Welch family history

[LimeyKraut]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and would like some help with a subject that many of our American friends have raised.
My 4xGGF, William Humphr(e)y, was born 1763 in Horsmonden, Kent, England, and married Elizabeth Styles 1/Oct/1785 in Horsmonden.
All the actual evidence I could gather from other family trees, etc, points to the fact that William was the son of Thomas Humphr(e)y, baptized 19/Jan/1735 in Tonbridge. However, Family Search and their volunteers insist on conferring fatherhood on one James Humphreys (1731-1825), a native of Filby, Norfolk, far from the Garden of England. This alleged relationship leads to a host of 'relationships' with famous people, including Benjamin Franklin, Martha Dandridge Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Betty White. Does anybody have any evidence to substantiate that my ancestor was indeed the son of Thomas Humphr(e)y?

 

[janetbooth]

The only baptism in the parish register of Horsmonden that I can find for a William HUMPHREY or variants is one on 23 May 1773 for a William son of Thomas HUMPHRIES & Ann his wife but unless it was a late baptism - always a possibility - he would be too young to be married in 1785. The earliest baptism I can find in the parish register for this couple is that of a daughter Elizabeth on 25? November 1770. Not much help I'm afraid, but have to go out now so will have a look later to see if I can find anything else.

Janet

 

[LimeyKraut]

Thanks for your help, even if the trail petered out.

 

[Ma-dotcom]

Welcome in LimeyKraut.
Coincidently my 3rd Gt.G'father, William Humphrey of Horsmonden, Kent married my3rd Gt.G'mother Elizabeth Styles in 1785 in Hormonden.
I found him via the birth of my Gt. G'father Georg Humphrey b. 1840 Horsmonden -he married Louisa Ann Phillips in 1865 at St. Matthew, Bethnal Green, London. His Father was David, son of William & Elizabeth b. 1802 in Horsmonden. + 9th child, b. Horsmonden.

I also had Thomas & Hannah [Ann] as Williams parents - because they weere the only ones I could find locallyish. I've not had a lot of joy searching in early Kent records.
I recently had DNA connect with a chap from Germany who also queried the William Humphrey details.
It was the Welch name which caught my eye as I have many of same, mostly of Sussex but others from London/ Surrey.

I wonder if we can work out who was who & from where. I have a tree on My Heritage & Ancestry.

Sorry I missed this post earlier.

Wendy
p.s. If you key in Humphrey in the search bar at top you should find my earlier posts on Humphrey family.
pp.s. I've just checked the 'DNA' bit. It was actually a 'smart match' between me & mr. Welch.

 

[LimeyKraut]

Hi, Wendy,

The 'German chap' was me. I've been living here now since 1970, with a wonderful German wife.
In my youth, I was often together with my father in the Maidstone area, but that was long before my interest in genealogy. My father used to reminisce about spending his childhood hop-picking, which was the only way for poor Londoners to get some fresh air. I've since discovered the pre-war registration census of 1939 taken in Hollingbourne (just outside Maidstone), in which he and his brother Frank were listed as 'seeking employment'; he was then 15 years old and Frank 14.

I remember the alias 'Bonza little digger', but I couldn't seem to place you.
However, that being said, I've dug a little deeper and have now discovered who you are.
We are 4th cousins, once removed.
Also, I can't seem to gain access to your earlier posts on this forum.
I'll plod along now and continue rejecting those transatlantic claims of being descended from our Humphrey family.

NB: If you see any 'matches', smart or otherwise, referring to a family connection through Mary Brees, you now know what I'm talking about.

Brian

 

[Ma-dotcom]

Hi Brian, good to chat with you again. I shoudl have guessed it was you from the name. I had a 'cloud flare' problem here preventiing me from accessing the Forum, Now I need to go as it's been a very long day for an oldish Lady who gets up too early just to feed kitty cats & look for rellies on computer posts.
I've found several matched people from USA in the past. I must have another look tomorrow & also watch for Mary Brees.
ciao for now- stay well
Wendy

 

[LimeyKraut]

HI, Wendy,

If you register with FamilySearch, the LDS genealogy site in Salt Lake City, you can find Wm Humphrey, but with the wrong parents (eg Mary Brees. If you then click on 'sources' for either William or Mary Brees, you will encounter a whole bunch of contributors on the r.h. side. Click on any of the names and then on relationship to see how they are supposedly related with you. The system then displays two sets of trees with the common ancestors at the top. This will help you with the Mary Brees problem.
I use this site a lot, even though some of the data researched by volunteers is misleading (see my point about Mary Brees), so caution is required. However, that being said, it's extremely effective when researching known LDS relatives. The brother of my 4xGGF (maternal line) was a leading light in the LDS movement in the early 1800s in Northamptonshire, and all his children emigrated to USA. The data available on the site for these church members is very comprehensive.
Interesting fact: One of the descendant cousins was the actor Paul Langton, who played Leslie Harrington in the TV series Peyton Place.

Brian

 

[Ma-dotcom]

I've found the above thanks Brian. Lots of nouthing about Jane.
Been looking for the Memorials mentioned around Horsmonden Church where-in several of the Humphrey family are listed. Can't find them at the moment,- memory lapse.- yes I can see here :-
https://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/records/monumental-inscriptions/horsmonden
Now I'll get caught up in that site & forget what I should be doing.
I don't think you related where the name 'Welch' came into your line, meanwhile I'll go through all of those I have in Legacy and see if I can suss it out.

Wendy

 

[LimeyKraut]

Maybe the attached can help with the connection to the Welch family.
Thanks for the link to Horsmonden.

Brian

 

[Ma-dotcom]

Brilliant, thanks Brian. A bit of a 'get with it' for me as I had not found Caroline & my 'Welch' department was sorely lacking.
I'll get right into it & back to you in emails.


Wendy