William Hales

Birth date is baptism, from IGI

“Dear Christian

Friends, with pleasure I write a few lines to you Respecting my present feelings I have to Thank God, that ever I was brought to know myself as a great Sinner Before God, And that I Stood in need of a Precious Saviour, And I prayed that God would pardon my many Sins. For I was reminded about that time that youth was the Time to Serve the Lord And ever Since then I have been more in Ernest about the things which Concern our Future State. And Specialy the Ernest prayers which have been Offered by Our Faithful Minister have dwelt on my mind for a long time, for there was always something to Encourage me on, And Moreover the encouragements I Received from him in the School and I must say I have been in the school 12 years And I have Received much Benefit from the Instructions I have received from my teacher, and in the bible Class as Well And though I Still remain in the School I hope to Receive much more good than I have done Hitherto, and these words have often Encouraged me. I love them that Love Me and those that Seek me Early shall find Me. I have for a long time thought about my never dying soul, and I was Strongly Convinced of Sin and that made me Cling more to Jesus Christ the Saviour of Sinners, And although I still feel myself very unworthy I hope I shall be found in Christ at last, therefore if I am worthy of your Exception I wish to be Baptized in the Name of Christ and be one of his followers and partake of His Holy Ordinance.

Eliza Lilley Stanwick”

IGI has baptism on 6th November 1870, with birth date. Strangely, cannot find birth or marriage in freebmd.

Father Charles Camptin according to marriage record on familysearch. Christening 10 June 1827 on IGI, mother Elizabeth father Charles Campion

IGI has wedding, confirming also father was Thomas - matches freebmd with Eliza Woodham and censuses.

Married Herbert Baxter in 1894 Bedford

Married William Cheney Clark in 1902 who died in 1906, Thrapstone. Married Charles Neal in 1917 Bedford. Father William Hales 1850

Record of approx birth on IGI - which is presumably derived from census returns. 1939 Register confirms actual date of birth.

Married Arthur Duncombe in 1912 Bedford but no record of any children

These notes were taken from notes from my [Stephanie Thompson’s] cousin Carolyn Twyman (nee Booker) when she and husband Philip Twyman visited England in 1997. They had met May Berridge on a number of occasions as they lived in UK for some years and visited May often. May had a huge amount of history that she shared with Carolyn and Philip. You have got a photo of Carolyn (nee Booker) and Philip taken with May on one of their visits.

We know that Robert Wright Hales had a 2nd wife Sarah Annie Whiteman b 1876. They married in April/May 1909 in Wellingborough Vol. 3b Page 356. However when Robert died he had a joint gravestone with Eliza his first wife. They are buried in the St Laurence churchyard and the inscription reads:

“In loving memory of Eliza, the dearly loved wife of Robert W Hales of Ditchford Mill who fell asleep in Jesus February 4, 1906. Aged 57 years. Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also. And he praiseth her. Also Robert Wright, husband of above March 2, 1911. Aged 58. At rest”.

Details of Robert’s estate in the index for 1911 read: “Robert Wright Hales of Ditchford Mill Irchester Northamptonshire died 2 March 1911 at Higham Ferrers in the said county. Administration London 9 May to Sarah Annie Hales, his widow. Effects 361 english pounds 7 shillings. Sarah lived at 32 Corporation terrace, High Ferrers, Northants.

From all accounts Sarah Annie Whiteman was a rather severe woman and did not have much to do with his former family. They may have even separated before he died hence his being buried with Eliza. We believe she remarried and lived in Rushden.

According to Richard Hales (he is still alive and we met him a couple of years ago when he was in New Zealand) Robert had a brother who had 2 sons. Will Hales lives in Sharnbrook and Albert Hales died early ‘70’s and his widow Florrie died September 1979. They had 2 sons Fred and Norman. Norman Hales was living at [details removed for privacy] Sandy, Bedfordshire.

Carolyn and Philip have a delightful letter in Eliza’s hand writing. Jon, I am not sure where this letter comes from but I have seen it when we visited with Carolyn and Philip a few months back. I think Carolyn may have got it from May Berridge.

It reads:
“Dear Christian Friends, with pleasure I write a few lines to your respecting my present feelings. I have to thank God that ever I was brought to know myself as a great sinner before God”.........

Notes kindly sent to me by Stephanie Thompson (née Clark)

Baptised along with Susan Lilley on the 29th January 1864. Source: Rushden Methodist Circuit Baptisms 1864-1867.

Percy was Sapper 256065 in the Royal Engineers, WWI 

In 1937, two years after Mary Francis died, he married Gladys Muriel Leslie-Davis in Hammersmith, London