Publications
Ride a Cock Horse to Chichester Cross [1587, Henry Weston, rector of East Wittering], by Alison McCann, published Spring 1976 in West Sussex History, the Journal of West Sussex Archives Society (no. 5, article, p.3) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16404/5] & The Keep [LIB/500479]
Don't ignore burials, by Don Burgess, published June 2009 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 18 no. 6, article, pp.302-303) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508973] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.
Preview:For a long time when drawing up my family tree I tended to ignore burial details, with the exception of relatives not too long departed. But I have since come to see that this is a mistake, and may sometimes reveal errors in one's researches. Like a jigsaw puzzle, every detail must fit, and if a burial does not seem to fit, one should find out why. In any case, why leave a tree unfinished?
Most burial records since 1813, and some before that, record the age on burial. One can therefore calculate the approximate date of birth, and this should fit in with any baptismal record one may have, remembering that most baptisms took place within weeks of birth. This calculation can be of immense value when there may be two children of the same name living within a parish, as sometimes occurs with cousins.
I have, unfortunately, an antecedent with the surname WESTON living in Mayfield in the 18th century. It seemed to me that nearly half the parish was named WESTON. and I still haven't untangled the roots of them all. I should be grateful to hear from anyone who has! Now my William died on 20 March 1843 aged 65. So I looked for a baptism around 1777-8. I think I've found it but there were two other baptisms it might be, which is why I'm still not sure. So it doesn't always work, but you get the idea.
Most burial records since 1813, and some before that, record the age on burial. One can therefore calculate the approximate date of birth, and this should fit in with any baptismal record one may have, remembering that most baptisms took place within weeks of birth. This calculation can be of immense value when there may be two children of the same name living within a parish, as sometimes occurs with cousins.
I have, unfortunately, an antecedent with the surname WESTON living in Mayfield in the 18th century. It seemed to me that nearly half the parish was named WESTON. and I still haven't untangled the roots of them all. I should be grateful to hear from anyone who has! Now my William died on 20 March 1843 aged 65. So I looked for a baptism around 1777-8. I think I've found it but there were two other baptisms it might be, which is why I'm still not sure. So it doesn't always work, but you get the idea.