Researching pre 1837 records, continued. (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Wednesday, September 26, 2012, 03:58 (4514 days ago) @ Jefff

(Cont)

These Burials may highlight just how common infant deaths were in those days, often with the PR quoting the parents' names too which helps, or they maygive the age or spouses name etc; all these clues are helpfull of course. Unfortunately this is a time consuming process but eventually you cna often build up the families lives. Don't forget (as I sometimes do) that girl's surnames are usually changed thro marriage before their Burials !

Finally, repeat for the Marriages. These are perhaps the most usefull PRs, the more recent they are the more info is recorded, particularly father's surnames (which can indicate a widowed bride's maiden name), witness's names (often close relatives), etc.
Normally as nowadays a bride marries in her home chapel, altho in those days they didnt travel too far anyway, especially not before the railways (post 1840s?), unless perhaps they were boatmen on the Severn or Wye. Re Teignmouth, dont forget thats a South Devon coastal port so your Yems may well have travelled there via coaster ship from say Lydney to Ilfracombe on the North coast, the coasts were full of ships of all sizes and cargoes in those pre railway days, even now we can still enjoy summer day trips on the old paddle steamer between Lydney, Penarth and Ilfracombe.

Again, I do hope this helps you find your ancestors, its not as complicated or timeconsuming as it sounds !
Good luck !