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James Isaac and Elizabeth Shergold ©

Possibly the son of James Isaac and his wife Jane, a likely baptism for James has been located in South Newton, Wiltshire, on the 13^th March, 1785².  Less than 2km south-south-east of Great Wishford, there has been a settlement in the village of South Newton since Saxon times, and by the 10^th Century was largely a estate which stretched from the River Wylye to the ridge of the hills to the north-east.  The size of South Newton has changed over the centuries, and an interesting feature of the area, about 270meters south of the church, is an ancient watermill  Today, converted water from the river Wylye still flows under a wheel house on the banks of the River Wylye. 

Nothing is known of James or his family’s life before his marriage to  Elizabeth Shergold, which took place in St Giles Great Wishford, on the 17^th October, 1810¹.  The record indicates they were both of the Parish.  James made his mark, but Elizabeth signed her name.  The witnesses were Frances Trenbridge and Mary Shergold.  It is not known if Mary was Elizabeth’s sister or possibly her mother.

The village of Great Wishford pre-dates the Norman conquest of 1066, but was only a Hamlet at this time.  The name has evolved over the years, with recorded names including: ‘Wicheford’, meaning a ford where wych-elms grow; ‘Witford’; ‘Willesford Magna’; and ‘Wishford Magna’.  An interesting feature set into the wall of the church is a series of nine engraved ‘bread stones’, which record the price of bread from 1800, during the Napoleon blockade, until 2000.  Wishford is one of the few villages that still celebrates Oak Apple Day in May each year.  On this day, Great Wishford villagers claim their ancient rights to collect wood from Grovely Wood.  This tradition it is said dates back to 1603, when the charter of rights to collect wood, for building and fuel, in the Royal Forest of Groveley was confirmed by the Forest Court.  The rights themselves date back several  centuries before 1603, and it is a matter of debate whether this tradition has been kept up continuously since the 17^th Century, or whether it was revived or re-invented in the late 19^th Century.

A possible baptisms for Elizabeth Shergold has been located in Great Wishford, on the 14^th September, 1783², the daughter of Gideon and Betty.

It is thought James and Elizabeth first child was a son James, who died in 1815.  Their second child, a daughter, Frances was born in early May 1813, she married John Notley in 1840. 

A reference to a burial of an Elizabeth Isaac, in Great Wishford on the 16^th May³, just a few days after Frances was baptised, leads us to wonder if Elizabeth died of complications following childbirth.  Further to this, a reference to a James Isaac marrying a Mary Noakes, just a few months later, on the 10^th January 1814¹, gives thought to a possible second marriage.  To-date no children have been identified from this marriage. 

A probable burial for James has been located in Great Wishford on the 17^th July, 1833³.  He was 47years old.

References:

1. Marriage Record via Wiltshire Record Office
2. Baptism Record via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk
3. Burial Record via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk

Other Sources:

DustyDoc http://dustydocs.com.au/county/1/england/40/wiltshire.html

FindMyPast  http://www.findmypast.co.uk/

Great Wishford  http://www.greatwishford.co.uk/

Please contact me for further information