Did my 4x great grandparents marry in Hertford?
QThomas Nichols (1776-1838), a cord-spinner, and Sarah Palmer (circa 1775-1825) are my 4x great grandparents. Thomas was baptised in St Augustine, Norwich, on 17 March 1776, son of Thomas Nichols and Mary Ann née Nursey. There is a possible baptism for Sarah as the illegitimate daughter of Mary Palmer in St Michael at Plea, Norwich, on 28 May 1775. Both Thomas and Sarah were buried in Old Lakenham, now a Norwich suburb, and all their children were baptised in Norwich parishes (the first born, another Thomas, on 3 August 1797). The baptisms confirm Sarah’s maiden name as Palmer. However, the only marriage I can locate for a Thomas Nichols and Sarah Palmer in the mid- to late-1790s is in the parish of St Andrews, Hertford, Hertfordshire, about 100 miles from Norwich. The marriage register entry says both parties are “of this parish”. Neither of the witnesses are names that I recognise as being related to bride or groom. Could the Hertford marriage be the correct one? Alan Harper, by email
AIn Thomas senior’s baptism record, he is recorded as Nicholls (two ‘ l’s). I am sure you have taken this and other variants, into account in your research. In addition to the Sarah Palmer baptism you’ve already noted in 1775 in Norwich, St Mary at Plea, there’s also a Sarah Palmer baptised on 10 April 1774 in Fakenham, Norfolk, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth.
Thomas Jr was born on 25 June and baptised on 2 July 1797 rather than 3 August. The entry says he was the son of “Thomas and Sarah his wife late Palmer spinster”. This is typical of all other baptism entries, so the wording is not concerning. However, it is not proof that the couple had ever married.
The success of your research will come down to the source of the records you are investigating. Findmypast has several Norfolk collections: Norfolk Baptisms, Marriages, Burials and Banns; Norfolk Bishops’ Transcripts; Baptisms, Marriage and Burials; and Mid Norfolk Baptisms and Monumental Inscriptions. But are all the parishes in Norwich covered? Findmypast’s Norfolk parish lists ( findmypast.co.uk/articles/norfolk-parish-lists) is helpful and the answer appears to be yes, at least as far as Norwich is concerned.
Turning to the 1795 marriage in Hertford – is this just a too-convenient discovery? On the face of it, it does seem unlikely, so could it refer to another couple of the same names? This possibility needs to be fully investigated. In this case, you are both trying to prove and disprove the entry relates to your ancestors. So, are there any likely births/baptism entries for the couple in the Bedford area? Can any children be discovered born to them in that area? Are there any death records for them?