks very much for the suggestions. I think I shall do as you suggest and try any Poor Law records and then investigate the prisons etc.

Many thanks,

Janet.

[Geoffers]

I had wondered about George being convicted of a felony of some sort, but was unsure about how to find out.
You might try census returns for Abingdon Gaol, if his wife was alone in 1841, he may have been sent down, locally.

and her family moved to Enstone prior to her father's death in 1813 (William GREGORY aged only 30).
I don't know if you live anywhere near Enstone, but it is only 3 miles east of me. I can happily trot over therer and get a photo of the church for you, since the family were masons, there might even be a hedstone in the churchyard; glad to look if it helps.


The GREGORYs were masons

Presumably why they moved to Enstone with the quarry just north of the village.

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[janbooth]

Hello again Geoffers,

Thank you very much for your offer to visit Enstone churchyard. However, I am not sure there would be any headstones for the GREGORYs. I purchased the MIs of Enstone and there is no mention of any GREGORYs amongst them, but there were quite a few headstones that were illegible. I have taken your previous advice and have sent off for the Overseers records and the 1841 census of Abingdon, so will see where that leads me. Thanks also for the information re the stone quarry at Enstone - it almost certainly explains the move to Enstone of both William GREGORY and his brothers John, Joseph and Isaac (all masons). They were not a long lived family, except for John. Joseph died aged 20, Isaac died aged 24 but John lived until the age of 70 and diversified into being described as a Stone Mason/Baker in the 1830 Pigots of Church Enstone and just a Baker in the 1851 of Enstone.

I would appreciate a photograph of the church sometime if you are passing through Enstone, but please do not make a special trip. I live in Cheshire and have so far not travelled to Oxford to investigate that branch of my family - mainly due to the excellent transcripts available from the OFHS - so have concentrated on visiting Record Offices where records are not so readily available online. However, a trip to Oxon is planned early next year!!

Once again, many thanks.

Janet.

[Geoffers]

[Thanks also for the information re the stone quarry at Enstone - it almost certainly explains the move to Enstone of both William GREGORY and his brothers John, Joseph and Isaac (all masons).]

If you lose them at any time, there are/were sizeable quarries at Burford, Asthall and Charlbury.

Have you read 'Lifting the Latch' the story of the life of Mont Abbott of Enstone? Gives a good insight into local life.

[I would appreciate a photograph of the church sometime if you are passing through Enstone,]

Curses - I just came back through Enstone - never mind, I should be out that way again on Thursday if that's okay.

Geoffers

[janbooth]

That would be great and much appreciated, as is the other info provided. The book sounds eminently readable and one for the wish list!!

Janet.