Genealogy Chat

Hi,

I need your expert and kind opinions (again). I've got so many dead ends in my tree that I thought I'd research an unusual Christian name instead, but I've got into a worse loop with it than in my normal research!

My Grandfather was Reuben Hyden Pigden b.1899.

His uncle was Hyden Pigden b. 1875 in Greenwich, Kent.

The 2 generations before mostly came from Sydenham, Kent.

I searched in Ancestry for the christian name 'Hyden' to see if my Hyden had been named after an ancestor.

In the 1881 census there is a 'Hyden Rigden' b. 1808 recorded. He was born in Kent. Surely this can't be a coincidence? The thing is, I can't find a record of him anywhere else! I've tried soundex searches - my Hyden has been recorded as 'Hidens' on one census - it's as if this bloke just appeared out of nowhere for the one census!

I know it's a lot to ask, but can anyone help?

Thanks
Trudi

Anyone got any ideas?

There's this in 1871:

Iden Rigden
Age: 63
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1808
Relation: Lodger
Gender: Male
Where born: Newington, Kent, England

Civil Parish: Lyminge
Town: Each End Hill
County/Island: Kent
Country: England


Registration district: Elham
Sub-registration district: Elham
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 84
Household Members: Name Age
John Barham 46
Rebecca Barham 45
Adelaide Gafford 13
Sarah Gafford 53
Iden Rigden 63


Angela

Rigden is quite a common name in Kent. Do you think Pigden was a variant of this?

There are Pidgens in Cornwall/Somerset etc.

You'll have fun with this one I think!

And 1861:

Iden B Rigden
Age: 52
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1809
Relation: Servant
Gender: Male
Where born: Newington, Kent, England

Civil Parish: Postling
County/Island: Kent
Country: England

Registration district: Elham
Sub-registration district: Hythe
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 69
Household Members: Name Age
Edmund Dowel 59
George Maycock 62
Rigea Maycock 60
Iden B Rigden 52

1851

Name: Iden Rigden
Age: 44
Estimated birth year: abt 1807
Relation: Servant
Gender: Male
Where born: Newington, Kent, England

Civil parish: Postling
County/Island: Kent
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability: View image

Registration district: Elham
Sub-registration district: Folkestone
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 4
Household Members: Name Age
Ann Chaplin 58
Ann Chaplin 30
Thomas Chaplin 58
Thomas Chaplin 3
Sarah Dvons 18
Stephen Foreman 25
John Gambril 22
Edward Maycock 18
Edward Maycock 10
Frank Maycock 13
Sarah Maycock 19
Iden Rigden 44

And his death:

Deaths Sep 1886 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rigden Iden 78 Elham 2a 602

Hi i have a lot of Pidgiens in my tre if you would like to look let me know
Alyson xx

Brilliant!

Perhaps he had nothing to do with my Hyden at all!

It's just such a strange name. I need to keep searching. I must admit that I'd missed 'Iden' completely.

Thank you all so much for your time.

The next one is my gt x4 grandmother whose christian name was 'Weltham' ............. ;0)

Trudi

Are you winding us up - Weltham???

Bet you long for a Smith or Jones!

Seriously, sometimes the unusual names are a lot harder to find, aren't they?

Angela


Good grief - there are loads with the christian name Weltham on censuses!!!

Sorry Angela ...... the Weltham Luff on those census' is mine - all mine! I just can't find her maiden name and I'd love to know where they got her first name from.

This puts current celebrity kids names in the shade!

I think I'll finish my wine and get some sleep now.

Goodnight and thanks again.

I've got the name Luff in my tree (from Hampshire as far as I can gather)! Just finishing off my wine too - night!

Angela