Events
Date of Baptism: 9 March 1693/4.
Place of Baptism: Churchtown, Lancashire.
The baptism is recorded in the parish register.
(probable) Date of Burial: 15 August 1754.
(probable) Place of Burial: North Meols, Lancashire, England (St Cuthbert’s).
The burial is recorded in the parish register.
Relationships
Father: Henry Wright.
Mother: Elizabeth Orme.
See the Commentary section.
Spouse: Peter Swift. Married 19 February 1714/5 in St Cuthbert's.
See the Commentary section.
Spouse: William Ball (1676 - about 1744). Married 5 May 1734 in Maghull, Lancashire.
See William’s page for details.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Margaret Swift (baptized 20 November 1715 in St Cuthbert’s)
Robert Swift (baptized 24 August 1717 in St Cuthbert’s)
Henry Swift (baptized 8 May 1720 in St Cuthbert’s)
Henry Swift (baptized 18 July 1721 in St Cuthbert’s)
Richard Swift (baptized 28 February 1725 in St Cuthbert’s)
Elizabeth Swift (baptized 17 December 1727 in St Cuthbert’s)
William Ball (baptized 13 October 1734 in St Cuthbert’s - died 24 August 1814) married Mary Wright 29 March 1758 in Liverpool (St Nicholas’).
John Ball (baptized 12 June 1737 in St Cuthbert’s).
Evidence
William Ball - Margaret Swift marriage (from Cheshire marriage license bonds and allegations)
Year: 1734
Days of Month: 4. May
Marriage Licence granted to: William Ball
of the parish or Chapelry of: Lydiate
and: Margaret Swift
of the parish or Chapelry: [blank]
To be married in the Church or Chapel of: North Meols. Halsall. Aughton.
Oath made and Bond given by: The same & Laurence Farrar
Before: Mr Atherton
from the St Cuthbert’s register:
Peter Swift And margrate wright [Feb] 19 [1714]
1729 March.
8 Peter Swift buryed
Burials 1754
Aug.st the 15th Margret Ball of South Haws
Commentary
Margaret’s identity:
Margaret’s marriage bond identifies her as Margaret Swift, widow, of North Meols. As far as I can tell, the only candidate fitting this evidence is the widow of Peter Swift, who was buried in North Meols in 1729.
There is some additional circumstantial evidence supporting the identification of the widow of Peter Swift as the second wife of William Ball. In his 1722 will, Henry Wright of South Hawes named his daughter Margaret wife of Peter Swift. Two of the witnesses to his will were John Ball and William Ball, who are most likely the William Ball who was the second husband of the Margaret of this page and his brother. One of the witnesses to the will of William Ball was Richard Wright, who was probably Margaret’s brother.
Henry named his wife Elizabeth in his will. Henry had married Elizabeth Orme in St Cuthbert’s in 1688, not long before his eldest child was baptized there in 1689.
References
Parish registers of St Cuthbert’s, Churchtown. Digital images on Findmypast.co.uk. Also, digital images on FamilySearch.org.
William Ball - Margaret Swift marriage bond no. 879 (1734) in Cheshire Marriage licence bonds and allegations 1606-1905; digital image on Findmypast.co.uk (accessed 6 April 2014).
Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerks
Will of Henry Wright of South Hawes. Proved 1726 in the Consistory Court of Chester.