Narrative and Notes
Jonas and Martha COPLEY baptized three children between 1753 and 1757 in Darton near Barnsley including Joseph in 1753, Hannah in 1755 and Mary in 1757.
There is a marriage in Emley of a John COPLEY of High Hoyland with Martha MYERS of Emley (6 miles west of Darton) in 1749 which appears a good fit with the known facts, although it requires them to relocate to Darton between 1749 and 1753. This may explain the gap between their marriage and the baptism of their 'first' child, but if there were then their baptismal records have not been found.
Baptismal records for John:
- While there is a baptism of a John COPLEY in High Hoyland by John COPLEY, yeoman of "Claton" (i.e. Clayton) on 18 April 1727 which appears to fit, there is also a burial of a John son of John COPLEY in May 1728. There is another John baptized in High Hoyland on 28 Oct 1735 by John COPLEY of Clayton, which would be too late, so these records can be ignored.
- 1716 in Cawthorne (2 miles south of High Hoyland) by Thomas COPLEY - this would make him 33 when he married Martha. But she may have been a second wife.
- 1719/20 in Cawthorne by Mary COPLEY. The father was John LINDLEY, yeoman. There is no subsequent marriage record.
