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William Clapham and Martha Smith© Born on the 11th February, 1759, the son of Thomas Clapham and his wife Elizabeth (nee Bridgefoot), William was baptized in the Finedon Parish Church two weeks later, on the 25th February1. Ancestry Public Family Trees2 indicate William is listed on the 1777 Militia List as eligible for Milita, age 18, a Mat-maker. The Militia was a force raised for the defence of the realm against invasion or rebellion on home soil3. Under the Militia Act of 1662, all owners of property were charged with the provision of horses, arms and men, in accordance with the value of their property. Liability to serve in the militia rested on able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 45. However, there were some exemptions: eg. a poor man who had more than three or more legitimate children; a peer of the realm, clergymen; and sailors to name a few. Service was for three years and decided by ballot, but any man whose name was drawn had the right to provide a substitute if they could afford to pay, or if the Parish thought the cost of paying would be less than the support of the family left behind. However, no record has yet been located which indicates that William actually served. William married Martha Smith, both of the Parish, on the 31st December, 1781, by Banns, in the Thingdon (Finedon) Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin5. It is interesting to note the spelling of the Parish in this particular document, it is the earlier name of Thingdon. To-date a baptism for Martha has not been identified. Parish Records imply William and Martha had as many as twelve children5: Piercy 1782; Pheobe 1785, she married John Wood 1807, Mary 1786-c1789; Martha 1788; Mary 1790; Hannah 1792; William 1794-c1798; William 1797; Charlotte 1799; Sarah & Thomas 1801-1802 (twins); and Thomas 1808. As with the Militia List, William is recorded as a Mat-maker on his children's baptism records. A person making mats would harvest reeds, sedges and rushes to make plaited reed, rush, and sedge mats for floors. It is assumed William has access to these materials either close by, possibly from a tributary of the Rive Ise, or from a few miles away near the River Nene. William died at the age of 77 on the 6 Aug 1836 and was buried in the Finedon churchyard on 9 August6. Ancestry Public Trees2 indicate Martha died in Wellingborough Northamptonshire in 1849, but to-date record has not been sighted.
References:
Other Sources: The Genealogist 7th October 2013 https://www.thegenealogist.com/featuredarticles/2013/ |
