Ingatestone: Poole Family

Received: 19 January 2011

I am researching my family history & trying to discover where I can find information on Sarah Poole born c.1801 in Ingatestone, Father – William. I have found her in the later census in Ancestry but have not been able to find anything before her 1825 marriage in Tower Hamlets Middlesex. I have found a William in 1841 in a place called Doddinghurst. Not being from England I cannot figure out whether these 2 towns are close enough to consider this William as her Dad.

Sorry to bother you your Blog was the only spot so far I could find to communicate with someone.

Thank you

Lynda

Ontario Canada

Replied: 21 January 2011

Dear Lynda

Thanks for your E mail. As you will be aware, Britain has carried out a census every ten years from 1801 with the exception of 1941. All years from 1801 to 1911 are now available but 1801 to 1831 merely contains statistics not names. However, the Essex Record Office hold s the census enumerator’s book for Ingatestone parish for 1831 – an unusual preservation. Perhaps ERO D/DU 407/1 includes some of your relatives? William and Poole are common names around here, so care must be taken to assume that William in Doddinghurst is the same as your William. It is plausible, because Ingatestone and Doddinghurst are only five miles apart from one another. To give you an idea, both are bordered by Blackmore.

If ‘Doddinghurst William’ survived until 1851 then he may be recorded with place of birth. It’s a long shot. Alternatively check the burial register for Doddinghurst to see if he died in the intervening years.

I checked ‘Essex Ancestors’, the project in which the Essex Record Office is digitising parish registers. The archive is not as far as the period you require so the data you need is on microfiche in the searchroom in Chelmsford.

Tower Hamlets, now a London Borough bearing this name, is a district just over the ancient county border in Middlesex. Places like Poplar, Shoreditch and Whitechapel come to mind. The parish registers for these and other ‘villages’ are held, according to a book I have dated 2003, in the London Metropolitan Archives.

Hope this is of use. Happy researching!

Andrew