Person:James Odell (22)

James Odell was baptised on 10th August 1788 at Hitchin in Hertfordshire, son of a blacksmith called Thomas Odell and his wife Ann.

James was married on 10th June 1813 at Hitchin to Sarah Stokes. They went on to have at least seven children baptised at Hitchin between 1813 and 1830. All the children's baptisms record that James was a blacksmith and that the family lived on Back Street (later renamed Queen Street) on the east side of the town.

Sarah appears to have died either giving birth to their youngest daughter or shortly afterwards; the girl was baptised privately on 18th September 1830 and Sarah was buried six days later on 24th September 1830, aged 37.

James outlived Sarah by eleven years. The 1841 census finds him still living on Back Street in Hitchin and working as a blacksmith. Several of his children and some grandchildren were living with him.

James died at the age of 53, being buried at Hitchin on 13th December 1841.

1. ↑ Church of England. Parish Registers of St Mary's Church, Hitchin. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).

   Baptized 1788 / Aug[us]t 10 James Son of Tho[ma]s & Ann Odell / Blacksmith

2. ↑ England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 445; Book 3; Folio 7; Page 9, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Back Street, Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   James Odell, male, 54 [1786/7], Blacksmith, born in county
   Elizabeth Odell, female, 26 [1814/15], born in county
   Mary Odell, female, 25 [1811-16], born in county
   Robert Odell, male, 20 [1816-21], born in county
   James Odell, male, 15 [1821-6], born in county
   Sarah Odell, female, 14 [1826/7], born in county
   Jane Odell, female, 10 [1830/1], born in county
   Thomas Odell, male, 6 [1834/5], born in county
   Alfred Odell, male, 5 [1835/6], born in county
   Emma Odell, female, 3 [1837/8], born in county

3.   Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   d. James ODELL, December Quarter 1841, Hitchin Registration District, Volume 6, page 381, aged 53 [1787/8]

4. ↑ Burials register, in Church of England. Parish Registers of St Mary's Church, Hitchin. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).

   BURIALS in the Parish of Hitchin in the County of Hertford in the Year 1841
   No.	Name	Abode	When buried	Age	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   942	James Odell	Back St[reet]	Dec[embe]r 13	53 [1787/8]	H. Wiles