Person:Michael Surrey (2)

Michael Surrey's origins have yet to be established. His first confirmed sighting is on 11th October 1750 when he married Mary Bracey at Letchworth in Hertfordshire. Michael was living in the small parish of Caldecote at the time of his marriage. If that is where he was born and he was a similar age to his wife it is likely that any record of his baptism is lost, as the Caldecote parish registers only survive as far back as 1726.

Michael and Mary returned to Caldecote after their marriage, having three sons baptised there between 1754 and 1764. Their surname was sometimes given as Sawrey as well as Surry and Surrey.

It would appear that Michael died in 1766, being buried at Caldecote on 2nd March 1766. His burial record described him as a labourer. Mary survived him by nineteen years.

1. ↑ Church of England. Parish Church of Caldecote (Hertfordshire). Parish registers, 1726-1970. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).

   1766 / Michael Sawrey, Labourer, was buried March 2nd

   There was another Michael Sawrey burial in 1776, also described as being a labourer. Presumably the two Michaels are this Michael and his son. It seems less likely that the younger Michael would have been simply described as a labourer in 1766, as he was only 11 years old at the time. Therefore it seems more likely that it was the father buried in 1766 and the son in 1776.