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I am wondering if anyone out there is able to help me with a brick wall. Trying to find out if Temperance Hooper born c1805 Somerset, was ever married even though she had many children between 1824 and 1845 some with the Hooper surname, others with surname Dix (husband listed as James Dix) and then a final surname change to Smith, with children and husband all changing to Smith. Most children born Wells, Somerset. Death 1880 as Temperance Dix (Upton) though had been in 1871 census as Temperance Smith.
Am trying to trace ancestral line of son born 1829, Edwin/Edmund who went by all three surnames when transported to Launceston in 1849 but took on Hooper Dix in his later years.
Am also trying to establish if Edwin merely took on the Dix surname because his mother was with James Dix, as this may not be his biological surname.
Any help at all with this would be greatly appreciated as is causing many headaches with brick walls..

Matthew

Possible christening???


Name:

Temperance Hooper

Gender: Female

Baptism/Christening Date: 23 May 1805

Baptism/Christening Place: Weare, Somerset, England

Father's Name: Wm Hooper

Mother's Name: Fanny Hooper

Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I07097-3
System Origin: England-EASy
Source Film Number: 1471170

Yes, that is definitely her, thanks so much Vanessa.
I just now need to find out if there are any recorded marriages for her as I have been unable to find any thus far..

Thanks for replying.

Matthew :-)

Have you looked at this website? A descendant of James and Temperance but she can't find the marriage either.

http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~jeneestree/my_great_great_great_grandp/


Ozi

Thanks for this Ozi, will have a look the website.
Thanks for replying.
Matthew

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/ancestors/thread/1308603


Related thread

Yes, thanks for this Gins, just me trying to tie up loose threads.. There is more than one brick wall in our ancestral tree!!
Matthew

Anyone else able to shed light on the elusive marriage record of Temperance and James Dix?

Somerset records are elusive on the web. I know because even though I live in Australia both my husband's and my ancestors come from Somerset.

Here is an excellent page that brings Somerset online sources together and is updated fairly regularly: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/ian.sage/PR/pr_index.html

and of course freereg is always worthwhile: http://www.freereg.org.uk

Ozi

So if these are the only known children then the marriage should be between 1829 and 1831, is that so?

indexing project (batch) number: C00240-5 (St. Cuthbert, Wells, Somerset)

name: Edmund Hooper
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 25 Dec 1829
baptism/christening place: St. Cuthbert, Wells, Somerset, England
father's name:
mother's name: Temperance Hooper




name: James Green Dix
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 27 Jul 1831
baptism/christening place: St. Cuthbert, Wells, Somerset, England
father's name: James Dix
mother's name: Temperance Dix

name: Anne Tucker Dix
gender: Female
baptism/christening date: 20 Mar 1833
baptism/christening place: St. Cuthbert, Wells, Somerset, England
father's name: James Dix
mother's name: Temperance Dix

name: Richard Henry Dix
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 23 Jun 1835
baptism/christening place: St. Cuthbert, Wells, Somerset, England
father's name: James Dix
mother's name: Temperance Dix

name: Eliza Harriett Green Dix
gender: Female
baptism/christening date: 14 Sep 1836
Deaths Dec 1837 Dix Eliza Harriet Gr___ Wells 10 357


Just an observation: are you sure about Temperance's surname? It seems unusual that other surnames (Green & Tucker) are used, but not Hooper.

Ozi

Burials
County: Somerset
Place: Wells
Church: St Cuthbert
Register Number: 2384
Burial Date: 25 Jul 1835

Forename: Richard Henry
Surname: DIX
Age: 1m
Abode: Lawpool Lane

File Number: 10234

There are other births in the 1840's, a Richard and an Emma, who with Edmund go on to be two of their only surviving children. Also two other births before Edmund under the surname Hooper.MArriage could have occured at any time.
When Richard marries c1870 he is Richard Smith Dix!
He then continues going under the name Richard Smith.

I too have noticed the other surnames used and just assumed that they were on James Dix's side of the family. I believe, but can't be sure as I am unable to find a birth certificate for James Dix, that James' mother was Anne Tucker which would explain the Tucker, and that James' grandmother was Elizabeth Green which explains the Green.

you won't find a birth certificate for James Dix ......................... he was born before civil registration began on July 1 1837.


The most you will find is an entry in a Parish Record for his baptism, which may or may not also have his birth date marked.

Thanks Sylvia, think this means I will need to search Somerset Parish Records??

am fiddling about trying to find anyhting!


I looked at the 1841 Census, and am going to post it, just for reference purposes


1841 Census

Name: Temperance Dix
Age: 30
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1811
Gender: Female
Where born: Somerset, England

Civil parish: St Cuthbert In and Out
Hundred: Wells Forum
County/Island: Somerset
Country: England

Registration district: Wells
Sub-registration district: Wells

James Dix 30 b.ca 1811, Somerset, Carpenter
Temperance Dix 30
Edwin Dix 13 b.ca 1828, Somerset
Emma Dix 11 Mo b.ca 1840, Somerset

Address:- Mill Pond





sylvia

so this is Temperance and James under the name Smith in 1851????


Name: Temperance Smith
Age: 41
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1810
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: James Smith
Gender: F (Female)
Where born: Ware, Somerset, England

Civil parish: Hanley Castle
Ecclesiastical parish: Malvern Wells St Peter
County/Island: Worcestershire
Country: England

Registration district: Upton On Severn
Sub-registration district: Hanley

James Smith 40 b.ca 1811, Wells, Somerset, Carpenter & Joiner
Temperance Smith 41
Emma Smith 10 b.ca 1841, Wells
Richard Smith 8 b.ca 1843, Wells.





There will have been a reason for the change of name ................... and often that is because of some sort of criminal act, or getting away from trouble,



I wonder if James Dix had been married before ............ that could be "trouble" if he'd taken up with another woman. And could also explain why we cannot find a marriage.



and they are still Smith in 1861 ...............

Name: Temperance Smith
Age: 50
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1811
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: James Smith
Gender: Female
Where born: Wedmore, Somerset, England

Civil parish: Great Malvern
County/Island: Worcestershire
Country: England

Registration district: Upton On Severn
Sub-registration district: Hanley

James Smith 52
Temperance Smith 50
Richard Smith 18





sylvia

Do you have this????

England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 about Temperance Hooper

Name: Temperance Hooper
Date of Trial: Jan 1825
Trial Year: 1825
Location of Trial: Somerset, England
Sentence: Acquittal
Crime: See Image
Date of Execution or Release: See Image


from image:-

Charged with Larceny
Verdict:- Not Guilty

a family tree on ancestry has the following parents and siblings for Temperance

I have no idea of how accurate this information ..... but it may give you a start, if you do not already have it.


Parents

William Hooper 1775 –
b. ca 1775, Weare, Somerset England

Frances Gatcomb 1775 –
b.ca 1775, Somerset


William and Frances married 20 April 1795, Weare


Siblings

James Hooper1795 – 1796
James Hooper1799 – 1802
Benjamin Hooper1802 –
James Hooper1808 – 1878




The tree owner appears to be descended from James Hooper, b. 1808.



This is what the tree owner has to say about James Dix


James Dix
Birth
Wells, Somerset
Birth name is noted as SMITH - Dix was listed as an alias


1829
Age: 18
Marriage to Temperance Hooper
Somerset, England


1841
Age: 30
Residence
St Cuthbert In and Out, Somerset, England

On 1841 census shown as James Dix (alias) Occupation - Carpenter


1851
Age: 40
Residence
Hanley Castle, Worcestershire, England

On 1851 census reverts to birth name James Smith Occupation - Carpenter and Joiner





SO ................. no sign of birth certificate to prove this????




sylvia

IF that is Temperance's parents and siblings, the following MIGHT be her father on the 1841 Census ................ but with a different wife???


1841 Census

Name: William Hooper
Age: 65
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1776
Gender: Male
Where born: Somerset, England

Civil parish: Weare
Hundred: Bempstone
County/Island: Somerset
Country: England

Registration district: Axbridge
Sub-registration district: Wedmore

William Hooper 65 Ag Lab
Jane Hooper 75 b.ca 1776, Somerset
Benjamin Hooper 30 b.ca 1811, Somerset, Ag Lab

Address:- Upper Weare



and the same family in 1851??


1851 Census

Name: William Hooper
Age: 77
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1774
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Jane Hooper
Gender: M (Male)
Where born: Weare, Somerset, England

Civil parish: Weare
County/Island: Somerset
Country: England

Registration district: Axbridge
Sub-registration district: Wedmore

William Hooper 77 Farm Labourer
Jane Hooper 81 b.ca 1770, Weare, Blind
Benjamin Hooper 47 b.ca 1804, Weare, Cripple
Thomas Wells 84 Lodger, Farm Labourer
Mary Williams 59 Visitor, Ag Lab



"England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," Benjamin Hooper, 1802

Name: Benjamin Hooper
Gender: Male
Baptism/Christening Date: 14 Mar 1802
Baptism/Christening Place: Weare, Somerset, England
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Death Date:
Name Note:
Race:
Father's Name: William Hooper
Father's Birthplace:
Father's Age:
Mother's Name: Fanny Hooper
Mother's Birthplace:
Mother's Age:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I07097-3
System Origin: England-EASy
Source Film Number: 1471170
Reference Number:





sylvia