Day 37 - Heads Up

Yesterday I had discovered that the Library in Carlisle does actually hold some of the Parish Records so I thought I should probably spend a few hours seeing what I could uncover.

I was looking into the Head family. Joseph Head was the father of Mary Ann Head - who was the mother of Jessie Theresa Thomas who was the mother of one Keith Morris.

I knew that Joseph Head was born in Brigham in 1836 so it was quite easy to find his baptism record which lists his father John Head as an Innkeeper.

John Head was born in Lorton which is near Cockermouth in 1802 and married Anne Allason - his father was Skelton Head who was born also in Lorton in 1761.

Skelton married Catherine Hewitt in 1786.



Skelton's father was one Richard Head who was born in 1713 and married Sarah Sumpton in 1741. It appears that Richard did quite well for himself as notes this extract from his will (found this on someone's tree on Ancestry)

Richard Head made his will in 1784, 5 years before his death.

He describes himself as a gentleman and owns several farms and two corn mills.

He divides his real estate between his three sons John, Joseph and Skelton and leaves monetary legacies to his other son Oswel and his daughter, Faith. John, the eldest and Skelton, the youngest sons appear to come off best.

His wife is left a house (at Miller Place) for her lifetime together with an annuity of £141 p.a

I tried to find some idea of what Inn John Head may have been Innkeeper of - but no luck with the trade directories of the region.

It goes back further on Ancestry with Richard's parents
John Head 1685 – 1723
and Isabell Skelton 1685 – 1765

John's parents
John Head 1665 – 1704
and Jane H – 1723

So there you go - will go and visit Lorton and Brigham when in Cockermouth. Took some pics of the pretty flowers for Mumsy.


Oh I also checked out the Carlisle Antiques Centre - fyi 1 - really cool inside though not a huge amount of stuff. Each little shop was set up like a house.