People search
(married name will be ignored if broad check is ticked;
a broad check includes a search for nicknames, married names and other alternative names)Where were they from?
Search for places, see all people in the tree with events in that place, and (where added) see places marked on a map with photos, links and other information about the location.
Jane HIGHSTEAD
1762 - Yes, date unknown (~ 72 years)
Has no ancestors but 10 descendants in this family tree.
Set As Default Person 
-
Name Jane HIGHSTEAD Relationship 
with Teresa Ann GOATHAM Baptised 19 Dec 1762 St. Martin’s Church, Aldington, Kent, England 
- No baptism of a Jane Hi(gh)ste(a)d (etc. - variants beginning with 'H') found other than one baptised in Kingsnorth in 1764* but there is this baptism of a Jane Isted. The date suggests a date of birth which agrees with the age given at the burial of the Jane Leeds who was probably this Jane. Also, it was in Aldington, and the Jane Leeds who died in 1835 left a will appointing as her executor someone from Aldington, suggesting she may have had a link with that parish. (Also, there is no other marriage or burial of a Jane Isted within 20 miles of Aldington in the index on FMP, as at 21 Nov 2019, who could be this Jane).
From PR entry (image on FMP, viewed 21 Nov 2019)
"Jane Daughr. of John & Elizth. Isted bapd. Decr: the 19th."
* - it seems unlikely the Jane who married William Leeds was the one baptised in Kingsnorth, but she could be. The other Jane seems to have married Samuel Clover in Mersham in 1790, when she was of Willesborough and Samuel of Mersham. They had two children baptised in Mersham, but both appear to have been buried in Sevington.
There is some fairly slight evidence against from the places - neither Jane was 'of' the place they had been baptised at the time of their marriages, but it is more likely that the Jane baptised in Kingsnorth was later 'of' the adjacent parish of Willesborough, whilst the Jane baptised in Aldington was 'of' the adjacent parish of Smeeth when she married. However, all the parishes are close enough it could have been the other way around. Both the burial record and death registration for Jane Clover are consistent with a 1764 baptism, as is the 1841 census which failed to round down her age and gives it as 77. Jane Leeds died too early for her death to be registered but the age recorded in the burial register is consistent with her Dec 1762 baptism - provided she had been born after July, as is probable. Neither Jane would have been 21 by March 1783, judging by the dates of baptism and recorded ages at death, so the marriage should show parental consent, which it does not. It seems more likely that the Jane baptised Aldington, probably only a few months short of 21, was claiming to be of age rather than Jane baptised Kingsnorth, probably just turned 19 (or did Jane from Aldington not need consent as both her parents were dead?).
With 3 arguments favouring the Jane baptised Aldington I think it reasonable to conclude that is who married William Leeds. (Too peripheral to this tree to pursue further, but looking at the names of siblings / aunts / uncles, to see if there seem to be any names used by the Clover and Leeds couples might help). In addition, whilst with names as common as John and Elizabeth it is difficult to be sure, but it appears the parents of the Jane baptised in Aldington were both buried in Mersham; it the family had moved to Mersham it would be more likely that Jane and William would meet.
Gender Female Residence 1783 Smeeth, Kent, England - At the time of her marriage
Will 2 May 1835 Written - (have images of register copy, have not seen original)
I believe the will is of this Jane due to the sons named in it, and the description of Jane as a widow of Mersham. She had a sister-in-law Jane Leeds (sister of her brother William); I don't know what happened to that Jane but it is unlikely she retained her birth name and died a widow. A John and Jane Leeds had four children baptised in Mersham 1785-90, but all were daughters. No sign of them having other children elsewhere, from online indexes (as at March 2024), so whilst not impossible it is unlikely they had sons Thomas and William as well AND that Jane was buried in Mersham.
Buried 18 Jul 1835 St. John the Baptist Church, Mersham, Kent, England - From PR entry (image on FMP, viewed 21 Nov 2019)
"Jane Leedes, abode Mersham, buried July 18th., aged 72 years"
Although there were other Jane Leeds associated with Mersham who were probably of a similar age to this Jane, in particular her husband had a sister Jane, and a John and Jane (John probably being William's brother of this name) had children around the same time as William and Jane, I think we can exclude both due to the will of this Jane.
From the date written and proved the writer of the will must have died between 2 May and 1 Aug 1835; it seems unlikely there was Jane Leeds of Mersham who died in this period, especially as the PR only has the one burial.
Probate 1 Aug 1835 Archdeaconry Court, Canterbury, Kent, England - From register copy, PRC 17-109-405b.
Died Yes, date unknown Person ID I19784 All | England: Kent Group (in Go(a)tham One-Name Study), All in the Goatham / Gotham One-Name Study Last Modified 29 Mar 2024
Family William LEEDS, bap. 18 Aug 1754, St. John the Baptist Church, Mersham, Kent, England , d. Yes, date unknown (Age ~ 51 years) Banns of marriage From 9 Feb 1783 to 23 Feb 1783 St. Mary’s Church, Smeeth, Kent, England - From PR entry (image on FMP, viewed 21 Nov 2019)
Banns of marriage to 2 Mar 1783 St. John the Baptist Church, Mersham, Kent, England - From PR entry (image on FMP, viewed 21 Nov 2019)
Married 4 Mar 1783 St. Mary’s Church, Smeeth, Kent, England - From PR entry (image on FMP, viewed 21 Nov 2019)
"No. 3 William Leedes of the Parish
of Mersham and Jane Histed of this Parish were
Married in this Church by Banns
this fourth Day of march in the Year One Thousand seven Hundred
and eighty three By me E Norwood Rector of Sevington
This Marriage was solemnized between Us Willm. Leeds, Jane Highsted [both signed]
In the Presence of Thomas Leeds, John Woodland [both signed]"
They had 8 daughters and 3 sons baptised in Mersham between 1783 and 1802.
Children10 children Last Modified 28 Mar 2024 Family ID F7764 Family Group Page | Family Chart
- No baptism of a Jane Hi(gh)ste(a)d (etc. - variants beginning with 'H') found other than one baptised in Kingsnorth in 1764* but there is this baptism of a Jane Isted. The date suggests a date of birth which agrees with the age given at the burial of the Jane Leeds who was probably this Jane. Also, it was in Aldington, and the Jane Leeds who died in 1835 left a will appointing as her executor someone from Aldington, suggesting she may have had a link with that parish. (Also, there is no other marriage or burial of a Jane Isted within 20 miles of Aldington in the index on FMP, as at 21 Nov 2019, who could be this Jane).