John WEAVER (or WHEAVER) and his wife Ann christened Joseph WHEAVER in Bromsgrove in November 1722 and possibly John in 1725. A John WEAVER was buried at St John Baptist, Bromsgrove on 24 Apr 1728, which might explain the absence of further children, but could be someone else.
John WEAVER's parents might have been Richard WEAVER and Jane CHANCE who christened a John WEAVER on 2 Feb 1697 in Bromsgrove. They had married in Bromsgrove on 5 November 1696. Their children included John (1697), William (1700-1714), Samuel (1703), Aron (1707), Richard (1710), Thomas (c.1713) and Sarah (c.1718).
Alternatively he may have been the John WEAVER mentioned in the 1731 will of Joseph WEAVER, a nailer. This John received a property in Catshill Yield from his father and had Joseph, Mary YEATE(S) and Sarah as siblings. The nail industry WEAVERs were still in Bromsgrove through the 19th century and beyond and did seem to be a different family.
There were at least two John WEAVERs having families in Bromsgrove around 1725 so perhaps these were the two John's identified above. The other John married Margaret and christened at least 5 children in Bromsgrove from 1720-1737.
Another possible baptisms is John WEEUER who was baptized in Stock and Bradley on 1 May 1686. No parents are given, but a Richard and Catherine WEAVER baptized children here in 1674 (Richard) and 1697. The 1674 Richard may also be the Richard that baptized John with Jane in 1697 mentioned above.
Any one of the following Worcestershire baptisms could be John's:
- John WEAVER 06 OCT 1680 Kidderminster, Worcester (Richard/Hannah)
- John WEAVER 28 JUN 1680 Shrawley, Worcester (Thomas)
- John WEEUER 01 MAY 1686 Stock And Bradley, Worcester (-)
- John WEAVERS 07 MAY 1688 Kidderminster, Worcester (Richard/Hannah)
- John Weaver 26 OCT 1697 Hallow, Worcester (Francis/Jane)
- John WEVER 02 FEB 1697 Bromsgrove, Worcester (Richard)
- John WEVER 29 DEC 1690 Aston Juxta Birmingham, Warwick (Edward)
- JOHN WEAVERS 21 MAR 1700 Kidderminster, Worcester (John/Eliz.)
In the 1690 Poll Tax of Bromsgrove there are no WEAVERs recorded, however it is possible that the family was nearby, say in Hanbury or Stock and Bradley, or were not deemed taxable for some reason.
Through Joseph's baptismal record we know that John's wife was called Ann, but there are several possible Anns or Hannahs who could be Joseph's mother.
A John WEAVERS married a Hanna BISSELL in Kidderminster in 1719. This match was favoured by a WEAVER family tree seen in 2003, although no evidence to support this was provided. It seems likely that this marriage was one of the John WEAVERS baptized in Kidderminster in 1688 and 1700.
Another possibility for John's wife is Ann BOUGH who married a John WEAVER in Hanbury on 21 May 1720, although that John WEAVER baptized four children in Hanbury between 1722 and 1731. It is possible that they also baptized children in Bromsgrove (5 miles away) as the baptismal dates are just about consistent:
- Johannes c. 1/1/1722 Hanbury
- Joseph c. 9/11/1722 Bromsgrove
- Mary & Elizabeth c. 5/3/1725 Hanbury (Mary died shortly after.)
- John c. 25/12/1725 Bromsgrove
- Ann c. 22/1/1731 Hanbury (named Ann WEAVER or PRAT, so this may be a different family).
None of the Hanbury christened children later married in Hanbury or baptized their own children in Hanbury so there is nothing to prove that the family was permanently based in Hanbury. An Elizabeth WEAVER did marry in Bromsgrove in 1751. If this is the right John WEAVER then his father was John WEAVER or GARNER, son of Robert WEAVER or GARNER, both from Hanbury. There were no BOUGH records in Hanbury, and just one baptism in Bromsgrove in 1735.
Earlier WEAVER Bromsgrove parish records:
- John WEAVER, Tailor was buried in Bromsgrove on 21 May 1647 (John was the father of 8 children: Mary 1600, John 1601, Fayles 1607, Henry 1610, Nicholas 1613, Mary 1616 and William 1618.)
- Francis was the father of Elizabeth 1610
- Moses was the father of Nicholas 1616, Anna 1622 and Elizabeth 1626.
- Thomas was the father of Thomas 1624, Margareta 1627 and Elinora 1629.
- Nicholas was married on 1 July 1654-6 and had 4 children: John 1656, Unknown 1657, Nicholas 1660 and Joseph 1664.
- Joseph and Mary were the parents of William 1698 and Thomas 1700.
