Could someone help me with a UK look up for Jeremy Norcross?

Question

Hello my friends! I'm working on a PGM profile for Jeremy Norcross: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Norcross-14

I found a possible baptism record for him on freereg (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/581835b3e93790eca3ab4c79/jeremie-norcrosse-baptism-somerset-publow-1588-05-05?locale=en) and have been trying to access a copy of the actual records. I couldn't find it on FS. I believe the archives of the South West Heritage Trust hold those parish records. They say they're available online through Ancestry, but unfortunately only for those with an European plan - I have the North American subscription. Would someone be able to look it up and if possible share a link to the image if there is one?

He seems to be listed as Jeremie Norcrosse, All Saints, Publow, Somerset, England, bap. 05 May 1588.

I thank you all in advance!

Marcia

Comments

This post intrigued me and following your lead I've found sufficient evidence to prove beyond any doubt that this baptism record is correct. I've added a comment to the profile but basically Jeremie's very first apprentice was from a couple of miles away.

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Thank you, Matthew!

Answer 1

Interesting the name has Nor followed by smudge (deletion?).and then Crosse

Somerset Heritage Service; Taunton, Somerset, England; Publow Parish Register; 1538-1914; Reference Number: D\P\pbl/2/1/1

Sharing link https://www.ancestry.co.uk/sharing/28894261?h=950a23

Comments

Interesting that both surnames (child and father) have the same smudge in the same place, so perhaps it is a deliberate erasure?

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I can't explain it in any way that makes sense. If you made an error in the first name and corrected it, you surely wouldn't do it again.

Another thing of possible interest;  a George Norcross was  the curate of Publow in 1604 and 1606  https://theclergydatabase.org.uk/jsp/search/index.jsp 

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Thank you Helen! Interesting indeed! I'm definitely intrigued...

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Thank you Brad and John! I'll try that link to the livery companies. Much appreciated!

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My guess is that the scribe used the Tau-Rho symbol as an abbreviation for cross from force of habit, realised it was a bad idea, and then made the same mistake again.

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Thank you, Matthew! My first thought when I looked at those records was that their last name could have been first recorded as "Northcross" and later on someone realized the surname had been misspelled and fixed both by erasing the "th". Of course, it's just another guess and we'll probably never know what happened there.

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Yes that's very likely, I was probably over-thinking it.

Answer 2

By all accounts, it appears that Jeremiah's parents were Thomas and Mary Norcrosse, of London.  I could not find any info in Publow, Somerset.

Sorry Marcia.

Answer 3

The Clothworkers Company of London has records for a Jeremie (with some name variations) Norcrosse from 1614 to 1641.  He is already a Master in 1614.

In 1626 he takes on a new apprentice, Tobias Norcrosse who is the son of a Egidii Norcrosse (deceased) a 'Dier' of Beckington, Somerset.  If Tobias and Egidii are relatives then this might indicate Jeremie is also from Somerset?

There is one mention of a George Norcrosse, a Master in 1627.

This comes from the Records of London's Livery Companies Online Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a link to the search results but I just clicked on Select all next to Company, and entered Norcross as Surname and then clicked on Search.

Comments

Egidii is the genitive case of Egidius or Ægidius which for a reason which escapes me was used to render the English name Giles into cod-Latin.

A Giles Norcrosse was buried in 1609 in Somerset. He's borderline too old to be Tobias's father but probably a relative. Rode and Beckington are adjacent.

Somerset : Rode : St Lawrence : Parish Register : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818ec38e93790ec75c918a2 : viewed 8 Jun 2022) burial Giles Norcrosse 06 Jan 1608/9