From England to Indiana, Part 2

This is the second post of several reviewing the handwritten family history of Isaac Casbon and his descendants.

Beginning with this post, I plan to go through the document paragraph by paragraph, comparing what it says with other sources. This post looks at the first two paragraphs discussing Isaac Casbon and his four sons.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Isaac Casbon Married Jayne Miller of Meldreth, Near Royston Cambridge shire Englan …. This statement is incorrect. Isaac’s wife wasn’t Jayne Miller. Parish records show that Isaac married Susanna Howes 1800 in Bassingbourn, a village near Meldreth.[1]

Isaac Casbil & Susanna Howes _ _ _ 15th. Oct.r (1800). (Click on image to enlarge)

Baptismal records for Thomas[2] and William[3] also show that their mother’s name was Susanna.

This is an understandable mistake. It turns out that Isaac’s mother’s maiden name was Jane Wilson.[4] Jayne Williams and Jane Wilson are very similar. I think what happened is that as the family history was passed down orally the names of Isaac’s mother and wife were unintentionally switched and altered. This is a good illustration of why secondary sources like this aren’t considered as reliable as primary sources such as birth or baptismal records.

… both were raised and born in this place. Isaac was definitely born[5] and raised in Meldreth. Susanna Howes was born in nearby Bassingbourn,[6] where they were married.

There were born to them Thomas William Joseph one dead he left no heirs James. As I mentioned in the previous post, I’ve only been able to find parish baptismal records for Thomas and William.

(Born) Nov’r 3 Thos. Son of Isac & Susanna Carsborn (baptized) Dec’r 25 (1803)
(Born) Aug.st 23 William, Son of Isaac & Susannah Casbon (baptized) Sep’t 28 (1806) (Click on images to enlarge)

Of Joseph, I have only located two records: his marriage in 1835 to Lydia Burgess[7], and his burial in 1847 at the age of 36.[8] From the latter we can estimate that Joseph was born about 1811. Joseph’s death also explains the statement one dead he left no heirs. Joseph and his wife Lydia had three daughters, Ann,[9] Mary, and Emma.[10] The statement that he left no heirs refers to the fact that he left no male heirs to carry on his name.

The final son, James, was born about 1814, based on census records.[11] James emigrated to the United States in 1871, and settled in Porter County, Indiana, near his brother Thomas.

Isaac Casbon was one of Six brothers their record of birth can be found at Meldreth or Melborn Church. As mentioned above, Jane Wilson (1741-1831) was the mother of Isaac and his siblings. Thomas Casbon (1743-1799) was their father. I’ve been able to locate baptismal records for one sister and five brothers, all at Meldreth. Anne was baptized in 1770[12]; James was baptized 1772[13]; Isaac was baptized July 1773. Thomas was baptized 1775.[14] Next were born three boys named John: the first was baptized 1776[15] and buried 1777[16]; the second was buried 1778[17] (no baptismal record); and the third was baptized 1779[18] and survived into adulthood. It was common practice at the time to ‘recycle’ names of offspring who were deceased.

Isaac Casbon’s baptismal record, 1773. Isaac Son of Thomas & Jane Casbull _ _ _ _ _ July 11. Does this record look familiar? Look at the collage at the top of the page! (Click on image to enlarge)

It’s impressive that the author of the family history knew so much about Isaac and his siblings. It’s unlikely that the author actually knew Isaac, since the name of his wife was recorded incorrectly; and the document was likely written very late in the 1800s, well after Isaac’s death in 1825.[19]

[1] Church of England. “Bishop’s transcripts for Bassingbourne, 1599-1859.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-896D-9D4?i=798&cat=672796 [accessed 17 May 2016]
[2] “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7WG-M77 [accessed 11 May 2016]
[3] “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JWKF-RZS [accessed 4 September 2015]
[4] “England Marriages, 1538–1973.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJK5-XZD [accessed 30 September 2015]
[5] “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NRST-1T5 [accessed 10 May 2016]
[6] “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N8KD-9YM [accessed 11 October 2016]
[7] “England Marriages, 1538–1973.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NF33-222 [accessed 12 July 2016]
[8] Church of England. “Parish registers for Meldreth, 1681-1877.” Burials 1847. FHL Microfilm #1040542
[9] “1841 Census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQRZ-RDC [accessed 21 July 2016]
[10] “1851 Census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGRW-567 [accessed 21 July 2016]
[11] “1851 Census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGBL-24P [accessed 12 July 2016]
[12] “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JWKF-R2K [accessed 12 May 2016]
[13] “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7WG-93D [accessed 11 May 2016]
[14] “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7WG-93D [accessed 15 September 2015]
[15] “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7WG-93D [accessed 11 May 2016]
[16] Church of England. “Parish registers for Meldreth, 1681-1877.” Burials 1777.
[17] Church of England. “Parish registers for Meldreth, 1681-1877.” Burials 1778.
[18] “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NRST-1P2 [accessed 15 September 2015]
[19] Church of England. “Parish registers for Meldreth, 1681-1877.” Burials 1825.