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Does anyone have Cam parish records? Looking for the baptism or birth of Josiah Bull 1808 in Mepal CAM.
( I already have all the BMD and census info)
Thanks
xx mick

an ever hopeful nudge.

Can't see him on Camdex


http://www.cfhs.org.uk/cgi-bin/baptismindex.cgi

Thanks Bascat- he's been a brick wall for many years, but I live in hope!

Mick, perhaps he wasn't born in Cambs after all. He could have been born elsewhere but brought up in Cambs from a young age and just assumed that was his birthplace. It does happen.

Are there any clues as to what either of his parent's name may have been? e.g. do either of them appear with Josiah on any census record? Did Josiah have any sons and, if so, what did he name the first two (often that is a clue).

There are a few entries on the IGI for christenings of Josiah Bull circa 1808 -

1808, Newport Pagnell, Bucks
(F: Thomas M: Letitia)

1809, Paulton Somerset
(F: Silas M: Ann)

1811: Newenden, Kent
(F: Samuel M: Elisabeth)

1814: Gloucester
(F: William M: Ann)

The other thought is that he may have been registered under surname "Ball".

Regards

Athena

Mick, can't find him on my Baptism Index.

The CFHS has Baptism Index (1801 - 1837) searchable on-line but he doesn't appear there either.

M. Steer

Thanks for your help and advice Athena & Margaret.

No sign of either parent living with him.

His children were named George, Alfred Ernest, Sarah Louisa, and Alice Jane.

xx mick

Athena
Further to your suggestions above, I have spent the day looking for possible SARAH Bulls as Josiah's mother.
I found a Sarah Bull (mother-in-law) (born abt 1779) living with a family of Rowells in Stetham CAM in the 1871 census.
That name rang a bell somewhere-
Checked my old Bull folder-
I found an old LDS index card where a John Rowell has baptized/registered MY Josiah Bull into the Mormon church (or whatever it is they do) in 1929!
Can he be the same John Rowell on the 1871 census?? Does this mean that Josiah Bull is one of his family/ ancestors? Tantalizing stuff, but still no proof!!

Mick, I'm intrigued with your Josiah Bull.

You gave his children's names, do you have any of their Birth Certificates? I found Baptisms for Alfred Ernest, Alice Jane and Sarah Louisa all in 1853 at St.Andrew the Less, Cambridge (they may not though be yours). George, was more difficult (not an uncommon name) but there was one, Baptised in Stretham in 1827?

I don't mean to be rude but are you sure that the Josiah you're researching is the person that you think he is?

Athena suggested that you might use the children's names as a clue, she was right but I would suggest starting with the boys, their names stay the same, girls change with marriage.

Is there any chance that Josiah may have been Baptised Joseph?

M. Steer

Hi Margaret
I have always known a lot about Josiah Bull through family knowledge and surviving documents. I know when he married, I have found him in trade journals, I know when he died, I have a copy of his will, - those children you mention are all his, baptised quite late in life.
The one thing I have never been able to find is his birth and his parents! On every census he insists he was born in Mepal- but no trace of him -its all been very frustrating! A lovely lady on here is going to check the Mepal PRs in the Cambridge records office for me soon - hopefully that will lay him to rest at last! xxx mick

n

Mick, I'm still intrigued!

You know when Josiah married - how do you know? When, where, who did he marry?

M.Steer

Hi Margaret
The marriage was at St Andrew the Less, Cambridge on 5 Jun 1831 between Josiah Bull of Trinity parish and Mary Robinson, spinster of this parish. Witnesses were William Topping and Jane Topping All census records indicate Josiah was born in Mepal and Mary was born in Knaresborough Yorkshire.

Mick, just a thought.

Josiah's children weren't baptised until they were, adults! Perhaps Josiah was never baptised?

M. Steer

Well, it's possible - but I live in hope.

Thanks Maggie - I will have a look

nudge

nudge

Hello again Mick!

You previously said that you 'know a lot' about Josiah, perhaps you could expand on that?

You found him in trade journals - what was his trade?

If he left a Will, he obviously wasn't an Ag.Lab.!

His wife was from Yorkshire - what was she doing in Cambs.? The witnesses to their Marriage - where were they from and were they related in some way to either party?

M. Steer

Hi Margaret
He was a wealthy boot & shoe manufacturer,
employing 16 men on one census.
In his will he leaves 6 houses to his childrren.
I dont know how his wife Mary Robinson came
to be in Cambridge, but her relatives were ministers of religion, and Josiahs son Alfred went to Cam Uni & became a Cof E Minister in London.

Another kind lady on here has just checked the Mepal, Sutton, Haddenham, Manea, Witchford, Witcham & Coveney PR's and has found no trace of him!

xxxx mick