52 Ancestors, Week 7: Philip Chambers (1739 - after 1798)

This week's 52 Ancestors topic is "love." Something as abstract as love is often hard to find in genealogical research, especially in the majority of cases, where we rely exclusively on demographic records.  There's often very little personal information to enliven the stories of our ancestors.

My choice for this week's challenge, therefore, may not demonstrate "love", per se, but it does come with an interesting story, and lots of room for speculation!

The subject is Philip Chambers, my 6th great-grandfather, who was baptised in Keighley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, in 1739 [1].  Philip's father, Thomas, died in 1746, when the former was (presumably) only seven years old [2].  His mother, Jane (née Barker), died in 1757 [3].

Detail from Thomas Chambers's burial record, 1747.  Note the description "poor"

It may be because both his parents died as paupers (as indicated on their burial records), and that there was therefore nothing tying him to Keighley, that Philip made his way to Guiseley, twelve miles to the east.   It's perhaps worth noting that Thomas Chambers was a wool comber - a somewhat intricate occupation in the preparation of wool for weaving into worsted cloth. Keighley was a centre of wool production and textile manufacture in the 18th century, but the fact that Thomas died a pauper makes me wonder if he was an early victim of the changing nature of the textile industry as cotton pushed out wool as the material of choice.  I've yet to find a record of Philip's occupation, so he could either have left Keighley to try his hand at combing elsewhere (perhaps as part of an apprenticeship) or, equally, he might have pursued a completely different occupation altogether.  Philip's son (another Thomas) became a carpenter and moved to Bishopsthorpe, outside the city of York [4].  Philip's grandson, Robert, would himself move to London, perhaps in search of better opportunities as the industrial revolution gathered pace.

Wool Combing, 18th Century.  Image via Maggieblanck.com

One in Guiseley, Philip married Mercy Smith (b.1743) on the 7th of January, 1771 [5].  Mercy, however, died in 1784 [6], and Philip remarried, to one Grace Whaley.  The juxtaposition of Mercy and Grace is fun in itself, but even more notable is the timing - Mercy was buried April 6th; Philip and Grace married just over four months later, August 15th [7].

Marriage record of Philip Chambers and Grace Whaley, Guiseley St. Oswold, 1784.

I haven't discovered any children of Philip & Mercy, whose existence might explain Philip's need to find a new bride (and mother). I have, however uncovered an interesting twist in the tale. Grace, a spinster, gave birth to an illegitimate "basal" child in 1778, Joseph Whaley [8].  Entering the realm of pure speculation, I wonder if Philip was Joseph's father.  If not, his willingness to marry a woman known to have fallen pregnant out of wedlock is itself remarkable.

Baptism of Joseph Walley, "a basal child" of Grace Whalley, 1778.

The example of Philip, Mercy and Grace shows what tantalizing glimpses of personal stories we can glean from genealogical records, but also the gap left by a lack of real personal detail.  While I've pieced together an interesting narrative here, so much of my "love triangle" hypothesis remains speculation.

Notes:

1. West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records.  Keighley (Composite Register), Baptism, 6 May, 1739.
2. West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records.  Keighley (Composite Register), Burial, 13 Aug. 1746.
3. West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records. Keighley (Composite Register), Burial 23 Sep. 1757.
4. Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1841.  HO107; Piece: 1356; Book: 11; Civil Parish: Bishop Thorpe; County: Yorkshire; Enumeration District:18; Folio: 9; Page: 11; Line: 6; GSU roll: 464295
5. West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records. Guiseley St Oswold, Marriages, 7 Jan 1771
6. West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: RDP29/1/6.  Guiseley St. Oswold, Burial, 6 Apr. 1784.
7. West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP29/3/2.  Guiseley St. Oswold, Marriage, 15 Aug. 1784.
8. West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: RDP29/1/6.  Guiseley St. Oswold, Baptism, 1 Nov. 1778.