They had 8 children, including Matthew John (also known just as John) who was born in 1847.
Honor has been found in some documents spelled as Hannah, Honour, and Honora. I have been unable to find her exact date of birth, but she was baptized 1st May 1816 with her name spelled Honour, in Great Hadham. Her parents were Thomas, and Susannah (nee Walker).
As I learn more about the family, the history becomes even more interesting.
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| 1832 Electoral Register Poll Book, it shows Thomas Halestrap as living near Kate's Green in Much Hadham, Herts, and then under "nature of qualification" it states "copyhold, land and houses". The next section is "street or other place where property is situated,or name of the tenant" under which is "Self, P. Brace and B. Watts".
Not understanding the term "copyhold" I had to do some further research and was quite surprised at what I found. https://www.britannica.com/topic/copyhold explained it very well, it was basically a labourer in obligatory service to the Lord of the manor, cultivating part of his land for him, and unable to leave the manor. Wow, basically in slavery - although they could cultivate some of the land for their own use.
Honor's sibling, Robert, became an indentured apprentice at 16, under a master carpenter, and contracted as such until the age of 21. I was surprised to see that the parish priest had a hand in arranging the servitude agreement (as can be seen by magnifying the document below, and reading it). A harsh life for 5 years, when one looks at all the "must nots" that are mentioned.
It was a hard existence, in those days, that's for sure.
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