Person:John Stokes (17)

John Stokes' origins have yet to be established. If the age quoted when he died was correct, then he was born around 1746. John's first confirmed sighting is on 2nd October 1778, when he married Elizabeth Thrussell at Hitchin in Hertfordshire. John was described as a labourer at that time.

After their marriage, John and Elizabeth moved a few miles south to the town of Ware, where their eldest daughter was baptised in 1780. Her baptism record describes John as being "of Militia", indicating that he was serving in the militia. By 1783 the family had returned to Hitchin, where they had another four children baptised between 1783 and 1793, although their second child died aged two. In Hitchin, John worked again as a labourer.

John's eldest daughter, Elizabeth, married in 1802, and John's first known grandchild was born the following year. John's daughter Elizabeth died as a young woman in 1806, aged 25. John's son Edward died in 1813 aged 24. Only two of John's five children survived him.

John was buried at Hitchin on 11th April 1817. His burial record says he was 70 years old. At the time of his death, he was living at Hollow Lane on the eastern side of the town. He had lived to see at least ten grandchildren born in his lifetime. Elizabeth outlived him by eight years.

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

   1752 / Born April 25, Bapt[ized] June 14 John Son of Jo[h]n & Eliz[abeth] Stokes, Cordwainer

   This is the most likely baptism found to date - further proof required to be sure.

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 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 1817
   No.	Name	Abode	When buried	Age	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   240	John Stokes	Hollow Lane	April 11	70 [1746/7]	Henry Dixon

3.   There is a settlement record dated 26 June 1745 for a John and Elizabeth Stokes who moved from Ramsey in Huntingdonshire to Hitchin, who may be connected to this John, but this has yet to be established. Needs to be confirmed at Hertfordshire Archives - reference D/P53/13/2/136.