52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #39 Jane Belcher

This is my thirty-ninth posting for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge.

This posting is for Jane Belcher who married Thomas Belcher 8 June 1826 in North Cerney, Gloucestershire, England. Yes, both had the same surname. 

Jane, a daughter of Daniel and Susanah Belcher, was baptized 2 February 1806 in North Cerney. She may have been a twin as a brother John was baptized the same day. She was one of eight children. 

Jane and Thomas had four children. The first was Louisa, my ancestor, who was baptized in North Cerney 4 February 1827. Next came Susan who was baptized 2 November 1828. Sarah came next and she was baptized 7 March 1831 in Withington. Phoebe was baptized 24 February 1833 in Withington. 

By the time of the 1841 Census, Jane is not listed with Thomas and the girls. No death has been found for her so far so she likely died between the birth of Phoebe and the start of civil registration of deaths, possibly after the birth of her last baby. 

© 2014 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: # 20 George Belcher

This is my twentieth posting for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge.

Little is known about George Belcher's life. He is my 4th great-grandfather. The only census that he appears in is the 1841 census for Withington, Gloucestershire, England. The 1841 census required that ages 15 and over to be rounded down to the closest 5 years. George is listed as 65. This would put his age to be about 65 to 69. He would have been born about 1772 to 1776. 

On 3 November 1801, a George Belcher and Jane Turner exchanged vows in the Withington Parish Church before Rev. Benjamin Grisdale. John Preston and Richard Poole acted as the witnesses. Both George and Jane signed with their mark. It is unfortunate that these early records do not name the parents of a couple. 

Four children of George and Jane Belcher were baptized in the Withington Parish Church: William (1802), Thomas (1805), Elizabeth (1807) and Hannah (1812). I descend from their son Thomas.

On Free BMDs I found two George Belchers with deaths in the 1840s registered in the Northleach district where Withington is located.  The index does not indicate the age at death.  One was registered in the March quarter of 1842 and another in the March quarter of 1849. When I looked at the Withington Parish burial registers many years ago, I noted a George Belcher, aged 68, with a burial date of 8 January 1842. I did not note the 1849 date so that may indicate that one was in a different parish. 

Withington Parish, microfilm 0856943, Family History Library, Salt Lake City



© 2014 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #18 Thomas Belcher

This is my eighteenth posting for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge.
Last week, I highlighted his daughter, Louisa.

Thomas Belcher was baptized 12 May 1805 in Withington, Gloucestershire, England. His parents were George and Jane Belcher.

 © Copyright Philip Halling and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence 
  Thomas married Jane Belcher 8 June 1826 in the North Cerney Parish Church.

Thomas and Jane had four daughters: Susan, Sarah, Louisa and Phoebe.
By the 1841 census, it would appear that Thomas  (35) was possibly a widower. With him are only his daughters. The youngest, Phoebe, is only seven years old. Next door are George (65) and Jane (60) Belcher. The 1841 English census rounds the ages of those over 15.

Thomas appears in each of the census records from 1841 to 1881 in Withington, Gloucestershire. In 1881, he is listed with daughter Sarah Belcher and grandson Albert Iles. In the 1861 census, he is living alone. In 1871, he is in the household of Ellen Laight, widow, and her children. Ten years later, he is listed with Eleanor Laight as a boarder. Ellen and Eleanor are likely the same person. In all census records except 1881, Thomas is listed as an agricultural labourer. In 1881, he is listed as labourer, roadman.

Thomas died in 1884.

© 2014 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #17 Louisa Belcher

This is my seventeenth posting for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge.

Louisa Belcher was born in Withington, Gloucestershire and baptized 4 February 1827 in North Cerney. Her parents were Thomas and Jane Belcher. On 10 July 1845, she married James Iles in Brimpsfield.

The couple is known to have eleven children. The first child was Albert who was baptized 31 August 1845 in Withington. Next came Isaac who was baptized 23 May 1847 in Brimpsfield. Then she had three girls who were all baptized 2 November 1856 in Lower Swell. Eliza Jane was born about 1849; Susan was born about 1850 and Mary Jane was born in about 1853. Daughter Alice was baptized 1 February 1857 in Lower Swell. George, my great grandfather, came next. He was born 7 December 1858 in Westfield, Guiting Power. Next came two more daughters: Charlotte born about 1861 and Lydia in about 1863, both in Condicote. The final two children were Emmanuel, born about 1864, and Timothy, born about 1870, in Guiting Power.

Louisa died 1 March 1903 in Cheltenham.

© 2014 Janet Iles