Nehemiah Halford, 1832, Parish of Awre. - Forest of Dean FHT Forum

I have managed to trace my family back to Nehemiah Halford born in the parish of Awre approx 1832. I know he was a stone mason and married Annis Toozes in 1857. I'm having a problem tracing further back. I would be grateful if any one can please point me in the direction of parents/grandparents. Any information would be gratefully received.

Thanks, Paul.

Hi Paul
Nehemiah Halfords brother John Halford was my great x3 Grandfather.
Im in the same boat I think i found the father of them but im not 100% sure

On the 1841 census he is living in Blakeney Hill.

John Halford 40 Mason
Ann 35
Lois 13
Nehemiah 9
John 4
There is also a George Halford 11, but I don't know how he fits in yet.

All born in county.
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I have just had a look at the 1851 and George is a son (obviously missed him out of the running order on the 1841!) Nehemiah is a Stone Mason (Labourer) and they are still on Blakeney Hill. All born 'East Dean'.

John's d.o.b. around 1803 and there is this possible baptism on the FoD site:

Record_ID: 187269
Entry_Number: 21
Year: 1802
Month: Sep
Day: 19
Parents_Surname: HALFORD
Child_Forenames: John
Fathers_Forenames: John
Mothers_Forenames: Ann
Mothers_Surname:
Residence:
Occupation:
Officiating_Minister: Wm. Jones Curate
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Son of
Notes:
Register_Reference: P209 IN 1/2
Page_Number: 74
Parish_Chapel: Lydney

A bit confusing as John jnr married an Ann and his parents look to be John & Ann also.

Thanks John. I think I need to actually visit the area and investigate church records. My branch of the family migrated to Yorkshire via Lancashire and I in turn haav moved to Norfolk, so it looks like organising a holiday in the 'homelands'. Once again many thanks.

Sorry Chris getting you confused with earlier post, very sorry but still many thanks.

The following may be of help.
A search of Glos BMD Index at http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/bmd/MainMenu.aspx
for siblings of Nehemiah provides the following:
Child Surname Child Forename Father Surname Mother Surname Mother's Former Name Year District Office Register Entry
HALFORD Ann HALFORD HALFORD WILLETTS 1844 Forest of Dean Westbury on Severn, Newnham 5 350
HALFORD George HALFORD HALFORD WILLETT 1840 Forest of Dean Westbury on Severn, Newnham 2 421

This tells us that mother's maiden name was WILLETT(S). Sadly I cannot find a marriage in the registers but there is one for Anne Willetts in 1826 as follows:

Year: 1826
Month: Jul
Day: 27
Grooms_Surname: JENKINS
Grooms_Forenames: John
Grooms_Age: [not stated]
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: [not stated]
Grooms_Residence: Forest of Dean
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: [not stated]
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: [not stated]
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Surname: WILLETS
Brides_Forenames: Anne
Brides_Age: [not stated]
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Forest of Dean
Brides_Fathers_Surname: [not stated]
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: [not stated]
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: [not stated]
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: He signs she marks
Witness_1: Mark of Amy Jellamy
Witness_2: Mark Henry Hawkins
Other_Witnesses: Charles Fennell
Officiating_Minister: Charles P. N. Wilton Officiating Minister
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P30 IN 1/5
Page_Number: 50
Parish_Chapel: Awre

Time and place look good and there are 2 baptisms for Ann(e) Willetts in Awre - first one in 1804 and the second in 1807.
A search for a baptism for John Jenkins produces this entry:
Year: 1802
Month: Feb
Day: 7
Parents_Surname: JENKINS
Child_Forenames: John Halford
Fathers_Forenames: [not stated]
Mothers_Forenames: Nancy
Mothers_Surname:
Residence:
Occupation:
Officiating_Minister: Charles Sandiford Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: [1]base S[on] [2]b[or]n Nov[embe]r 9 1801
Notes: Blakeney Chapel
Register_Reference: P30 1 IN 1 Part 2
Page_Number: 485
Parish_Chapel: Awre

This would appear to be the father of Nehemiah.

Best wishes
Mike

Many thanks Mike and very interesting. I seem to remember another forum thread that links the names of Halford and Jenkins and how one seems to mysteriously replace the other. Have you heard anything of this? It certainly confuses things.

Once again, many thanks.
Paul

This thread appears to be of interest:
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=21636

Mike

Thanks Mike for all your hard work here. Looks like my family tree is more like a can of worms. I really have now idea where to go from here, the family seems to switch between Halford (and variants) and Jenkins so easily I would not know who I was looking at. Thank you for the leads anyway.

Regards

Paul

Armed with this new information (ie John Jenkins) I have now found references to John Jenkins marrying Ann Willets bu also John Jenkins marrying Ann Niblets, both with the same date of marriage in Awre. The family of John Jenkins and Ann Niblets also match syblings of Nehemiah I already have in my family tree. My brain is beginning to hurt!! I hope someone can shed some light on this.

Looking at the 1841 census with John HALFORD and his family - there is also a Thomas WILLETTS with them age 20 shoemaker and a few houses down, a William WILLETTS age 25 - wife Mary - age 25 and Walter WILLETTS age 3.

If you use the Advance Search - baptisms - mother's name Nancy at Awre - this information is quite interesting....

Awre - Blakeney Chapel

1789

Parents Surname: HAVERD

Father's Forenames: George

Mother's Forenames: Nancy

----

26 December 1790

Parents Surname: HALFORD

Child Forenames: George

Mothers Forenames: Nancy

Mothers Surname: (nee) TURNER S(pinster)

----

30 September 1792

Parents Surname: Halford

Childs Forenames : John

Mothers Forenames: Nancy

Mothers Surname: (nee) TURNER S(pinster)

----

7 September 1794

Parents Surname: HALFORD

Childs Forename: William

Mothers Forenames: Nancy

Mothers Surname TURNER S(spinster)

-----

26 January 1797

Parents: JENKINS

Child Forenames: Sarah Coles

Father's Forenames: (not stated)

Mother's Forenames: Nancy

Memoranda: Base daughter January 23 privately baptised

Marriage FOD records

31 May 1787

George HAVORD (Batchelor) - of the Parish of Newland

married Nancy TURNER - Spinster - of this Parish

by Licence:

witnesses: Rachel HOGES and Michael WEBB (Parish Clerk)

FOD records - Burial at Newland 12 August 1835

Nancy HALFORD - residence Coxbury, age 78 years c1857

Thanks for this. Can't quite get my head round the variants of 'Halford'. I can see myself getting lost in the variety of spellings.

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