Genealogy Forum UK

I wonder if they just didnt get married?

I think that's seems the most likely. I can't find a marriage either but thanks for all your efforts. I do appreciate it.

One thing I have noticed is when I search for William Hitchman birth 1855 on the igi - on the contributed section of the igi I get William Hitchman born 20 March 1855, death 22 Dec 1932, New Bond Street Aston, Warwicks parents William Hitchman and Miss Horn. Has anyone tried contacting a contributor to the igi for more info, or can you think where this info might have come from? If it was simply from the birth cert wouldn't it say Miss Horns full name and not name a father?

They have probably come to the same conclusions as us Pat that there was no marriage
and just put down their contributions.

She dies as Hitchman too

Wondered if Wm left a will and she might be referred to as Miss Horn in it...but couldn't see one.

Did you ever find Wm on the 1841 and 1851 Pat?

I haven't found William with any certainty. Have the following possible

In 1841
Living in Old Swinford, Stourbridge, Staffs
William Jackson,age 68, Tree Turner, born 1773 Staffs
Sarah Jackson, age 66, born 1775 Staffs
Wm Hickman, age 16, Tree Turner, born 1825 Staffs.
Richd Hickman age 11 , born 1830 Staffs
I have noticed that Stourbridge is both Staffs and Worcs. Did the boundaries change?

per the igi John Hitchman and Mary Ann were the parents of the following, all christened in Old Swinford, Worcs
William Hitchman on 13 March 1825, Sarah Hitchman on 15 Apr 1827, Richard Hitchman on 10 Jan 1830, John Hitchman on 4 Aug 1833, Mary Ann Hitchman on 27 Jan 1837

Hi Pat I believe that the spelling of Hitchman and Hickton is inter - changeable and could indeed be the same Wm you found in Old Swinford 1841. Yes Stourbridge is in Worcs and always has been, although I have read somewhere that it came under Staffs in some Census entries, sorry have forgotten the precise details. Old Swinford and Stourbridge are on the Staffs/Worcs border though with Brierley Hill and Kingswinford, always best to check both Counties when searching. I have had a search in some Parish Records I have, found the following details:-

A Richard Hickton (this name seems to run in your tree) was buried 21.3.1799 at Cradley, which is very near Old Swinford and Stourbridge. The entry has no age but it does not say he was an Infant.

A Richard Hickman was an Overseer for Old Swinford Parish in 1709 and a Church Warden at St Mary's Old Swinford 1746 - 1748.

Hope this helps Linell.

Maybe a good idea to search St Mary's Old Swinford burials, they may have some Hicktons or Hitchmans which give an Occupation, I do know that Spade Making was a very large industry in that area.

Linell.

Thank you for all your efforts on my behalf.
I agree with you about Hitchman and Hickman being almost interchangeable at least as far as the transcribers are concerned.
I am still looking for William in 1851 because I like to think it will help confirm my possible sighting in the 1841 census. I expected to find him in the West Bromwich area, but I still have in mind that my family believe that he spoke with a Yorkshire accent and he did have one child born in Sheffield in 1864.
It was very interesting to hear about the Spade making trade in Old Swinford.

Thanks again.

I am confusing myself now!
It wasn't William Hitchman b. 1825 who had the Yorks accent, it was James Thomas Hitchman his son.
Time for a rest I think.

Has this been ruled out?
I know wrong occupation and daur slightly older but...
1851. Moor Street, West bromwich
William Hickman, head, 28, Miner
Elizabeth A, wife, 25, West bromwich
Sarah A, daur, 6m, West bromwich
Hannah Roberts? Servant, 13
Elizabeth Jones, visitor, 28
All others born Tipton

I have seen this one but there seemed too many errors for it to be the right one.
William's occupation and place of birth - I would expect it to be a spade tree maker or similar and he was born in Stourbridge per later census records, not Tipton.
Also Elizabeth was born in Solihull according to later census records, not west Bromwich.
And I would have thought it unlikely that they would have a servant in the household?

Having said all that I can't easily trace this William Hickman (ie a miner, born in Tipton) and his family in 1861 or 1871, so I wonder?

I think this needs another look. Any ideas how I can eliminate them?

moving to Brick walls Pat

I know what you mean!

Is this a Brickwall or have you solved it?
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