Barby 

The earliest roots we can find is Richard Batchelor born in Barby in Northamptonshire. 

This is a small village which is situated close to where the M45 meets the M6 but life there would have been a little different in 1796! 

I am following up this area through the Northamptonshire Family History Society.  

On 28^th January 2006 I found a web site of someone in Australia who has researched part of his family to Batchelder in Barby in the 18^th century. One of the children was Richard born in 1796 in Barby. Our Richard was born in 1796 in Barby and in the 1851 census was Richard Batcheldor. In 1854 when William married he is Batchelor and Richard in the 1861 Census is also Batchelor. This could be very interesting as the Australian records of his family tree covers 35 pages on the internet just for this branch alone and the descendant of a Elizabeth Batchelder, younger sister of Richard born in 1808, now lives in Victoria Australia as do many of the descendents – convicts? I have just written to the Australian who has the web site and await information. Many of the relatives changed to Batchelor which is encouraging. If it is our Richard in his tree then we can go back further in the 18^th century and also find current distant relatives in Australia!!  

Let’s not get too convinced on this yet! 

Old Cleeve 

The other area that came into our history before London was Old Cleeve where Harriet, William’s wife was born. 

This is a small village just off the A39 near the coast in north Somerset to the east of Minehead where her father James Langdon had a farm in the middle of the 19^th century

London 

William and Harriet moved to London when they were married and their children stayed in London until at least 1901. 

Without an A-Z of London it will be time-consuming to check whether all the streets are still there but members of the family in the 19^th century were living in. 

In April 1861 William and Harriet were living at 12 Blandford Square Marylebone 

In April 1871 Harriet was living with the 8 children at 27 Alpha Terrace Willesden  

In April 1881 Harriet and the 8 children were living at 142 Cambridge Road Willesden 

By April 1891 the children had moved on and were living at various places

and by April 1901 different families were living at 

with marriages and children being born in Kilburn, Twickenham, Chelsea, Pimlico, Whitechapel, Hammersmith, Fulham, Barking and Hendon