Find Ancestors

Hi, I'm trying to find Alfred Birch, son of William Samuel Birch and Elizabeth Letitia Birch (nee Chesney). The parents married in Islington in 1869 and at some time during their marriage moved to West Ham. I've found their other children: William Benjamin, Charles, John, Elizabeth, Samuel Thomas and William Samuel but was told by a relative that there was an Alfred too. I can't find him in the censuses in the parental home or later as head of household of his own family. I was told he married and had at least four children: Alfred, Helen (or Nellie), Albert and Rose but don't know the wife's name. However, I can't find any trace. Thanks for any help.

The chances are the he was known by his second name. You ahve a John and a Charles, have you followed these two up?

This could be a poss!!

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
about Alfred Charles Birch
Name: Alfred Charles Birch
Year of Registration: 1869
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Islington
County: Greater London, London, Middlesex
Volume: 1b
Page: 195

there are a number of Alfred Birch born Islington on freebmd ...will have a look and see if I can eliminate on census.

What year and where was William Samuel Birch born please?

Hi Mel, I must admit I didn't think of that. My relative (no longer with us) called him Alfred though so would it have been likely that his parents recorded him as Charles on the census forms, which people though of as more official, or am I being naive?! Will follow it up though (and John). Thanks for your suggestion.

Oh, I'm kicking myself. The father was William Andrew Birch. There was a son William Samuel though as I mentioned. So sorry about that.

Elizabeth Laticia Chesney married William Andrew Birch not Samuel!!

England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1915
about Elizabeth Letitia Chesney
Name: Elizabeth Letitia Chesney
Year of Registration: 1869
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Islington
County: Greater London, London, Middlesex
Volume: 1b
Page: 358



William Andrew Birch 1869 Islington Greater London, London, Middlesex

Elizabeth Letitia Chesney 1869 Islington Greater London, London, Middlesex

Oh just seen you noticed your mistake!!

Can you give us some years of birth for any of the children or parents as Birch is not an unusual name.

Right got one!!

1871 England Census
about William B Birch
Name: William B Birch
Age: 5 months
Estimated birth year: abt 1870
Relation: Son
Father's Name: William A
Mother's Name: Elizabeth L
Gender: Male
Where born: London, Middlesex, England
Civil parish: Islington St Andrew
Ecclesiastical parish: St Andrew
County/Island: London
Country: England
Registration district: Islington
Sub-registration district: Islington West
ED, institution, or vessel: 44
Household schedule number: 545
Household Members: Name Age
William A Birch 28 1843 Bramsfield, Buckinghamshire,
Elizabeth L Birch 26 1845 Bermondsey, Middlesex
William B Birch 5 months 1870 London, Middlesex

Can you confirm this is the right one in 1871?

for ref
1871 England Census
about William A Birch
Name: William A Birch
Age: 28
Estimated birth year: abt 1843
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Elizabeth L
Gender: Male
Where born: Bramsfield, Buckinghamshire, England
Civil parish: Islington St Andrew
Ecclesiastical parish: St Andrew
County/Island: London
Country: England
Registration district: Islington
Sub-registration district: Islington West
ED, institution, or vessel: 44
Household schedule number: 545
Household Members: Name Age
William A Birch 28
Elizabeth L Birch 26
William B Birch 5 months


View
Original
Record

View original image

I'm checking the BMD now, but i cannot find a William Andrew Birch birth for a few years either side of 1869.

Is it possible the Andrew part was a baptisimal addition?


T x

Is the nearest one...

Births Jun 1867
Birch William Islington 1b 299


Tracey x

Tracy it was William Benjamin born 1870 to William Andrew Birch and Elizabeth. they married in 1869.

hahahaha, see now you've got me all confused lol

T xx

Yes, sorry about the mistake. Children's dates: William Benjamin born 1870 (died 1872), John c1875, Elizabeth c1878, William Samuel 1880, Charles c1884, Samuel Thomas c1887 . I'm sure about the year of birth for William Samuel as I have the birth cert (my grandfather) and I found William Benjamin (birth and death on freebmd). I thought he was probably the first as he was called William (after the father) and then after he died another child was called William (i.e William Samuel) and that Alfred would seem to slot in the gap between the children born in 1870 and then 1875 but I could be wrong - maybe he was an early one born in 1869. Most of my dates above are circa as I think I found them on the censuses so the years may be out by one year.
Re Parents: am not sure of the exact dates of birth (have found inconsistencies in the birth and census records) but I think Eliz Letitia was born around 1843-1845 and William Andrew similar (1843-1846).

Births Sep 1843
CHESNEY Elizabeth Letitia Bermondsey 4 21

London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
about Elizabeth Letitia Chesney
Name: Elizabeth Letitia Chesney
Record Type: Baptism
Date: 1 Jun 1849
Father's Name: Joseph Benjamin Chesney
Mother's Name: Elizabeth Chesney
Parish: St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey
Borough: Southwark
County: Middlesex



T x

P.S. The reason I think the Alfred Charles Birch born in 1869 is prob not the right one is that he doesn't show up in the censuses and I know he didn't die young as he grew up and had a family!

Looking at the image i think the vicar had made an error.

Looks like they have hung on the baptise Elizabeth and have had her and her brother Benjamin done together.

Her date of birth according to the vicar is 26 Jul 1833! and Benjamin's is 19 Jul 1837

Births Sep 1847
Chesney Benjamin Bermondsey 4 23


Their address simply states 'Workhouse'

Tracey x

Silverbirch I am not finding the family on census after the 1871...?

Hi T,

Thanks for that. This dob makes the census entry in 1891 correct where she is a widow and puts her age as 48, but on the 1871 census filled in by William A, she is put down as age 26, which would mean she was born in 1845 (not 43). Strange that her husband didn't know her age when they'd only been married two years and would have needed to show birth certs for the wedding - or not? Strangely I can't find the family on the 1881 census - and no sign of "Alfred" on the other two.