I have a little bit of a mystery which I wouldn’t mind if some of the experts among you might be able to comment upon. The family parents I am concerned with are James and Charity (aka Faith Hope) Field, the parents of divers children who appear between 1841 and 1871 Census living in Northgate, Canterbury. There is no doubt, this is my family. Charity is sometimes referred to as Faith HC Field.
James Field died 12 April 1880 at Blean, Kent and was buried Canterbury, St. Gregory on 18 April. Faith Hope Charity Field died in March 1880, shortly before James, and is also buried in St. Gregory (on 28 March 1880).
My quandary is, I am unable to find a tangible record of marriage between Faith and James Field in Kent.
Two of the sons (and it is not clear they are James Field’s sons just yet) have the second name Edgecock (or it could be Hedgecock) and here the plot thickens. There are banns and a marriage on 10 November 1812 of one James Hedgecock to Charity Johnson. The Johnson name is brought up by other Field family researchers in my family.
Now the assumptions, which as we all know are fatal, but as a guide… did Faith have two children by James Hedgecock, perhaps before he died, and then the widow married James Field and begat a further few children (I can find no Hedgecock history in James’ family)? I do not see a death of James Hedgecock in the immediate era or locality. Could they have divorced back then (I see banns for James Hedgecock/Diana Friend at St. Mildreds a year later)? Or did the curate at St. Margaret get it wrong with James’s surname on both banns and marriage entries (which would seem unlikely) – should have been Field?
If you have a little time to spare, please may you help and share your ideas.
Best wishes
Andrew Field
