HALL family in Fenstanton and surrounds 1750-1800

I've submitted a research request to the Historical Research Service in Cambridge, which merged the old Huntingdonshire county in 1972 or so. I know Edward HALL was my ancestor and the he was born around 1860 and that he lived and died in Fenstanton, but I can not find a baptism for him, or the birth of one or two suspected children. Hopefully this will nail it down.

This is what I wrote:

"Hunts archive request

I have traced my paternal HALL lineage to Fenstanton, and found another HALL who has done the same (he lives in Switzerland, I am Australian and live in the US).

In both cases we have copies of Hall parish transcripts from the Fenstanton village after purchasing a book of the village history, but in both cases find that the births of our ancestors, and some of their children, are not present. This is despite the fact that they lived in Fenstanton nearly all their lives (from what we can tell).

Mine:
Edward Hall, b abt 1760, Fenstanton
Married to Mary ? abt 1790

I have the birth of 6 children in Fenstanton
1. William - baptized 6 Jun 1794 at Fenstantion
2. Hannah - baptized 13 Mar 1796 at Fenstanton
3. Sarah - baptized 10 Jun 1798 at Fenstanton
4. Ann - baptized 6 July 1800 at Fenstanton
5. Mary - baptized 3 Jan 1802 at Fenstanton
6. Charlotte - buried 2 Jul 1803 at Fenstanton (birth not found)

BUT I can't find their marriage, also believe at least one child pre-dates their birth, Elizabeth HALL who married Henry CHILDS, 25 Nov 1813 Elizabeth HALL at Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire - they lived and had all their children in Hilton, Hunts. My Hall ancestor stated on arriving that his CHILDS cousins already lived in Australia, and this would have made Elizabeth his aunt, but I can't find her baptism. Not only did Elizabeth marry in Fenstanton, she states that her birthtown was Fenstanton in he 1851 census (her last).

So I'm guessing Edward HALL married a Mary in a surrounding town, and that perhaps Elizabeth was born there too. I'd also like to get a copy of Elizabeth's marriage entry to Henry Childs as I'm hoping one of the witnesses will be my family to add evidence to that relationship. There is actually a big gap in the Hall record in Fenstanton and I'd also like to find Edward's baptism in the surrounding area. Edward died in 1839 aged 79 in Fenstanton.

Finally for this family, Edward's son William married Catherine SETCHELL in Hemingford Grey in 1815 - I'd like to get a copy of her baptism in Hemingford Grey, her marriage entry to William, and ascertain what children were baptised there through copies of their baptisms also.


Related to the search for Edward is Israel Hall. Based on census entries he was born abt 1764 in Fenstanton - again there is no baptism for him in Fenstanton though. His marriage was recorded though - 17 Jan 1788 married to Phoebe SMITH at Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire. Again the marriage entry witnesses may help. I'd like to find his birth too. There is another Hall in the Fenstanton censuses for 1841 and 1851, John HALL, who states his birth as Fenstanton but for whom no baptism is available - he is believed to be a son of Israel.

Laura Ibbett, Archives Assistant at the County Record Office Huntingdon searched the original Parish Registers and Bishop's Transcripts from Fenstanton but unfortunately Edward, Israel and Elizabeth do not appear in either of these records. Being overseas I can't access local records, and they aren't indexed online in most cases unfortunately. My basic attitude is that Edward Hall might be a little tricky, but there can't be too many Israel Hall's there - and one should lead to the other.

I'd appreciate any help you can give - worst case scenario, a list of negative villages would help us in future searches. We know that Fenstanton is the main village - though as mentioned Hilton factors in, and Edward's son William married in Hemingford Grey. I look forward to hearing from you."