Early Records in Birstall Parish, Yorkshire, England

The Name

George Redmonds does not list the name Rouse in any of his books on Yourshire names.

The name was spelled Rawse, Rows(e) and Rouse.

Alice Rouse Connection to the Land Family

Birth

Alice, daughter of Samuel Rouse of Liversedge, was baptized August 16, 1640 (Birstall Parish Bishops Transcripts)

Marriage

Alice "Rawse" married James Law on May 4, 1664 in Birstall Parish.

Connection to the Land Family

Note: The parish records start in 1558.

Leonard Rouse of Littletown and Robertown was born circa 1567 and married no later than 1587.

Samuel, the son of Leonard Rouse of Robertown and unknown was baptized in Birstall parish church on November 7, 1596.
Marriage: Samuel Rouse married Alice Jackson on February 3, 1630 in the Birstall parish church

Alice, daughter of Samuel Rouse of Liversedge, was baptized August 16, 1640
Marriage: Alice Rouse married James Law in 1664

James Law, the son of James Law and Alice Rawse, was baptized in Birstall parish church on July 15, 1667.
Marriage: James Law married Susannah Crossley on April 14, 1692 in Birstall Parish
Son:
William Law, the son of James Law and Susannah Crossley was baptized in Birstall parish church on March 13, 1705.
Marriage: William Law married Hannah Rayner on November 3, 1729 in Birstall Parish.
Son:
George Law, the son of William Law and Hannah Rayner, was baptized in the Birstall parish church on February 21, 1736.
Marriage: George Law married Mary Wilby on December 20, 1762 in Birstall Parish
Son:
Benjamin Law, the son of George Law and Mary Wilby was born in Gomersall in the parish of Birstall and baptized in the Birstall parish church on November 8, 1773.
Marriage: Benjamin Law married Lydia Sheard on April 20, 1801 in Leeds.
Son:
William Law, the son of Benjamin Law and Lydia Sheard was born in Batley on March 12, 1809.
Marriage: William Law married Mary Worth in Cheshire circa 1834
Daughter:
Lydia Law, the daughter of William Land and Mary Worth, was baptized in Stockport, Cheshire in 1835.
Marriage: Lydia Law married John Land on November 7, 1857 in Gomersal, Birstall Parish.
Son:
Law Land, the son of Lydia Law and John Land was born in in the town of Batley, Parish of Batley on December 29, 1858.
Marriage: Law Land married Elizabeth Sykes on April 25, 1880 in the town of Batley, in Batley Parish, Yorkshire, England. Law Land and Elizabeth Sykes immigrated to Canada and subsequently the United States.

Baptism: No later than 1567. Parents unknown.

Marriage: No later than 1587. Wife, unknown

Children:

1. Burial , unbaptized daughter of Leonard Rouse buried May 19, 1588
2. Joseph
   Baptism: Joseph of Leonard Rouse of Littletown, April 1, 1590
   Burial: Joseph of Leonard Rouse of Lt. was buried on November 2, 1590
3. Helen
   Baptism: Helen of Leonard Rouse of Littletown, November 1, 1591
   Further records: None
4. Steven
   Baptism: Steven of Leonard Rouse of Robertown, February 3, 1593/4
   Further record: None
5. Samuel Rouse (1596-1665) and Alice Jackson, Liversedge
   Baptism: Samuel of Leonard Rouse of Robertown November 7, 1596
   Marriage: Samuel Rouse married Alice Jackson on February 3, 1630.
   Note: Samuel would have been 34 years old at the time of the marriage to Alice.
   Children:
   1. Isabel Rouse and William Copley
      Birth: Isabel, of Samuel "Rows" of Little Liversedge January 6, 1632/33.
      Further records: None
      In February 2010 Stuart Starkey wrote that he believed that Rouse married "William Copley, yeoman of Kirkheaton in 1654/5 but there are no Birstall marriages for those two years. The only thing that makes me think that she was Isabel Rouse was that in his will of 1677 William mentioned Richard Rouse." See below.
   2. Infant of Samuel Rouse of Littletown buried December 18, 1636
   3. Richard Rouse and Deborah Wooley, Liversedge
      Birth: Richard son of Samuel Rouse of Liversedge, January 23, 1637/38.
      Marriage: Richard Rouse married Deborah Wooley, August 13, 1673.
      Note: This would mean he was 36 at the time of the marriage.
      Children:
      1. Martha
         Birth: Martha of Richard Rouse of Castlehouse Hill, August 29, 1675.
         Further records: None
         
      2. Anne
         Birth: Anne of Richard Rouse of Little Liversedge, October 21, 1677
         Death: Ann Rouse of Liversedge buried September 1, 1713.
      3. Richard Rouse and Alice ???, Liversedge
         Birth: Richard, the son of _____ Rouse of Littletown was baptized on September 18, 1679
         Marriage: Alice
         Children:
         1. Mary d Richard Rowse of Long L, June 3, 1716 (PRB)
            Death: Mary d Richard Rowse of L, June 4, 1716 (PRB)
         2. Martha d Richard Rowse of Long L, April 15, 1717 (PRB)
            Death: Martha d of Richard Rowse of Long L, April 17, 1717 (PRB)
         3. Ann d Richard Rowse of Long L, February 2, 1717/18 (PRB)
            Death: Ann d Richard Rowse of Long L February 4, 1717/18 (PRB)
         Death of Alice Rouse: Alice wife of Richard Rouse of HT buried 22 September 1756
         Death of Richard Rouse:
         
      4. Rachael
         Birth: Rachael of Richard Rouse of Liversedge November 2, 1679
         Further records: None
         Note: This birth is too close to that of Richard in September 18, 1679
      Death of Richard Rouse: Richard Rouse of Littletown, householder, buried July 16, 1719
      Note: The PRB says Richard Rowse of LT (Littletown) July 16, 1719 (PRB) Question? Was this Richard born in 1637 (he would have been 82) or his son, Richard, born in 1679 (he would have been 40)?
      Death of Deborah Wooley Rouse: Unknown
      
   4. Alice
      Birth: Alice, daughter of Samuel Rouse of Liversedge, was baptized August 16, 1640.
      Marriage: Alice Rouse married James Law in 1664
   5. William Rouse and Alice Pearson, Liversedge
      Birth: William of Samuel Rouse of Liversedge, baptized June 12, 1642
      Marriage: William Rouse married Alice Pearson of Heaton, May 15, 1668
      Note: According to a note in the YAS listing "May 15, 1668 by license William Rawse (Rouse, clothier 24 of Littletown) and Alice Pearson (spinster 21 of Heaton)"
      Children:
      1. Daughter, of William Rouse of Cleckheaton, January 20, 1670
      2. Elizabeth, of William Rouse of Cleckheaton, November 13, 1671
      3. Samuel of William Rouse of H baptized ____ 1674.
         Death: Samuel Rouse of Cleckheaton buried 6 March 1734/35
         
      4. James of William Rouse of Littletown, September 3, 1675
      5. Caleb of William Rouse of Liversedge, September 15, 1679
         Death of Sarah wife of Caleb Rouse: Sarah wife of Caleb Rouse of Robertown buried 18 April 1754
         Seven Year Break
      6. Mary of William Rouse of H March ?, 1686/7
      7. Grace of William Rouse of Heckmondwike, September 26, 1686
         Notes:
         • Check the last two births. They are too close together
         • There are several places listed, Cleckheaton, Littletown and Liversedge. Does this represent one or more William Rouse?
      Death of William Rouse: William Rouse buried October 17, 1700.
      Question? Who is this William Rouse?
      Burial: Elizabeth daughter of William Rowse of C (Cleckheaton), March 18, 1709/19 (PRB)
      Deaths of Alice Rouse: Alice, wife of William Rouse of Cleckheaton, was buried September 15, 1721
      Death of William Rouse: William Rouse of C widower March 15, 1723/24 (PRB)
      
   6. Infant of Samuel Rouse of Little Liversedge buried October 7, 1644
   7. Samuel
      Birth: Samuel of Samuel Rouse of Little Liversedge baptized April 14, 1646.
      Burial: Samuel of Samuel Rouse of Little Liversedge buried May 16, 1646
   8. Infant of Samuel Rouse of Little Liversedge buried July 7, 1648
   9. Infant of Samuel Rouse of Little Liversedge buried June 11, 1650
   10. Infant of Samuel Rouse of Little Liversedge buried December 25, 1651
   Death of Samuel Rouse: 1665, Aug 9, Samuel Rawse of Castlehouse Hill. Thanks to Stuart Starkey for pointing this out, February 2010.
6. Richard of Leonard Rouse of Littletown, March 23, 1599/1600
   Further records: None

Note: In the YAS indexes, the records for Leonard Rouse are alternately listed as LT (Littletown) or RT (Robertown). Littletown, AKA Little Liversedge and Robertown are both in the township of Liversedge.

Isabel Rouse and William Copley

In March 2010 Stuart Starkey shared the following information on Isabel Rouse:

"I believe that William Copley was born in Kirkheaton about 1631. His brother Richard was baptised in 1628 and his brother George was baptised in 1636 so I have to place his birth somewhere between the two.

These are the Copley records from the parish of Birstall:

• 29 August 1655 Richard of William Copley of Little Town burial
• 29 June 1656 Mary of William Copley of Little Town baptised
• 3 July 1659 Martha of William Copley of Stubley baptised
• 28 December 1660 a child of William Copley of Stubley buried
• 28 May 1663 Sarah of William Copley of Stubley baptised
• 13 July 1663 Sarah of William Copley of Stubley buried
• 1 January 1665 Samuel of William Copley of Heckmondwike baptised
• 13 March 1665 Samuel of William Copley of Heckmondwike buried
• 5 August 1668 Elizabeth of William Copley of Heckmondwike baptised
• 3 November 1670 William of William Copley of Heckmondwike baptised- died 5 April 1738
• 20 June 1677 William Copley of Heckmondwike buried
• 1 July 1678 Martha of William Copley of Heckmondwike buried

You can see why I assume the marriage would have been 1654 or 1655 but as I said there are no marriage records for those two years.

There was another William Copley in the Birstall area but he was slightly later:

• 11 February 1679 William Copley & Sibble Chadwicke married
• 23 December 1680 an infant of William Copley of Birstall buried

This is a transcript of the will of William Copley, yeoman who was buried 20 June 1677:

"I William Copley of Heckmondwike, sick in body etc.... Manner and form following, first and principally before all things (bit about God). The disposing of all the messuages, lands, sents? and herediments with the appurtments of all my goods, chattels and person effects whatsoever, give, devise and bequest as follows: Isabell my wife shall have all her rights out of all my lands and tenements according to the custom of the .. wherein..I do give and bequest all my other lands and tenements unto Isabelle my wife to have hold and enjoy the same during and until my son William shall or might be...accomplish the age of 21 years (if Isabell remains unmarried employed towards his education and putting him to be an apprentice and also towards the education of my daughters Martha Copley and Elizabeth Copley but if she shall be married or die before the said William Copley my son attains the age of 21 years then give bequest the firth? of my lands aforesaid unto Richard Copley of Kirkheaton my brother Richard Rouse and Joseph Walter the younger of Liversedge yeoman to have and to hold the same...until son William Copley reaches full age upon trust and considered for the uses above) My will and mind is that whereas I purchased three closes of land of Adam Richard yeoman to me my executors administrators and assigns for divers years or..to..and..period called by the several names of Nether Nunne royd the North Nunne royd and the South Nunne royd or by what other names to same closes or any of them... have there upon built...dwelling house wherein I now said with barn or shopp and all other buildings to the same belonging in Heckmondwike in my tenure to William Copley my only son. ....to children of Richard if William dies (I think) and heirs of George Copley late of Wheatley Hill in the parish of Hoyland my brother. One close of land and meadow and pasture called Marr/Narr? Over Nunne royd which I late purchased to my heirs of Mathew Statcher of Morley the elder and Mathew Statcher the younger his son with appurtments in Heckmondwike.

I don't have either a burial or a marriage for Isabelle Copley after the death of William."

Stuart

Odd Records for Rouse

Robert "Rowe" married Margaret Ellis, August 24, 1576

Margaret Rouse married John Baulme July 8, 1582

Anne Rouse married Thomas Robinson, February 6, 1585/6

Alice Rouse married William Sharpus June 27, 1598

Jane Rouse of Liversedge was buried January 15, 1616/17

Mary Rouse married Michael Drake January 14, 1702

Richard Bywater and Mercy Rouse May 11, 1704

Elizabeth Rowse married Auilla Brathwaite of Long L June 20, 1705 (PRB)

Death of Ann Rows of Long L, September 1, 1713 (PRB)

Elizabeth Rouse of Hightown spinster buried 7 May 1737

Peter Rouse of Hunsworth

Baptism:
Marriage:
Burial: Wife of Peter Rouse buried January 6, 1582/3, no place
Marriage:
Death: Wife of Peter Rouse of Miln Brigg buried February 26, 1587/8
Marriage: Peter Rouse married Alice Mills November 6, 1592
Children: ?
Death: Peter Rouse of Hunsworth April 9, 1598
Notes:

• A footnote in the YAS indexes and indicates that Peter Rouse of Hunsworth had his will proved on May 31, 1598
• Hunsworth is several miles north west of Littletown and Robertown.

Baptism:
Marriage: William Rouse married Agnes Wood June 28, 1584
Children:

1. Peter of William Rouse January 10, 1584/5
2. Edward of William Rouse November 1, 1586

John Rouse

Baptism: Unknown
Marriage: Unknown
Children:

1. Hannah of John Rouse of Liversedge, date? 16??

Tom (?) Rouse

Baptism: Unknown
Marriage: Unknown
Children:

1. Ann of Tom Rouse (?) of Heckmondwike, April 12, 1678

Baptism: Date, place, and parents unknown
Marriage: The IGI lists the wife of Jonathan Rouse of Birstall parish as, Mary, circa 1695 (LDS submission)
Children:

1. William of Jonathan Rouse of Long Liversedge, January 24, 1696/7
2. Thomas of Jonathan Rouse (No place), December 25, 1698. Note: PBR says Littletown
3. Joseph of Jonathan Rows of Long L, November 2, 1701
   Death: Joseph of Jonathan Rowse of Long L, February 18, 1719/20 (PRB)
4. Jonathan of Jonathan Rowse of Long L, Feb 20, 1703/04 (PRB)
5. Joshua of Jonathan Rowse of Long L May 19, 1706 (PRB)
6. Caleb s Jonathan Rowse of Long L, November 7, 1708 (PBR)
7. John s Jonathan Rowse of Long L November 1, 1710/11 (PRB)
8. Mary d Jonathan Rowse of Long L October 4, 1712 (PRB)
   Death: Mary d Jonathan Rowse of Long L, March 7, 1715/15 (PRB)
9. Susanna d Jonathan Rowse of Long L, April 11, 1714 (PRB)
   Death: Susanna d Jonathan Rowse of Long L, February 14, 1719/20 (PRB)
10. Mary d Jonathan Rowse of Long L January 6, 1715/16 (PRB)
11. Rachael d Jonathan Rowse of L, November 16, 1718 (PRB)
12. Elizabeth of Jonathan Rowse of Long L August 27, 1721 (PRB)
13. Joseph of Jonathan Rowse of HT (Hightown), September, 8, 1723 (PRB)

Death of Jonathan Rouse: Jonathan Rouse of Hightown householder buried 14 December 1729

Death: Elizabeth Rouse of Hightown, spinster, 7 May 1737

Joseph Rouse of Long Liversedge

Baptism: Date place and parents unknown
Marriage:
Children:

1. Alice daughter of Joseph Rouse of Long Liversedge, baptized June 3, 1688
   Death: Alice daughter of Joseph Rouse of Long Liversedge, buried February 19, 1692/3
2. Alice daughter of Joseph Rouse of Long Liversedge buried February 19, 1699/1700
3. Joshua of Joseph Rouse of Long L, June 25, 1693 (PRB)
4. William of Joseph Rouse of Long Liversedge, March 15, 1695/6
5. Susanna d Joseph Rowse of Long L, August 7, 1709
6. Abel s Joseph Rowse of Long L, February 11, 1710/11 (PRB)
   Death of Hannah wife of Abel Rouse: Hannah wife of Abel Rouse of Highntown buried 31 October 1737
   
7. Tabitha of Joseph Rowse of L, November 2, 1712 (PRB)
8. Joseph of Joseph Rowse of L, July 17, 1715 (PRB)
9. Samuel s Joseph Rowse of Long Loovrsedge (sic), June 11, 1717
10. Richard s Joseph Rowse of L, December 7, 1718 (PRB)
11. Martha d Joseph Rowse of Long L, July 30, 1721 (PRB)
12. Phebe d Joseph Rowse of Long L, May 19, 1723 (PRB)

Death: Martha wf Joseph Rowse of Long L, July 20, 1718 (PRB)
Question? Who was this Martha Rowse? The IGI lists a marriage of Joseph Rouse to Martha Blaymirere 12 May 1680 Birstall (LDS submission)

Death: Joseph Rowse of Hightown, August 7, 1723 (PRB)

Richard Rouse of Heckmondwike

Baptism:
Marriage:
Children:

1. Richard of Richard Rouse of Heckmondwike, January 27, 1688/89
   Death: Richard son of Richard Rouse of Heckmondwike buried April 9, 1689
2. Bethiah daughter of Richard Rose of Heckmondwike, February 9, 1689/90

William Rouse of Long L

Baptism:
Marriage: William Rowse of Long L and Marrable Cordely, March 10, 1716 (PRB)
Children:

1. Sarah d William Rowse of Long L, March 24, 1716/17 (PRB)
2. Zechariah s William Rowse of L, March 8, 1718/19 (PRB)
   Death: Zechariah d William Rowse of Hightown, July 1, 1723 (PRB)
3. Dorothie d William Rowse of Long L, November 8, 1719 (PRB)
4. Christiania d William Rowse of Long L, November 19, 1721 (PRB)

For information on Alice Jackson and her family, click on the photo of the Birstall Parish Church