SMITH Joseph 18thC of Melling & Wray (Lancaster Dist)

1-star-status Member Posts: 2 Joined: 2007-12-16

Researching,Joseph Smith,born Melling Lancashire ,around 1700? In Nov. 1799, married Jane Clapham, born Clapham Yorkshire , in 1772.They had a son Francis, born 1801 and my 3x Great Grandfather Joseph Smith, born 1816 Clapham.He farmed High thrush Gill,Wray Lancashire. I would be greatful for any information on either family and siblings of Francis and Joseph.

G. Brooks!

I just happened to 'be passing by' and noticed you had left a post. I thought I would just say 'Hello'. I am not in a position to help with your queries tonight but I shall try to ensure that someone gets back to you soon. It's good to hear from you.
:cheers: Gillian

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''What will survive of us is love.''Philip Larkin

Hi G.Brooks, and thanks Gillian,

Good to see you here G.Brooks, and thanks for telling us about your Lancashire & West Riding Yorkshire Smith interests. Your message now moved here to the Lancashire Board.

Also quoted a copy to our West Riding Yorkshire Board, here
>> Smith married Clapham of Clapham WRYorks >>
So you might like to click on "watch this Topic" at the bottom of that one too -
in case anyone else replies to you on that board.

I'm thinking that you mean Wray and Melling in Lonsdale, north of Lancaster, which is not far over the Lancs/Yorks border from Clapham - and so that makes sense.

The church at Melling that the family possibly used in the 18th Century is St Peters, now
St Wilfrid Church of England. >> Photo & more info at Genuki here >>

the registers for that Church don't yet appear to have been transcribed at the
>> Lancashire Online Parish Clerks database >> but keep an eye on that as new records are being added on a regular basis.

a few queries -
Am I correct thinking that Francis b1801 and Joseph b1816
were both children of Joseph Smith Snr and Jane?
Was Francis also born in Clapham Yorks?
Have you already got marriage or baptism records for any of them?
if not - have your searched the IGI at all yet >>Familysearch>>
and have you got any 1841/1851 Census data for any of them yet?

Will be interesting to follow the progress of your research so please keep us informed and we'll do our best to help in any way we can.

Chat again soon wave

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Carole, Smith Project/Smith Chat Admin
Nothing is too small to know, and nothing too big to attempt (William Van Horne)

1-star-status Member Posts: 2 Joined: 2007-12-16

Hi Carole,
I believe Francis and our Joseph are both sons of Joseph and Jane.Yes both were born Clapham.I have been unable to find any other siblings though,seems a huge gap between them.Joseph jnr. is farming at High Thrush Gill Wray-with -Botton at the time of the 1841 census and I have him and the family traced from then on.His son James, my Great Grandfather came to New Zealand in 1894.Just trying to trace back as far as I can.Thanks for your interest and response. We visited Clapham and the ares in question last Aug.Sept,but didn't really know where to start looking!
Thanks again,Cheers,Glenyss Brooks

22 Dec 2007, Carole wrote:

Hi Glenyss,

It's lovely that you were able to visit the area. I expect it was enough just to be able to take in the feeling of it all!! without going searching for records, etc. It's a lovely area isn't it, near Ingleton and not too far from Morecambe Bay and of course, the Lake District.

Yes, please keep us informed and let us know if there's anything specific you'd like help with. Maxine is the moderator for our West Riding Board, so if needed, she might be able to advise on records for Clapham, whilst Lancashire is more my territory!! Laughing

And for the benefit of anyone else interested in the North Lancashire/Yorkshire boundary area - here's a map snippet. Have marked on here the location of Clapham on the Yorks side of the boundary & Wray & Melling on the Lancs side

from Ordnance Survey 1904 Vision of Britain Historical Mapping

(will put this map snippet on the copy topic on the WRY board too
>> Smith married Clapham of Clapham WRYorks >> )

Seasons Greeting Glenyss, to you and yours. Carole :santa:

Hi Glenyss,

How is your research going on? any more progress? Please let us know if you have any brickwalls or anything you might need help with at the moment.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Carole wave

PS: Glenyss, You're now in the Forums' >> Red Usergroup>>
(for those researching Smiths of Lancs, WRY & IoM)
& your Username should now display in Red

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Carole, Smith Project/Smith Chat Admin
Nothing is too small to know, and nothing too big to attempt (William Van Horne)