Research Forum

STOKES of Wraxall
published by Pat Hase on Mon, 21/05/2012 - 15:27

My great great grandfather was Charles STOKES, christened in Wraxall 2nd Jan 1820, the son of Samuel & Elizabeth STOKES. In the Bristol Mercury of Thursday, October 27th 1881 - which I read online using my North Somerset Library Ticket (other libraries also have this facility to view 19th Century Newspapers) - I found out that Charles had been employed as an Agricultural Labourer for 28 years five months with Mr Robert Newton of Wraxall without a stain on his character and won a prize for this at the North Somerset Agricultural Association's Annual Show!

My query concerns Charles's grandparents. His father, Samuel, was christened in Wraxall on the 23rd June 1793, the son of Joseph & Martha STOKES. (see our Parish Transcriptions) I have not been able to find a marriage for a Joseph STOKES with a Martha. I have found - in Easton in Gordano - a marriage of a Joseph STOKES, bachelor from Wraxall, to a Rachel COX on 20th Aug 1778. There is also a baptism of a Joseph STOKES s/o Joseph & Rachel STOKES in Wraxall on 5th July 1795.

Is Rachel and Martha the same person? If Joseph married Rachel in 1778 - were there any other children before 1795?

I believe Joseph STOKES died in 1834 aged 84 but as yet I have not found a burial for either a Martha or a Rachel STOKES

Any suggestions? Thank you.

Comments ..

Submitted by Pat Hase on Thu, 24/01/2013 - 17:47

Since I posted this request for help - Graham has transcribed the burials in Wraxall and I can now find the burials of both Joseph & Rachel STOKES. Joseph on the 15th June 1834 aged 84 and Rachel on the 19th July 1840 aged 86. Thank you Graham!

I have also found (on FreeREG) some more christenings of children for Joseph and Rachel STOKES in Clapton in Gordano to fill the early gap. I am now of the opinion that the entry in the Wraxall Baptisms for the christening of Samuel s/o Joseph & Martha STOKES in 1793 is probably an error on the original document and that no person called Martha ever existed - the name should have been Rachel, especially as there was another christening of a son to Joseph & Rachel in Wraxall in 1795 after my Samuel was born.

It just shows that it pays to revisit the transcriptions from time to time to see what has been added! - As I first found this christening about 20 years ago I think I can now progress to research Rachel COX as my 4 x great grandmother.

Any suggestions about her? Rachel COX born about 1754 (if her age at burial is correct) married 1778 in Easton in Gordano and now died in 1840 in Wraxall. Thank you.