Searching for early Carringtons

This is an ongoing attempt to trace the ancestors of William Carrington of Smalley, circa 1725. As it was established that the marriage between William Carrington and Margaret Wright in 1746 was the first instance of a Smalley Carrington, the next step was to attempt to find William's origins. Starting with the Horsley Parish Registers I was able to confirm that several of William and Margaret's children were baptised there, suggesting that they were living at Hill Top, Horsley, from about 1748 until about 1765, when they seem to have moved to Smalley; although there are some baptisms in Smalley during that time, eg Thomas 1762 and Richard 1765. This could mean that William and Margaret moved between Horsley and Smalley during this time, though as Hill Top seems to be less than 2 miles from Horsley, it may mean that it was simply the nearest church. Unfortunately, I was not able to find a Horsley baptism for William and apart from the two daughters of Joseph and Sarah Carrington, (more about this family later) there were no other Carrington baptisms in Horsley during the years 1639 to 1748. However, there were seven Carrington baptisms from 1628 to 1639, significantly given the name, they were children of a Richard Carrington. These were Elizabeth 1628; Susanna 1631; Anne 1633; Sara 1634; John 1636; Dorothy also 1636, and Richard 1639. There were also burials for Martha 1636 and Ann 1639. There was also a burial for Richard, son of William, in 1637. Finally, in that time period, there was a marriage between Richard Carrington and Anne Hall in 1639. Although I did not find a burial for a wife of Richard, this may have been a second marriage. Needless to say, the registers at that time are barely legible and it may even be that some are missing, so I may have missed something significant. Though there are gaps, it does seem as if the names John, Richard and William might prove significant. Another point to consider; there may have been two Williams, or even Richards, having children at Hill Top between 1748 and 1768, which could knock down this nice theory! Another entry that is of particular interest is this marriage; it is between Richard Carrington of Codnor and Elizabeth Willmott of Woodhouse, in 1693. This is obviously not the son of the Richard born about 1639; though he could have been a grandson of either Richard or the John Carrington born in 1636. Having failed to find evidence of a William Carrington c.1725 in Horsley, this last entry led me to the Heanor Parish Records. Here I found baptisms for William, 1694, son of Richard and Elizabeth, and John, 1699, son of Richard of Codnor. There is also a burial for Richard Carrington of Codnor in 1707/8, which is probably their father Richard. These later baptisms are probably significant - John 1720, son of John and Mary of Codnor; Elizabeth 1725, daughter of John and Anne of Loscoe; Mary 1727, daughter of William of Loscoe; Joseph 1730, son of William and Hannah of Loscoe; Hannah 1837 and Elizabeth 1740, daughters of William and Hannah of Codnor. As with the Horsley records, it was difficult to be absolutely sure that I found every Carrington entry, so it may be that our William c. 1725 is still hidden there somewhere. I would like to think that he is perhaps the son of John born 1699, and grandson of the Richard who would have been born c. 1670; though without a definite baptism for William, it is only guess work. There is a final twist to these Horsley and Heanor searches, relating to Joseph and Sarah Carrington. Sometime ago I was sent a document "The Examination of Sarah Carrington" but filed it away, as I couldn't see any connection with the Carringtons of Smalley. Since trawling through the Horsley and Heanor Parish Records, I think I may have discovered some of the possible connections. This is the complete document, with my inserted verifying sources in italics. I have added some punctuation to make it more readable. "The Examination of Sarah CARRINGTON otherwise Sarah RILEY, of the parish of Denby in the said County, taken on Oath before us two of his Majesty’s Justices for the said County, the thirteenth day of February 1800, concerning her Settlement and the Settlement of her children. Who saith that she is about sixty six years of age, that in the eighteenth year of her age she intermarried with Joseph CARRINGTON of Codnor in the said County, in the Parish Church of Horsley in the said County. Joseph Carrington & Sarah Bacon, both of Woodhouse, 19 May 1751. That she resided in Horsley Woodhouse in the said County with her Husband the said Joseph CARRINGTON, with a Certificate from the Township of Codnor aforesaid, for several years during which she had by her said Husband two Children born at Horsley Woodhouse aforesaid, namely Sarah and Mary. Sarah baptised 15 December 1751 at Horsley; Mary baptised 10 March 1754 at Horsley; also found, Anne baptised 18 March 1753 at Smalley Then she removed her Husband from Horsley Woodhouse aforesaid, to the Parish of Nun-Eaton in the County of Warwick, that when she had resided there with her said Husband a year or two, he, her said Husband, run away and left her and her Children and she then came back with her Children to Horsley Woodhouse aforesaid, when she and her Children became chargeable to the Township of Codnor aforesaid. That the Overseers of the Poor of the said Township of Codnor then apprehended her said Husband and brought him back to her, at the time she lay in of her last Child which she had by him, namely Elizabeth. Betty baptised 23 December 1756 at Horsley) That he her Husband staid with her only a few days and then again run away, that after her said Husband run away as last mentioned, she went with her Children to reside at Codnor as the place of their Settlement. That after her said Husband had run away and been absent and had not been heard of by her for upwards of seven years, she intermarried with German RILEY of Denby aforesaid, in the Parish Church of West Hallam, in the said County of Derby, German Riley & Sarah Carrington, both of Heanor, 18 April 1764. and went to reside in Horsley Woodhouse aforesaid, with a Certificate from Denby. That she had by the said German RILEY three children all born in Horsley Woodhouse aforesaid, viz; German, Joseph and John. That during the time she lived with the said German RILEY, her first Husband, the said Joseph CARRINGTON returned, but he did not take any notice of her, nor claim her, but that she resided with the said German RILEY to the time of His death which was at Whitsuntide last. That she believes her first Husband the said Joseph CARRINGTON is still living and now resides at Codnor aforesaid and further saith not. Sarah Riley Sworn before us E.S.SITWELL., J RADFORD Later documents indicate the marriage to German RILEY was illegal." There is a possible baptism for Sarah Bacon, given her probable birth year, on 15 January 1733 at Horsley, daughter of William and Isabel Bacon. It also seems very possible that Joseph was the son of William and Hannah Carrington of Codnor, baptised at Heanor on 8 March 1730. There is a marriage for William Carrington and Hannah Whizzer, both of Heanor, on 26 October 1736 at Alfreton, though this is only a possible, given the baptism dates. I have no idea what eventually happened to the errant Joseph but he does seem so far to be something of a contender for the title of a Carrington Blacksheep!

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