Heighways in the UK
Hello to you all,
I'm Dale as mentioned in my sister Rosalie's message (28 Feb 2001). I've been researching my family tree for some time but so far have not used the Net. On the Heighway line of the family I have reached about 1740 when my 4xGt grandfather was born. I have been collecting info on all my ancestors so I have'nt got very far with the direct line as yet.
The Mormon Index has provided me with some useful guidance though, of course, you have to check the details against the original sources.
I did a sort of survey a few years ago in the Mormon Index for England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, not a very scientific one I admit but it gave some interesting facts.
1) I found thirty eight different spellings of Heighway.
2) There were more entries for Shropshire than all the rest of the country put together.
3) The next highest occurences were in Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire - three counties which lie close to Shropshire.
The source of the name has always been a bit of a puzzle. Some books put it down to a small place called Highway in Wiltshire, others say it refers to a road down which 'hay' was taken and even that it referred to foundlings who were named after the place they were found!
I believe all these are wrong for various reasons but unfortunately I cannot prove my own theory as yet.
We have always called ourselves "Hayway" not "Highway".
I don't think I can help with anything to do with your North American searches except to look in the emigrants registers in Liverpool which is only about ten miles from where I live. If I can assist in any way with family origins in the UK please email me. I am a member of the Shropshire Family History Society so there will be useful contacts there.
Good hunting,
Dale
More Replies:
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Re: Heighways in the UK
Lisa Bow 6/26/09
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Re: Heighways in the UK
7/29/01
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Re: Heighways in the UK
4/08/01