Our nearest ADAMS is the mother of our founding NZ HARRIS ancestor WILLIAM HARRIS (1823 - 1899) who, with his wife MARY HEARD (1825 - 1888), arrived here from Cornwall in 1857.
WILLIAM's parents were JAMES HODGE HARRIS (1789 - 1865) and GRACE ADAMS (1792 - 1862). (Note that both William's parents were still living when he left for New Zealand.) I'm not sure where the HODGE comes from - an area for further research.
According to their marriage certificate (see below) JAMES was from the St Juliot Parish and Grace was a sojourner of that parish. A sojourner means someone who is a temporary resident, but in parish register context it has more precise meaning.
The Hardwicke Act (introduced in 1754) required all marriages to take place in a licensed parish church in the parish of the participating parties. Also, from 1754, a pre-printed marriage register was used, as per image below, with spaces for required information so that the records became more consistent and uniform.
Banns (notices of intention to marry) were read publicly on three separate Sundays prior to the wedding so that those wishing to object had the opportunity. Objectors would most likely be parents of minors (under the age of 21) or previous spouses of either party.
To be considered "of this parish" a party had to be resident there for more than three weeks. Banns could be avoided by obtaining a special licence to marry in a parish outside that of the bride or groom's usual residence, although it was still possible for someone to call an objection at the beginning of the service. Even so, taking up residence in lodgings to avoid the necessity for banns fees was frowned upon, and the word “sojourner” was added to the entry to indicate that they had met the letter of the law but didn't really belong.
Apart from employment, other reasons for being a sojourner could be a deliberate attempt to avoid publicity of an impending marriage - including the likelihood of parental or community disapproval, or disclosure of information likely to embarrass either party or cause them to reneg on the arrangement, or a pre-nuptual pregnancy wanted to be kept discreet. And sometimes, if the parties resided in two separate parishes, one moved the the parish of the other for the three weeks prior to the wedding to save the doubling of fees for the banns to be read in both home parishes.
It seems, however, that JAMES and GRACE's wedding banns were announced - according to the register. There is no other known record of them being announced , although these were often recorded separately and may not have been transcribed yet - I can find no record of any banns for anyone from the parish of St Juliot, let alone our JAMES and GRACE.
Parental consent was not required, as JAMES was approximately 29 and GRACE was approximately 26.
Note that both JAMES and GRACE were illiterate and could only sign the register with a cross. Quite amazing when you consider the academic achievements of their descendants!
Who else was at the wedding?
The officiating minister was a curate called WILLIAM PITT BRAY On my brief research, there appears to have been at least two reverends called William Pitt Bray, as dates for births and deaths don't quite line up with his location at the wedding ceremony; however, I'm fairly certain that this WILLIAM PITT BRAY was born 1769 in St Teath and died 1846, at Lesnewth, aged 75. He married MARGARET PARSONS. He is buried in Altarnun Churchyard. There is many a witness called WILLIAM BRAY to other local weddings, and although there is more than one William Bray, it is entirely feasable that he was on hand to witness many a wedding.
Interestingly, at the marriage of JAMES HARRIS's parents (WILLIAM HARRIS and ELIZABETH TENNEY) in 1776 at nearby St Gennys, one of the witnesses was called WILLIAM BRAY - possibly the father of the above-mentioned WILLIAM PITT BRAY?
Witness 1 was ARTHUR JEWELL who would have been about 51 years old at the time. He was likely to have been born in the nearby parish of Whitstone, in 1767. In 1795, he was living at Treneglos and married (at age 28) Ann Trewyn from Lesnewth. He died, aged 67, in 1834 at his residence at Tresparret, in the parish of St Juliot. He was able to write his own name in the register.
Witness 2 was JOSEPH KEELS, was likely to have been JOSEPH KIELES, born in the nearby parish of Minster, 1773 (and aged about 45 at the time of the wedding), or JOSEPH KEILES, also born in the parish of Minster, in 1775 (and aged about 43 at the time of the wedding). Joseph must have been on hand at the parish church as a witness quite regularly as he occurs three times on the six entries in the two-page spread of the register photo. He is able to write his own name.
JEWELL and KEELS (and all their variants) were both common names in this area at this time.
Finding out more about GRACE . . .
I wonder why she was a sojourner in the parish of St Juliot?
It was difficult finding information on GRACE ADAMS - there are a few of them, of course, and who's to say which one could be ours; however, her death information (11 November, 1862, as GRACE HARRIS ) gives her age at 71, which takes her birth year to 1791-1792.
This narrowed it down to one . . . So, looking at the births of 1790 - 1795 there was only one GRACE ADAMS, who was born in Trewen, a feasibly close parish to St Juliot. GRACE PETHERICK ADAMS was baptised on 12th August, 1792, in the parish of Trewen.
I then found both JAMES and GRACE HARRIS in the 1861 Census* - one year before Grace's death. This was a huge help in confirming her birth details. In 1861, JAMES and GRACE were living in Marshgate, in the parish of St Juliott (sic). JAMES' age was given as 72, his parish of birth was given as St Ginnis (sic)(St Gennys), and his occupation was a highway labourer (at 72 years old! No pensions, of course.) GRACE's age was given as 70, and her occupation was a highway labourer's wife, and her parish of birth was given as Trewen. Her given age and her parish of birth tee up very nicely with the birth records above.
According to their marriage certificate (see below) JAMES was from the St Juliot Parish and Grace was a sojourner of that parish. A sojourner means someone who is a temporary resident, but in parish register context it has more precise meaning.
The Hardwicke Act (introduced in 1754) required all marriages to take place in a licensed parish church in the parish of the participating parties. Also, from 1754, a pre-printed marriage register was used, as per image below, with spaces for required information so that the records became more consistent and uniform.
Banns (notices of intention to marry) were read publicly on three separate Sundays prior to the wedding so that those wishing to object had the opportunity. Objectors would most likely be parents of minors (under the age of 21) or previous spouses of either party.
To be considered "of this parish" a party had to be resident there for more than three weeks. Banns could be avoided by obtaining a special licence to marry in a parish outside that of the bride or groom's usual residence, although it was still possible for someone to call an objection at the beginning of the service. Even so, taking up residence in lodgings to avoid the necessity for banns fees was frowned upon, and the word “sojourner” was added to the entry to indicate that they had met the letter of the law but didn't really belong.
Apart from employment, other reasons for being a sojourner could be a deliberate attempt to avoid publicity of an impending marriage - including the likelihood of parental or community disapproval, or disclosure of information likely to embarrass either party or cause them to reneg on the arrangement, or a pre-nuptual pregnancy wanted to be kept discreet. And sometimes, if the parties resided in two separate parishes, one moved the the parish of the other for the three weeks prior to the wedding to save the doubling of fees for the banns to be read in both home parishes.
It seems, however, that JAMES and GRACE's wedding banns were announced - according to the register. There is no other known record of them being announced , although these were often recorded separately and may not have been transcribed yet - I can find no record of any banns for anyone from the parish of St Juliot, let alone our JAMES and GRACE.
Parental consent was not required, as JAMES was approximately 29 and GRACE was approximately 26.
 |
| Parish Church at St Juliot |
Who else was at the wedding?
The officiating minister was a curate called WILLIAM PITT BRAY On my brief research, there appears to have been at least two reverends called William Pitt Bray, as dates for births and deaths don't quite line up with his location at the wedding ceremony; however, I'm fairly certain that this WILLIAM PITT BRAY was born 1769 in St Teath and died 1846, at Lesnewth, aged 75. He married MARGARET PARSONS. He is buried in Altarnun Churchyard. There is many a witness called WILLIAM BRAY to other local weddings, and although there is more than one William Bray, it is entirely feasable that he was on hand to witness many a wedding.
Interestingly, at the marriage of JAMES HARRIS's parents (WILLIAM HARRIS and ELIZABETH TENNEY) in 1776 at nearby St Gennys, one of the witnesses was called WILLIAM BRAY - possibly the father of the above-mentioned WILLIAM PITT BRAY?
Witness 2 was JOSEPH KEELS, was likely to have been JOSEPH KIELES, born in the nearby parish of Minster, 1773 (and aged about 45 at the time of the wedding), or JOSEPH KEILES, also born in the parish of Minster, in 1775 (and aged about 43 at the time of the wedding). Joseph must have been on hand at the parish church as a witness quite regularly as he occurs three times on the six entries in the two-page spread of the register photo. He is able to write his own name.
JEWELL and KEELS (and all their variants) were both common names in this area at this time.
Finding out more about GRACE . . .
I wonder why she was a sojourner in the parish of St Juliot?
It was difficult finding information on GRACE ADAMS - there are a few of them, of course, and who's to say which one could be ours; however, her death information (11 November, 1862, as GRACE HARRIS ) gives her age at 71, which takes her birth year to 1791-1792.
This narrowed it down to one . . . So, looking at the births of 1790 - 1795 there was only one GRACE ADAMS, who was born in Trewen, a feasibly close parish to St Juliot. GRACE PETHERICK ADAMS was baptised on 12th August, 1792, in the parish of Trewen.
I then found both JAMES and GRACE HARRIS in the 1861 Census* - one year before Grace's death. This was a huge help in confirming her birth details. In 1861, JAMES and GRACE were living in Marshgate, in the parish of St Juliott (sic). JAMES' age was given as 72, his parish of birth was given as St Ginnis (sic)(St Gennys), and his occupation was a highway labourer (at 72 years old! No pensions, of course.) GRACE's age was given as 70, and her occupation was a highway labourer's wife, and her parish of birth was given as Trewen. Her given age and her parish of birth tee up very nicely with the birth records above.
The PETHERICK is interesting and could possibly give a clue to other family connections. It is not an uncommon name locally. The only other details given is that her mother's name was REBECCA - presumably ADAMS. But ... no father's name? Could this mean she was illegitimate? Could this be why she was a sojourner in another parish for her marriage?
After much futile searching of the Cornish parish records, I had a lucky breakthrough on the Family Search website - finding the banns for the marriage of REBECCA ADAMS and WILLIAM PETHERICK - and there's the connection!
The banns of the marriage between WILLIAM PETHERICK of the parish of Treneglos, and REBECCA ADAMS, of this parish (Trewen) were published on the Sundays of June 17th, July 1 and July 15th 1792. (Note that these were announced over three fortnights rather than three weeks). We can therefore assume that GRACE PETHERICK ADAMS was WILLIAM PETHERICK's daughter.
Now, given that REBECCA and WILLIAM's daughter GRACE was baptised on 12th August 1792, (do the maths), I'm wondering if the wedding actually took place, as I have yet to find any record of it.
- If baby GRACE ADAMS is baptised under her mother's name only, had REBECCA and WILLIAM actually married in time?
- And if they did, why did GRACE use ADAMS as a surname in her marriage details (and not include the PETHERICK middle name)?
And just when I thought I'd found out everything I could . . . I found another child born to REBECCA ADAMS.
I 
ANN ADAMS, daughter of REBECCA ADAMS, was born October 5th, 1800, in the parish of Trewen - which strongly suggests that this is the child of our REBECCA ADAMS, and is GRACE ADAMS's sister.
Spurred on by this exciting discovery, I went in search of what happened to ANN ADAMS.
It didn't take long to find out. It seems that baby ANN died within a day of being born as she was buried two days later on the 7th October.
How amazing that the death of a baby 218 years ago - and who I've only known about for ten minutes - could leave me feeling so sad. I wonder how long it's been since anyone has known or thought about baby ANN.
But it also raises further questions: Note the absence of a father's name, and note, also, the complete absence of reference to WILLIAM PETHERICK. Curiouser and curiouser. So who was ANN's father, I wonder?
Further research turned up this : the banns between ROBERT HANCOCK and REBECCA ADAMS published several Sundays by FRANCIS BEDFORD . (See below) Note this appears to be the same FRANCIS BEDFORD who recorded REBECCA' s first banns to WILLIAM PETHERICK, ANN's baptism, and the banns between ROBERT HANCOCK and REBECCA.
There is no date for the banns for REBECCA and ROBERT, although we can estimate it was between the 5th June 1799 (from the last banns on the previous page of the register) and February - March 1800 (from the dates of the next couples' entry in the register). It's probable that baby ANN arrived within the respectable time of a 1799 or January 1800 marriage, although she's still registered under the surname ADAMS. No mention of ROBERT - and no evidence yet of any marriage. A second non-marriage for REBECCA?
Could someone, perhaps, have objected to the wedding?
And, I can find no other mention of ROBERT HANCOCK, REBECCA - including their deaths or burial - or any further children they may have had.
It has been compellingly interesting researching GRACE and REBECCA, and I fell upon every new shred of evidence with the feeling of finding a long-lost relative - which, I guess, I was! My research asks as many questions as it answers, and I will continue to look for further details and to find out more about their lives in the context of the history of Cornwall. I'm certainly finding my way around the local parishes!
There must be hundreds - if not more - of REBECCA and GRACE's descendants. I wonder if anyone of them have found the same information that I have, or if they've got more details. I'd love to hear from you!
Meanwhile, I'll add more as I find it.
Summary:
William PETHERICK - Rebecca ADAMS
↓
Grace ADAMS
married James HARRIS
↓
William HARRIS
married Mary HEARD
↓
Richard HARRIS
married Annie LEATHART
↓
Gertie HARRIS
married HJA (Jim ) NAYSMITH
↓
JH (Harris) NAYSMITH
married TE (Elaine)BARKER
↓
My generation
Note: This is a direct line of ancestry and does not include siblings of any generation.
*1861 Census details: Class: RG 9; Piece: 1515; Folio: 50; Page: 4; GSU roll: 542824
No comments:
Post a Comment
Feel free add, confirm, or clarify any details in this post. All comments are moderated and do not have to be published if you request so.