Person:Shadrach Males (1)

Shadrach Males was born on 13th October 1757 and baptised three days later at Cottered in Hertfordshire. He was the son of Mary Males, formerly Dearman, and her husband John Males, a farmer. When Shadrach was still quite small the family left Cottered and moved about nine miles south-west to Codicote, where they were living by 1762. The family lived in Codicote until 1774, when Shadrach's father took the lease on Shaw Green Farm in the parish of Rushden, back in northern Hertfordshire adjoining Cottered.

On 4th October 1782, aged 24, Shadrach married Mary Pearman at Aspenden, a few miles east of Rushden. After their marriage they settled at Sandon, immediately north of Rushden. Shadrach and Mary had five children baptised at Sandon between 1783 and 1795. Back in Rushden, Shadrach's father died in 1793.

A land tax redemption survey taken in 1798 finds Shadrach renting land at Sandon assessed as being worth £2 4s. His landlady was a Mrs Lewin.

Shadrach's mother died in 1807, and he was one of the beneficiaries of her will.

Shadrach and Mary later moved about sixteen miles south to the county town of Hertford, where in 1819 they lived on St Andrew's Street on the west side of the town. Mary died that year, when she was said to be 58 years old. Shadrach outlived her by about fourteen years. He died at the age of 75, being buried on 31st March 1833. His last address had been The Wash, in the centre of Hertford adjoining the castle.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Church of England. Parish Church of Cottered. Parish registers, 1558-1977. (Hertford: Security Microfilms, 1975-1989).

   Baptized at Cottered / 1757 / Mailes / Shadrach Son of John Mailes Farmer & Mary his wife (born Oct[ober] 13) October 16

2.   UK, Land Tax Redemption, 1798 (The National Archives, Kew / ancestry.co.uk).

   Parish: Sandon, Hertfordshire
   Proprietor: Mrs Lewin
   Occupier: Shadrack Males
   Sums Assessed: £2 4s.

3. ↑ Burials register, in Church of England. St. Andrew's Church (Hertford). St Andrew's parish registers and miscellaneous public records, 1560-1940. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies).

   BURIALS in the Parish of St Andrew Hertford in the County of Hertford in the Year 1833
   No. 698
   Name: Shadrach Males
   Abode: The Wash
   When buried: March 31st
   Age: 78 [1754/5]
   By whom the Ceremony was performed: Bernard Gilpin