Wainman

I'm trying to trace the marriage of my gggggggf, George Wainman, who
was born in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, in 1678.
This is pure speculation at present, but the only marriage I can find
for a plausible period is in 1706 to a Mary Mountain(e) in Otley, West
Yorkshire. Their children were born near to Houghton-le-Spring, which
makes me a bit suspicious as to the spouse.
For those days it seems a bit of a distance to travel to find a wife,
unless he was there on other "business". Was there anything special
about Otley in the early 18th century?

I have no idea what his line of work was.

ian.westergaard...

Wainman = wagon man - could quite easily have been the modern equivalent of
a long distance lorry/truck driver.

Steve Hayes...

While someone with the surname Baker could quite easily be a baker, they could
also quite easily not be.

ian.westergaard...

Agreed, but you should not dismiss my suggestion so easily - the further
back in time the more likely it is correct - and it was only a suggestion
which would fit in with your speculation that he had travelled from
Houghton-le-Spring to Otley to find a wife. It is quite possible that there
was trade between the seaport of Sunderland and Bradford or Leeds and Otley
was an overnight stop.

Also remember that it was quite usual for a family to follow the same trade
or occupation for generations. While the name might have originated from an
ancestor in the 14th or 15th centuries who was a wagon man it is not
unlikely that his descendants were still following that occupation in the
early 18th century.

Ian Westergaard
In Cloudy & Mild Central Otago
New Zealand

Ian Westergaard
In Cloudy & Cool Central Otago
New Zealand

TIA -