Dear Robert,
How are you? In case you didn't recognize the email address, this is
Karen from Pennsylvania, Jack's 3rd cousin once removed. First of all, I
want to thank you for taking Jack & I, oops....Kathy too, to St. Bartholomew's 
in Norton. The following Monday, I rented a car and drove to
Leek and Horton, but that's another story, but I will say this, the shift
is on the wrong side of the car!!!!!
The main reason I'm writing you is to get your opinion on my latest
find (at least I hope it is), since I consider you a logical person. I believe
Jack shared with you my discovery of a marriage taking place in Newcastle
between a James Eardley and Ann Brindley. I faxed Jack the IGI pages, and
if by chance you didn't see them, I can fax them to you too. Even though
they have my hand written notes on them, they are quite legible. I now have
access to St. Gile's bishop's transcripts and parish records at my local
FHC.

The Bishop's transcripts told me nothing new over what the IGI has. I
ordered, and received today, the film of the parish records.
The parish entry of this marriage has nothing more to offer over the
transcripts with the exception of the marriage being witnessed by a
"Charles Brindley". I think Jack got this information from a computer in Stafford,
but I wanted to look at the original entry in the register. I can send
you a copy of this if you want. I find that this Charles is significant being
that Charles was not too common given name (unlike James, John, etc.). And
Amey Brindley, born July 1761 in Norton, had a brother Charles. Of course,
this marriage took place between an Ann Brindley and James. I searched the IGI
for any marriage of an Amy Brindley in the area, and came up with nothing.

In the search for a birth of Amy Brindley, only the one in Norton fits
the time frame. In searching for the birth of an Ann Brindley, I found the
following: one born in 1762 in Stoke, but she married a Joseph MOUNTFORD.
No other Anns are close. So this leaves the possibility that this Ann is
really Amey of Norton, since there are no record of a marriage for Amey.
Did she die young? I did not check the burial records of Norton (I have them
though) but the following fact made checking the deaths not necessary at
this time.
On the marriage entry of James & Ann, the record states that they both
are of Stoke parish. This would concern me if not for the following fact:
James & Ann married in January 1787, and four months prior to this event,
a John BRINDLEY married a Mary TURNER, and guess who was the witness?? Any
ideas? Well......it was AMEY BRINDLEY. Amey of Norton has a brother
John (and of course the prior mentioned Charles). This marriage between John &
Mary states that they are both of Stoke too!!!! This tells me that John &
Mary BRINDLEY (Amey's parents) moved the family from Norton to Stoke.
So, what are your thoughts? Now exist the problem of James Eardley,
where does he fit in? Again, the parish entry says he is from Stoke
parish.
I guess now, this will be my next quest. The IGI has only the bishop's
transcripts in it, the possibility that a James is in the parish records
is there. I will search this out in the next couple of days.
I would appreciate any ideas you might have. And again, thanks for
the ride to Norton. I am sending Jack a copy of this email too!
Hugs,
Karen Eardley Patterson
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
The heart of Amish county and old world charm.

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