Person:William Swallow (8)

William Swallow was baptised on 11th October 1770 at Kimpton in Hertfordshire, son of Elizabeth Swallow, formerly Wilds, and her husband John Swallow, a tailor who had been married twice before. William was the third of four children his parents had together, and he also had three surviving half siblings from his father's first two marriages. When William was only three years old his father died.

William married when he was 25 years old, on 12th October 1795, at the neighbouring parish of King's Walden, to a Sarah Hopkins. After their marriage they moved to Wheathampstead, the opposite side of Kimpton to King's Walden. At Wheathampstead they had eight children between 1799 and 1816, although two died as infants and their eldest daughter died aged just 16.

The Wheathampstead parish records include a survey of the "labouring poor of the parish" from 30th June 1814. William is listed in this survey as having lived at Hollybush. Hollybush is a 16th or 17th century row of cottages near the hamlet of Mackerye End in the west of Wheathampstead parish. Hollybush still stands today, but the whole row of cottages has now been combined into one house.^[4]

William's first known grandchild was born in 1823, and he would see at least twelve grandchildren born in his lifetime.

William continued to live with Sarah at Hollybush until his death in 1835 at the age of 65. He was buried at Wheathampstead on 6th September 1835. Sarah outlived him by 13 years.

1. ↑ Church of England. Kimpton Parish Registers.

   Baptiz[e]d in the Year 1770: William son of John & Elizab[et]h Swallow Oct[ober] the 11th

   This baptism has been linked to the adult William Swallow who married Sarah Hopkins on the basis that it is at about the time indicated by the age quote on William's burial record, and whilst it is not in the parish in which he married (King's Walden) nor the one in which he lived after his marriage (Wheathampstead), it is in the parish in between those two (Kimpton). No other William Swallow baptism has been found in the area. Moreover, where William lived as an adult at Hollybush Cottage is only half a mile from the parish boundary with Kimpton. There is no sign of the William Swallow baptised in 1770 having died young or married anyone else.

2. ↑ Labouring Poor of the Parish, in Church of England. Wheathampstead Parish Registers. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies)
   30 Jun 1814.

   Wm SWALLOW, Hollybush

3. ↑ Burials register, in Church of England. Wheathampstead Parish Registers. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).

   BURIALS in the Parish of Wheathampstead in the County of Hertford in the Year 1835
   No. 649
   Name: Will[ia]m Swallow
   Abode: Holly Bush
   When buried: Sep[tember] 6th
   Age: 65 y[ea]rs [1769/70]
   By whom the Ceremony was performed: J. Douton, Curate

4. ↑ Details and a picture of Hollybush Cottage, which is a listed building, are available at English Heritage's Images of England website.