Hi, I'm very new to this and am seeking information about my father's family.
I have found out that my GG Grandfather James HACKETT (1829-1908) was born and lived in Bridgenorth, St leonards parish with his wife Margaret FLETCHER (Married around 1850) and their sons William, James (my G grandfather) John, Samuel and Thomas.By the 1871 census they had moved to Rowley Regis, Staffs, near where the family still lives today.
James' father John HACKETT (1805-1883) must have remained in Bridgenorth as he appears on the 1881 census as a resident of The Workhouse, 16 Northgate, Bridgenorth, where I'm guessing he probably died.
Apart from this, all I know about John HACKETT is that he married an Ann GITTOS (possibly also known as Harriet) 1805-1858 and the 1841 census has them living in Listley Street. Some evidence that I cannot verify suggests their wedding date may have been 2nd Feb 1826, possibly in Bridgenorth.
Can anyone advise me where I might find information on the workhouse in Bridgenorth and possibly a marriage record for John and Ann that would give me their parents names? I'm now at a loss how to proceed but don't live all that far from Bridgenorth if there is somewhere I can go to learn more?......
Hi Kim,
Welcome to the S.F.H.Society.
I note that the Family Search web site has many HACKETT Christenings in Bridgnorth. Apart from copies being available on Find my Past, fiche copies of the Church registers are available in Bridgnorth Library.
I'll check the Church register for the 2nd Feb 1826 marriage of John HACKETT to Ann GITTOS.
The James HACKETT marriage to Margaret FLETCHER was I believe in Worfield in 1850. I may be able to get details within a few days.
On the 1831 census of St Mary's Parish, Bridgnorth, John HACKETT was listed as occupying one house, containing 3 males and 1 female. One of the males was over 21 years of age. So based on the 1841 census, the 1831 family group could be John, Ann and their first two children Thomas and James.
Also on the 1831 census, there is a widow HACKETT listed as occupying one house, containing 1 male and 3 females. The male was not above 21 years of age.
As you know, Ann died in 1858 and her husband John HACKETT died in 1883. Both were buried in Bridgnorth Municipal Cemetery so, although very unlikely, I can check to see if there is a headstone.
The large building used as the Workhouse where John HACKETT lived in 1881, still looks the same externally and is still occupied today.
Should you wish to visit Bridgnorth to further your research, I would suggest you include a Friday afternoon spent in the Library. Most weeks, three volunteers (plus me!) are available to help people get the most from the research material available.
Gwynne
Hi Kim,
The Findmypast website does have the marriage (after Banns) of John HACKETT and Ann GITTOS on 2nd February 1826 at St. Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth. Both were stated to be "of this Parish". The witnesses were Benjamin GITTOS (relative of Ann?) and John PINCKSTONE.
You can also find them living in Listley Street, Bridgnorth in the 1851 Census :
John aged 45 years, occupation Gardner, born Tenbury; Ann aged 49 years, born Bridgnorth, John (son) aged 17 years, Mason's Labourer, born Bridgnorth, Samuel (son), 11 years, Errands Boy, born Bridgnorth, Hannah HACKETT (daughter), 11 years, Scholar, born Bridgnorth, Edwin (son), 5 years, Scholar, born Bridgnorth.
Using the 1851 address I think I've found them in the earlier 1841 Census, with 3 more children, living in Lisley Street, Bridgnorth, but for some unknown reason Ann's name was recorded as Harriet
If you don't subscribe to the findmypast website, then you can try the free www.familysearch.org website, where I found the baptism of Hannah HACKETT in Bridgnorth in 1840. It will probably have baptisms and possibly Census records for the other children of John and Ann.
Happy researching
Phil
Thank you so much for all the help and useful tips. I have found out more about my family in the last two days than in the last two years! Knowing where to look is half is the battle and now I have the research bug!
I will definately visit the library and will look around Bridgnorth with fresh eyes now that I know some of the places I have walked by on previous visits are actually connected to my own family.
Could anyone advise me of any route I might take to find out John HACKETT's parentage if I cannot track a birth or baptism record? I appreciate researching anything pre 1800 is very difficult unless your ancesters were well to do -and mine almost certainly weren't- but I hate unsolved mysteries!
Thanks again
Kim
Hi Kim,
John HACKETT's place of birth may be difficult to prove but I'll make a suggestion.
On the 1841 census, he was listed as NOT born in Shropshire.
1851 census - Tenbury ?
1861 census - Bridgnorth ?
1871 census - Ellerton Grange, Staffordshire.
1881 census - Cheswardine, Staffordshire.
Family Search has the Christening of a John HACKETT, son of Thomas & Hannah, on 2nd September 1804 in Adbaston, Staffordshire. Both Ellerton Grange (1871) and Cheswardine (1881) are nearby.
It may be worth you tracing the family born in Adbaston to see what comes up.
Gwynne
Hi Kim,
As Kim says it may be difficult to prove John's origins. If you don't subscribe to Findmypast website then try familysearch.org There are baptisms for 8 children at Adbaston between 1788 and 1804, including that of John, with the parents names of Thomas and Hannah Hackett. Also a marriage in 1787 between John Hackett of Adbaston and Hannah Barlow of Muxon, with marriage occurring by Licence at Mucklestone.
I often follow up siblings to see if they give any corroborating evidence (in my family naming patterns have been useful) and it may be worth contacting Staffordshire Records office to see if they have a copy of the marriage licence of Thomas and Hannah, as it may give you a parent's name.
Finally don't get fixated on Staffordshire, as Adbaston, Chewardine, etc lie close toborder with Shropshire and your ancestors may have drifted across the border at some time.
Phil
Again, thanks for the advice.After asking the question, I stumbled across the Cheswardine link from the birthplace listed on the workhouse entry,found the same record mentioned above and believe it may well be the right one. I know that they were quite common names at the time but it may be significant that John Hackett's parents are listed as Thomas and Hannah and he named his firstborn son Thomas and his eldest daughter Hannah. Both these names continue to appear a fair bit in our family treee.The church at Adbaston is extremely old and I may well head out that way for a visit and also follow the Mucklestone link
cheers for all this help.
Kim
Hi Kim,
Details of that marriage on 20 May 1850 in Worfield.
James HACKETT, full age, bachelor, Servant of Ackleton. Father = John HACKETT, a Labourer.
to Margaret FLETCHER, full age, spinster, Servant of Worfield. Father = James FLETCHER, a Labourer.
James signed, Margaret made her mark.
Witnesses - James ADDISON and Sarah BISHTON.
I checked in Bridgnorth Municipal Cemetery for a headstone for Ann HACKETT who died 1858 and John HACKETT who died in 1883.
As fully expected, there are no headstones.
I'm puzzled by the address of 16 North Gate given for the Workhouse where John HACKETT was on the 1881 census.
Part of the Workhouse had been at 16 North Gate until a new Workhouse building was built in 1848 in Innage Lane.
Innage Lane was the address for the Workhouse on the 1851, 1861 and 1871 census.
So why did it revert to using the former address of 16 North Gate for the 1881 census, although I feel sure the inmates were actually at Innage Lane.
Gwynne
Thank you for this. I'm away for a couple of weeks now but will investigate further on my return.
Kim
Hello everyone,
James Hackett was my GGG Grandfather too, through his son James born 1853 in Wednesfield Heath. The information I have for him is that his parents were John Hackett born c 1805 Berrington, Shropshire the son of Thomas and Mary. I think the surname may have been Haget before that (possibly not written down) and Ann Gittos daughter of Richard Gittos
Margaret Fletcher was born in Pattingham in 1823, her parents were James Fletcher and Frances Pearson, her Pearson grandparents were James and Margaret.
Hope this is of use. My lineage is mum Geraldine Hackett born 1942, grandfather Joseph Hackett born 1915, g grandfather John Thomas Hackett born 1887, g g grandfather James Hackett born 1853, g g g grandfather James Hackett born 1829, g g g g grandfather John Hackett born 1805, g g g g g grandfather Thomas Hackett/Haget born araound 1770-1785.
Hi
Thanks for the info.The two family lines are indeed the same through James Hackett born Wednesfield Heath 1853- my great grandfather. the family later moved from Bridgnorth to Rowley Regis where I believe he worked at what became Albright and Wilsons.
My grandfather was George Henry Hackett born 1890 who would be the younger brother of your Great grandfather John Thomas.
My father was George's youngest son Jesse Hackett born 1927.If I am looking at the right part of the family tree ,I believe your grandfather Joseph may have a sister Audrey who kept in touch with my dad.
Kim
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Hello
For the sake of accuracy Bridgnorth does not have an 'e' in it. This will make a difference when you try to do searches when it is probably best to try both spellings.
For information on the Bridgnorth Workhouse (and all the others up and down the country) see The Workhouse web site.
As a general rule marriage entries before 1837 do not include the names of the fathers. From 1754 to 1837 they should include the names of at least two witnesses who may be relatives but could just be 'someone dragged in off the street' as they say. The marriage between John and Ann should be in the Shropshire collection on the Find my Past web site (fee payable). Put Shropshire in the search box.
Mike