Backgound

Recently, I have been reviewing the data I have collected, grouping them into Families.  A variant of my One-Name Study Stirks kept cropping up and so I decided to delve a little further. The majority appear to be round the Staffordshire area. I hoped they would link in with a large Stirk contingent; whom are descended from Ingram Stirk, in Leeds, Yorkshire.

I am going to use this article as a scratch pad, to assist in establishing the events I have obtained so far. Checking the GRO Birth Records index I noted the following:

GRO Birth Index

  1. GRO Birth 1845-Q3 STIRK, (Male) [WESTON] Northampton 15 302
  2. GRO Birth 1846-Q3 STIRK, Martha Sarah [WESTON] Cambridge 14 10
  3. GRO Birth 1850-Q4 STIRK, Emma [WESTON] E London 2 229
  4. GRO Birth 1850-Q4 STIRK, Isabella [WESTON] E London 2 229
  5. GRO Birth 1853-Q1 STIRK, Martha Sarah [WESSON] Greenwich 1D 485
  6. GRO Birth 1855-Q1 STIRK, John [WESSON] Greenwich 1d 522
  7. GRO Birth 1857-Q3 STIRK, Louisa [WESTON] Birmingham 6d 45
  8. GRO Birth 1859-Q3 STIRK, James [WESTON] Wolstanton 6b 109

Note WESTON / WESSON Variant spellings

Notes

On first sight, this appears to be straight forward, but as the research progressed I began to find some anomalies:

  • Unable to locate a marriage of a James STIRK to Elizabeth WESTON/WESSON
  • Martha Sarah STIRK b. 1846 – No further trace found
  • 1851 Census shows the twins as Emma 3 years and Isabella 7 months.
  • Apart from being mentioned in birth certificates, no further records or James Stirk b. 1821 listed
  • Q1 1869 Marriage of Isabella STIRK to Andrew BOARDMAN lists her maiden name as WESTON not STIRK
  • Isabella’s 11 children GRO Birth Index Records all list her maiden name as WESTON not STIRK
  • Elizabeth’s death in Q1 1892 lists her surname as WESTON not STIRK

GRO Birth Certificates

I have obtained a copy of the Birth Certificates and noted the following information.

1. (Male) Stirk

  • Born 17th September 1845, Rivers Court, St. Sepulchre, Northampton, Boy
  • Father: James STIRK, Shoe Maker
  • Mother: Elizabeth STIRK, formerly, WESTON
  • Birth Registered: 19th September 1845 by James STIRK, Father

2. Martha Sarah Stirk

  • Born 26th August 1846 at 70 East Road, Cambridge, Girl
  • Father: James STIRK, Shoemaker
  • Mother: Elizabeth STIRK, formerly WESTON
  • Birth Registered: 2nd September 1846 by James STIRK, Father

3. Emma Stirk

  • Born 16th September 1850 10 Hours 45 Minutes, 5 Willis Place, Lamb Lane, Bishopgate, London, Girl
  • Father: James STIRK, Boot Maker
  • Mother: Elizabeth STIRK, formerly WESTON
  • Birth Registered: 16th October 1850 by x the mark of Elizabeth STIRK, Mother

4. Isabella Stirk

  • Born 16th September 1850 10 Hours 52 Minutes, 5 Willis Place, Lamb Lane, Bishopgate, London, Girl
  • Father: James STIRK, Boot Maker
  • Mother: Elizabeth STIRK, formerly WESTON
  • Birth Registered: 16th October 1850 by x the mark of Elizabeth STIRK, Mother

5. Martha Sarah Stirk

  • Born 1st December 1852, 4, Tanner’s Hill, Deptford, Girl
  • Father: James STIRK, Boot Maker
  • Mother: Elizabeth STIRK, formerly WESSON
  • Birth Registered: 11th January 1853 1850 by x the mark of Elizabeth STIRK, Mother

6. John Stirk

  • Born 26th December 1854, Denman’s Cottage, Tanner’s Hill, Deptford, Boy
  • Father: James STIRK, Shoemaker (Journeyman)
  • Mother: Elizabeth STIRK, formerly WESTON
  • Birth Registered: 31st January 1855 by x the mark of Elizabeth STIRK, Mother

7. Louisa Stirk

  • Born 15th July 1857,2 Court, Norfolk Street, Birmingham, Girl
  • Father: James STIRK, Shoemaker (Journeyman)
  • Mother: Elizabeth STIRK, formerly WESTON
  • Birth Registered: 14th August 1857 by x the mark of Elizabeth STIRK, Mother

8. James Stirk

  • Born 6th June 1859, Navigation Road, Burslem, Girl
  • Father: James STIRK, Shoemaker
  • Mother: Elizabeth STIRK, formerly WESTON
  • Birth Registered: 4th July 1859 by x the mark of Elizabeth STIRK, Mother
  • GRO Death 1860-Q2 STIRK, James [0] Wolstanton 06B 78
  • Buried: 15th May 1860, St. John’s Church, Burslem aged 11 months. No information about parents