"John Finch"

There are many problems in researching Finch heritage in Standish and Wigan and the main problem is the sheer number of people with the same name in a certain time frame.

“John Finch” seems to be one of the more popular names in the early 19th Century and is found in both Wigan and Standish. There is a also a degree of frustration in that the IGI is not ‘foolproof’ and the Lancs OPC does not cover all time periods and for all areas although it is truly magnificent how many hours are continually given over by volunteers to this endeavour.

So, “John Finch” and the continual problem of which one we descend from. I had a look at the number of people with this name and wanted to try and list them in a 20 year period.

John Finch Sep 23 1790 Thomas Finch and Alice
John Finch Jan 29 1791 Robert Finch and Betty highton
John Finch 1792 Robert Finch and Alice
John Finch 1793 James Finch and Alice
John Finch 1796 Thos. Finch and Betty
John Finch 1798 Edwd. Finch and Alice
John Finch Mar 29 1804 William Finch and Jane Heswick
John Finch Apr 23 1813 Thomas Finch and Catherine
John Finch Feb 14 1820 William Finch and Ann
John Finch 1821 James Finch and Mary
John Finch 1823 Peter Finch and Ellen

“John Finch “ has a wide popularity and there is a doubtless the possibility for confusion as to identity when we conduct electronic searches. There is also the popularity of the mothers name “Alice” which is popular in the same way that “John” is popular.

It is evident that the Finch family was present in both Standish and Wigan and is a local name although William Finch and Jane Heswick are probably from Lancaster.