Evening,
I have been trying to make some headway on a long standing quandry. That is:
Sarah Griffiths
Born: c. 1795 @ Worthen (1841 & 1851 census, age at burial)
Buried: 15 May 1858 @ Worthen (aged 63)
Married: to John Passant, 6 Dec 1813 @ Worthen by banns; wit: Benjamin Griffiths & Jane Vaughan
They had 12 children, the first bapt. in Jan 1817 @ Trelystan and the other 12 at Worthen. Their second child was known as William Griffiths Passant and another as Vincent Griffiths Passant.
There are no matching baptisms for her at Worthen. There is one baptised, 26 aug 1797 @ Trelystan. However, I don't think this is her as I would expect her to say she was born in Montgomeryshire if bapt. at Trelystan and it would mean she would be 16 at marriage. Instead I noticed there is a couple, William Griffiths and Anne Vaughan who had numerous children 1785-1793 @ Worthen and no further children, despite the fact that Anne was only in her early 30s at the time. They also had a son called Benjamin, who is the witness on the above marriage between John Passant & Sarah Griffiths and Jane Vaughan is probably the sister (b. 1774) of the Anne Vaughan aforementioned.
So, I have postulated that Sarah is probably a daughter of William Griffiths and Anne Vaughan, but she has not been baptised (or recorded) at Worthen; probably with a few other younger children following.
My question is, does anyone know much of the non-conformist situation in this period around Worthen and where one might be dunked or have their birth recorded in the case of anti-peadobaptists? Or any other tips?
I have researched all the children of John Passant and Sarah Griffiths hoping that one might be living with a cousin or another relative that might shed some light on Sarah, but found nothing; and also can't find anythign on the children of William Griffiths & Anne Vaughan.
Apologies and thanks.
I have checked the two non-conformist chapels in Bridgnorth and although there is an earlier Thomas Griffiths and family there is not a Sarah recorded.
Fine, David.
To expand on the Baptist theme there must have been a pre-existing congregation to justify the expense of building the Lordshill chapel. Private houses were licensed for religious worship but I have not looked into the relevant law (even though a nonconformist ancestor was so licensed in Staffs, where there is a least one list). Try exact Google search "licensed for religious worship" for examples.
Another possibility is an entry in BTs at Hereford, missing from register. (I have two such direct ancestors, inc one at Alberebury). You might peruse the printed volume for Woirthen and compare numbers of baptisms in various years to look for possibility of poor record-keeping.
There is a swathe of missing baptisms in the Worthen or Minsterley (ie Westbury) area a bit earlier in 18th cent, such as for several families of Purslow (from whom earlier you probably descend as we know) and Burgwin.
Have also wondered whether William and Ann Griffiths moved, such as to Ratlinghope, where some registers are missing; but I think that I see their burials at Worthen. In case you do not yet have such: per SFHS index: 18.11.1817 William Griffiths, Brockton, aged 58; and 11.7.1833 Ann Griffiths, Brockton Beach, aged 72 (which fits with bap of Ann Vaughan, sister of Jane, 6.6.1761.
Finally there might be Wills at Hereford for Griffiths and / or Vaughan in the area. Chris Potter can help here. Mail me if you need contact.
Thanks Bristol-loggerheads & Martyn. I hadn't really thought of looking at the BTs. I guess it would be useful to collect the whole lot at some point, if the Hereford Archives allow such reproduction.
Thanks also for the burials. I had collected burials up to 1890, but must have missed the one for Ann in 1833.
Have been in contact with C. Potter.
Of course in the case of baptist ancestors there would be no baptism (as infants) though in some places people would ask the Church to note the child as having been born so there was a record. Some ministers who had sympathy with non conformists did so but can't say whether this happened or was prevelant in Shropshire.
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Sorry David but I for one find your use of "dunking" as distasteful.
I believe that the Baptist movement may have been gaining strength in the area around the time of the 1793 cut-off that you postulate in the possible issue of William Griffiths and Anne (Vaughan). (Your case for arguing further issue is strong).The chapel at Lordshill, Snailbeach was first erected in 1833 (per Newman and Pevsner's buildings of Shropshire); while the National Index of Parish Registers suggests a start in 1818; but no registers were then known (1976).
Adherents of the movement might well meanwhile have travelled much further to attend other, existing chapels.
The full list of nonconformist holdings (or rather transcripts) at Shropshire Archives can be downloaded via www.shropshire.gov.uk / culture and leisure / archives / what we hold. However the Nat Index introduction for Shropshire suggests that there were 12 Baptist chapels before 1837.
As regards the alternative parentage in Trelystan, that of course was a chapelry of Worthen and thus the geographical nicety of itbeing in Monts may have been overlooked.