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Information contained in these pages is intended for genealogical research only,
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acknowledge the source of any information used from these pages.
Richard Head and Elizabeth Baker © Believed to have been born in Surrey around 1690, a baptism on the 5th February, 1691, in East Horsley has been found for a Richard the son of William and his wife Magdalene1. Nothing is known of Richard before his marriage to Elizabeth Baker in St John the Evangelist Parish Church in Merrow, Surrey, on the 11th June, 1717. This record states Richard was from the Parish of Wonersh and Elizabeth from Merrow2. While there is no mention of Merrow in the Domesday Book, much evidence has been uncovered which show the area has been inhabited since the Neolithic era. Between 1701 and 1870 the annual Guildford races were held there. Sitting approximately 1km north-west of Guildford, Merrow remained a fairly small settlement right up to the 1950s when the first housing estate in the area was developed. Despite becoming a suburb in its own right, The oldest houses can still be seen in the village along with St John’s church and the Horse and Groom, a 17th Century coaching inn3. It is also thought Elizabeth was born around 1690, and again a baptism has been located for her. Elizabeth the daughter of Nicolas and his wife Jone (possibly nee Haine), was baptised on the 8th February, 1692, in Headley, Surrey1. East Horsley, is approximately 10km west of Merrow and along with Headley, Merrow and Wonersh is in the general Guildford area and part of the North Downs.3 Records in the area suggest that Richard and Elizabeth had at least six children, and all were baptized in the village of Wonersh: Elizabeth 1718; John 1719; William 1721-1721; Richard 1725, he married Susannah Strudwick 1757; George 1728 and William 1730. Wonersh lies 5½km south of Merrow and was once the flourishing seat of the clothing trade in Surrey4. None of these records give any indication of the occupation or living conditions of the family. However, it is assumed that as the majority of the population of the area were rural families, Richard and Elizabeth were most likely agricultural workers, domestic servants of some kind, or involved in the clothing trade. Elizabeth was buried on the 30th August, 1757, in the Churchyard of St John the Baptist, Wonersh5. She was 65years old when she died. At age of 76, Richard died and was buried on the 1st August, 1766, also in the Churchyard of St John the Baptist, Wonersh5.
References:
1. Parish Baptism Record
via Ancestry.co.uk
https://www.ancestry.co.uk 3. Exploring Surry’s Past http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/ 4. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk 5. Parish Burial Record via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk
Other Sources: FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/search/ Oral Family HIstory
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