STACEY
/ CLARK FAMILY HISTORY
26 MARCH 2006
Further
to my previous query dated 7th March 2006, I have found IGI references
which indicate that the Stacey families were long-term residents of
Knottingley. If this information is accurate, I am curious to know why my
Sarah Ann Stacey, who was born in the workhouse and appears to have been
illegitimate, was given her mother's married name of Stacey instead of
Clark, or if she was the daughter of George Stacey of Knottingley.
The
IGI shows: John Stacey and Francis Brown of Knottingley had 10 children
some of whom were christened in St. Botolph's church. Their son George,
christened on the 14th March 1810, married Sarah Clark on the 30th May
1832 in Pontefract.
George
and Sarah had a son John, who was christened on 25th August 1833 in
Knottingley. Sarah Ann Stacey was born in the Knottingley workhouse on the
15th January 1839 to Sarah Stacey, formerly Clark.
I
found a death for George Stacey in the June quarter of 1839 in the
Pontefract District. George could have been Sarah Ann's father but why was
he was not shown on her birth certificate or her marriage
certificate.
I
would love to come to Knottingley to try to solve the puzzle.
Margaret
Gill, Fremantle, Australia
gillmarg (at) iinet.net.au
16 March 2006
Ron
Gosney's Reply
The
George Stacey buried in 1839 was an infant son of a William Stacey. Your
George was buried at St. Botolph's burial ground on 15 August 1835, aged
25.
I
was very interested to see you had found Sarah Ann Stacey, daughter of
Sarah, born in the workhouse on 15 January 1839. I know that in other
areas it was common practice for unmarried women or widows to be taken
into the workhouse to have children, but this is the first time I have
come across evidence of this in Knottingley.
Now
comes the interesting bit, for about a year ago, Michael Norfolk, who runs
the website, discovered the Select Vestry Minute Book 1823-1840 and he
allowed me to copy it. The Select Vestry were the elected townspeople
selected to Oversee the Poor and carry out the law.
It
would seem that Sarah Stacey was taken into the workhouse in December 1838
and a minute of 11th December 1838 says "Thomas Garland is the father
of Sara Stacey's child", so she has been required to disclose the
father as they would try to obtain 'bastardy money' from him for its
upkeep.
You
have found out that Sarah Ann was born on 15 January 1839 and another
minute of 22 January 1839 says "Ordered that father of Sarah Stacey's
child be seen."
A
further minute of 14 February 1839 says "Sarah Stacey tom leave poor
house within a week and 1s-6d per week be allowed for the child".
If
you have any further questions then don't hesitate to ask and I will see
if I can help.
Kindest
Regards
Ron Gosney
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