John Main born 1810

[spicyting]

hello all, quandry im in indeed... I have a John Main born 1810, parents John and Anne. Have located 2 possibilities, John & Anne Rendle wed 1808, or John & Anne White wed 1781! The first seems more likey, given the timing and location. I seem to of exhausted all resources, these results where from parish record print outs, there's no results on the l.d.s....do I really have to go on my instincts at this point!!?

with thanks, Paul

[Davran]

What location are you talking about - I assume you have found John Main on the 1841 census? Are there any clues in the names of his siblings ie middle names? Have you tried Hugh Wallis's list?

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hughwallis/IGIBatchNumbers/CountryEngland.htm#PageTitle

If you give us as many details as you can, maybe someone could put you on the right track.

[spicyting]

yep, tried that list too, messages all over the place. I've not pinpointed their whereabouts in the census forms. John 1810 is no problem, but his parents are proving rather trickier. The areas the family lived in where Ottery, Plymstock and Plymouth, so John and Anne 1808 Ottery seems most likely. Have found a John & Ann Mann in Yealmpton 1841,closest Ive got to them upto now, there's a couple of Christian names that do appear in my lineage in their family, so thats where Im upto, brickwall scenario!!

Spicy

[Geoffers]

Where was John born in 1810? Have you tried the parish registers to see what they record? If he was baptised before 1813, the register is likely to include his mother's maiden name and so you may be able to confirm if one of the two marriages you have noted is correct.

Perhaps in the two marriages you have found, the John recorded is the same person, check the parish registers to see if the groom was widowed in 1808.

What did John the father do for a living? Did he leave a will? Or at the other end of the spectrum, was he ever in the workhouse?

When John (born 110) married, who were the witnesses to the marriage? Any relatives? Did he marry by licence or banns, was he a mainor when he married?

[Peter Goodey]

these results where from parish record print outs

Presumably you mean "were" but I don't know what "parish record print outs" are.

The place to look is the original parish register (eg on microform). Make a note of the occupation and abode of the father as shown in the baptism register and then search the marriage registers taking this information into account.

[spicyting]

John was baptised in Thurlestone, 18th Nov, 1810, having trouble locating his actual birth tho, also his parents are named as Mains, realize this could be just mistranscribed. 'parish record print outs' are copies from the original parish records of the area, I purchased them from Devon FHS, there is no mention as to John (1808) condition regarding widow or not, it is by banns. He is a private of the Devonshire Militia at this stage tho and apparently many farmers enlisted there, John (1781) is also titled as a husbandman, so there is a chance that it could well be the same man.
Can you order a baptism certificate and if so where is the best place to order?

[Geoffers]

John was baptised in Thurlestone, 18th Nov, 1810, having trouble locating his actual birth

Parish register being church records are concerned with religious events - baptism, marriage and burial - rather than the secular events of birth and death. Parish registers do often contain additional information prior to 1813. I haven't used the print outs that you mention so I have no idea as to whtehr then contain all the detail from the register or just part of it - are there any explanatory notes which describe what is included/omitted?

also his parents are named as Mains, realize this could be just mistranscribed.

Before the start of the 20th century thre is considerable variation in spelling of names - think how a name sounds and the various ways it that someone might then spell it.

He is a private of the Devonshire Militia at this stage

This TNA guide explains what records are available regarding militia
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/rdleaflet.asp?sLeafletID=147

Can you order a baptism certificate and if so where is the best place to order?

Many record offices offer a photocopying service for a reasonable cost - what is available depends on whether permission has been given to photocopy registers and their condition. If the registers may not be photographically copied, the annual copy (Archdeacon's or Bishop's Transcript) is a good alternative. Check with the Count Record Office.