George Rainford and his wife were non-conformists. At that time in England there was only one church of England and it served as the recordkeeper for births, marriages, deaths. Those who chose to practice religion outside the C of E had records that were often hidden. That is why it has been so difficult to trace the parents of George Rainford, the immigrant.
Only recently some of those hidden records are emerging and being digitized. By carefully comparing each scrap of information, we believe this is the correct parent of Dr George Rainford of Illinois/Indiana. Some of the telling proof is Dr George always said he was born in London; it's on his headstone. These parents baptized him in a non-conformist church in Westminster--where George and Harriet later baptized their own children.
This father of Dr George also had a son Edward born 1808 who died in 1830. If this was the eldest son, George the Emigrant could suddenly be in line to inherit land and a brewery. Record set England Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms First name(s) Edwardus Last name Rainford Birth year Baptism year 1809 Parish Soho Square Diocese Westminster County Middlesex Country England Mother's first name(s) Maria Father's first name(s) Georgii Father's last name Rainford Baptism date 10 Dec 1809 Church St Patrick Deanery Westminster Ecclesiastical province Westminster Archive Westminster Archdiocesan Archives Register type Baptisms Records year range 1807-1818 Category Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers) Subcategory Parish Baptisms Collections from Great Britain, England
And, looking at George the Emigrant's residences, he does begin to work as a brewer after 1830. Not well; he was arrested for breaking a rule about allowing customers to drink in the brewery.
George Rainford born 1810 Lancashire/ Not Related
Listed below is documentation to resolve confusion over George Rainford, the son of Thomas and Sarah Sweetman who was born 14 Nov 1810. This George Rainford, did live, marry and die in England. He is not George Rainford who emigrated. in 1849 and worked as a physician in Indiana. This confusion has been a problem for descendants.
Birth of son of Thomas and Sarah 14 NOV 1810 William Street, Liverpool, Lancashire Baptism: 16 Dec 1810, St Peter, Liverpool, Lancashire, England [40]
Marriage of George, son of Sarah Sweetman 30 Dec 1833 • Liverpool St Thomas, Lancashire [41]
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