Robert Farnill and Sarah Hepworth
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In reply to:
Paul of Yorkshire
11/26/01
I am a decendant of Robert FARN(H)ILL and Sarah HEPWORTH (married Batley WRY 1781).
I have Robert FARNHILL as being the son of William FARN(H)ILL (also of Batley).
William had married Hannah Smith in Batley in 1740. This is the first record I have of a Farn(h)ill being in Batley.They had the following children:
John
Robert
William 1741
Thomas 1743
Nancy 1755
Jenny 1758
Joseph 1761
Betty 1764
Although I do not have any birth/baptism record for Robert (or John), I have the following baptismal entry for William Hepworth at Batley:
" 27 July 1782William Hepworth son of Robert Farnill, Batley, Tammyweaver, son of William,by Sarah his wife dau of (illegible) Hepworth, born June 09"
I do believe that the Farn(h)ills of Batley and Dewsbury came from the area around Nidd/Farnham. When William (1741) married in 1768 to Elizabeth Speight, he was described as being "William Farnhill of Farnham". Yet later at the burial of his daughter, he is described as being William Farnill the younger (implying an older William Farn(h)ill).This is the only clue I have as to where the Farnhills of Batley came from.I believe it was William Farnill the elder who made the jump to Batley.However I have been unable as yet to pinpoint a suitable candidate from the Farnham/Nidd area.
The names at this time are obviously very fluid (FARNHILL/FARNILL/FARNELL), and were often spelled differently for the same individual.
Regards
John Farnhill