Thomas Lock b.1751-1754 – d.1832 Yarwell, Northamptonshire
Trying to connect Thomas Lock from Yarwell, Northamptonshire to the Locks from Ryhall, Rutland.
For a number of years now I’ve been trying to link the Locks of Yarwell, Northamptonshire to the Locks of Ryhall, Rutland and thereby adding them to the family tree, however that has always been problematic to say the least.
The Lock’s from Ryhall, Rutland are well documented and family connections can be traced all the way back to John Lock originally from Langtoft, Lincolnshire who died in 1682.
The first known mention of “Lock” in the Yarwell, parish records is a baptism for Sarah Lock “Baptised 1785 – Sarah daughter of Thomas and Ann Lock January 16th” This is then followed by the baptism of twins Joseph and Thomas sons of Thomas and Hannah Lock March 16th 1787. Further research indicates that “Ann” Lock mention in the baptism of Sarah is or should have been Hannah and seems to be a miss hearing of her name.
Using the parents listed in these and other baptisms it would indicate Thomas and Hannah are the founders of the Lock family at Yarwell, Northamptonshire
There is a marriage Thomas Lock to Hannah Mumby at St Wulframs Church in Grantham.
This record states:
“Thomas Lock, Carpenter, of this parish aged 26 years and Hannah Mumby of this same parish, spinster aged 17 years were married in this church by licence this twenty second day of October in the year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty” Both Thomas and Hannah signed their respective names. Witnesses are Richard Wood, Elizabeth Langwith, Elizabeth (unknown) and another (unknown).
The marriage certificate gives the first indication of an age for Thomas and therefore a year of birth 1754. It should also be noted it states Thomas is “of the parish” meaning Grantham, curiously it does also say he’s a carpenter but not weather he’s a bachelor or otherwise as you would expect.
Moving onto the records for Yarwell, Northamptonshire Thomas Lock is shown as being buried on the 17th January 1832 aged 80 years. This would indicate a year of birth as 1752. The age discrepancy between the marriage certificate and burial record is two years, nothing significant really when looking at some records. So we now have a birth between 1752 & 1754 but frustratingly, and despite extensive searching no baptism record has yet been found that matches this information and would therefore give the parents of Thomas Lock.
Using baptism records it’s possible to track Thomas and Hannah’s route from Grantham to Yarwell. Their marriage record (detailed above) is dated 1780, in 1781 they have a daughter Ann baptised. Further research has found a baptism for Catherine, their second daughter dated 1783 in Thornhaugh, Northamptonshire, then finally to Yarwell where they baptise their third daughter Sarah in 1785. Using this information it’s possible to plot a route down the Great North Road from Grantham to Yarwell.
Using circumstantial evidence it could be argued that there would appear to be a link between Thomas Lock of Yarwell, Northamptonshire and the Locks of Ryhall, Rutland.
1: There is a marriage record for William Lock to Jane Holland dated 28 Jun 1778, again at St Wulframs Grantham. This record states William Lock of Ryhall, Rutland. This record is two years earlier than the marriage of Thomas Lock to Hannah Mumby.
Question: Did Thomas Lock follow William Lock (b. 1750 d.1821) to Grantham for one reason or another? It is possible that William and Thomas may have been cousins.
Answer: Unknown.
2: If we assume William (b. 1750, d. 1821) and Thomas were cousins and that Thomas followed William to Grantham for whatever reason, the next question would be how or why Thomas and Hannah end up in Yarwell. Looking at the records for Yarwell and surrounding villages an intriguing possibility occurs as follows:
William Lock (b.1757) baptised in Helpston, Northamptonshire a known son of William Lock and Ann Alaways, married to Mary Small. The records indicate they had a daughter Ann baptised 1783 at Nassington, Northamptonshire. Nassington is the next village along from Yarwell.
Again if we assume Thomas is the son of William Lock and Ann Alaways using dates already mentioned this could make him the elder brother of William (b.1757). The 1783 baptism of Ann is two years before the earliest known baptism in Yarwell 1785 for Sarah.
Question: If Thomas and William are brothers, did William suggest Thomas and Hannah move towards Nassington/Yarwell to set up home, possibly for work reasons?
Answer: Unknown
3: Thomas Lock and Hannah Mumby go onto have a son they name Alexander b. 1793 Yarwell, Northamptonshire. There are also a further five “Alexander’s” down the generations from Thomas Lock and Hannah Mumby.
Question: Is the use of the name “Alexander” in anyway reference to the first Alexander Lock of Ryhall b.1679 Langtoft, Lincolnshire, d.1743, Ryhall, Rutland?
Answer: Unknown
4: The occupations of the Locks of Yarwell, Northamptonshire are consistently shown as Sawyers, Wheelwrights, and Carpenters, well known occupations of the Lock’s from Ryhall, Rutland
Question: Are these “family” occupations or are they coincidence?
Answer: Unknown
If Thomas Lock from Yarwell, Northamptonshire is related to the Lock’s from Ryhall, Rutland where, would he best fit into the known Lock history?
The best possible “fit” could be that Thomas Lock is the son of William Lock b. 1726 Ryhall, d.1789 Lound, Lincolnshire and Ann Alaways b.1732 Deeping St James, Lincolnshire, d.1802 Lound, Lincolnshire.
Looking at the family of William Lock and Ann Alaways, they have three known children 1. Susannah b.1752: 2. William b.1757: 3. Alexander b.1771. These three children were baptised in different villages, Maxey, Helpston, and Witham on the Hill respectively.
If Thomas Lock was born between 1752 and 1754 it has to be a possibility that he was the second child of William and Ann Lock and Thomas was baptised in another village whilst William and Ann were moving around for one reason or another.
CONCLUSION based on evidence so far:
Whilst circumstantial evidence strongly suggests that Thomas Lock may well be the son of William Lock and Ann Alaways. There is NO factual evidence found to date to prove who Thomas Locks parents were or where he actually came from or indeed when he was born.
There are no other records or references as yet found to indicate where Thomas Lock came from or indeed who he was.
A working theory at the minute but it’s possible Thomas Lock is the second child and eldest son of William Lock and Ann Alaways, William Lock is proven to be from Ryhall, Rutland, he (Thomas) followed his (possible) cousin William Lock to Grantham where he married Hannah Mumby, a few years later he then followed his (possible) brother William Lock to Nassington/Yarwell where he set up the Lock family of Yarwell where they lived for the next 100 or so years.
My personal opinion is that he is connected to the Locks from Ryhall, Rutland and I will continue to search for his baptism record and ultimate proof as to his lineage, but until then………
The search goes on…………………….
Wayne and Sandra's Family History 