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K - I'm guessing it's not a short b.cert that you found, but just an entry in the GRO index. Even a short b.cert gives birth date.

Hi, yes I think thats what it was, I just checked, Ive got a james f speller, 1913, Kensignton.

The W end of Old Ford Rd is 1 block N of Bethnal Green tube station.

I am also trying to find Spellers. My great grandfather is Henry Speller (born circa 1869) and he married Caroline Hughes (b1874). The registered birthplace for both of the above on the 1911 census is "Surry Parish Bermondsey". They had a number of chidren and they have varying birthplaces including Bermondsey, Camberwell, Lewisham and Deptford. My grandfather was Frank Victor Speller (b1915 Camberwell) and my father is David Frank Speller born 1941 Bromley.

Rowland...
Do you have this.?

Name: Henry Speller ...groom
Age: 28
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Spouse Name: Caroline Hughes
Spouse Age: 24
Record Type: Marriage
Marriage Date: 31 Jul 1898
Parish: St Jude, Peckham
County: Surrey
Borough: Southwark
Father Name: Frederick Speller ...........farrier ( deceased )
Spouse Father Name: Robert Hughes ......porter ( deceased )

Address for both bride and groom is 177 Asylum Road

Gwyn

Hi rowland, I commented on one of your posts a week or so ago about this...I know that my great grandfather Charles Speller had brothers called Henry and William, there may of been more but im unsure. My grandfather is James frederick Speller, he was one of 9 (I think). I know that my grandfather was born in Kensignton, but not sure about my great grandfather. I think my great grandfather Charles 's parents were called easy speller and Harriet.. So its possible that my great grandfather is your great grandfathers brother.
Kim

Name: William John Speller .....born 28 October 1874
Record Type: Baptism
Estimated Birth Date: abt 1874
Baptism Date: 10 Dec 1874
Father's name: Easy Speller .......labourer
Mother's name: Harriet Speller
Parish or Poor Law Union: Bromley St Leonard St Mary
Borough: Tower Hamlets

Alfred Speller ..........born 24 November 1879
Record Type: Baptism
Estimated Birth Date: abt 1879
Baptism Date: 18 Dec 1879
Father's name: Easy Peter Speller .........Gas stoker
Mother's name: Harriet Speller
Parish or Poor Law Union: Bromley St Leonard St Mary
Borough: Tower Hamlets


Gwyn

Im not 100% sure if easy and harriet are my great grandfathers parents gwyn as I found another member of the family on here whos husbands father was my grandads brother, she has James speller and mary ann coleman down as thier parents.
Kim

Hi Kimberly and Gwyn,

That's interesting information. The Speller surname is relatively rare and even more so historically. If you use the following website it shows you the geographical distribution of surnames and it shows that in 1881 most people with a Speller name were living in Essex. I have a feeling that most Spellers could track themselves back to one or two families from that area.

http://gbnames.publicprofiler.org/

The specific details of the family that I am track. Have the following record in the 1911 census:

Household information

Address: 15 Seldon Road Nunhead S E
Parish: St Paul Deptford
Town: Nunhead S E
Type of Building: Private House
Number of Rooms: 3
Inhabited: Y
Reference: RG14PN2645 RG78PN90 RD28 SD3 ED4 SN291
Administrative County: London
Registration District: Greenwich
Registration Sub District: Deptford South
Enumeration District : 4

Householder 1
Name: Henry Speller
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Total Children Born Alive: 5
Children Still Living: 5
Gender: M
Age: 42
Estimated Year of Birth: 1869
Occupation: Pedler In Merchandie
Employed: Y
Working at Home: N
Place of Birth: Surry Parish Bermondsey

Householder 2
Name: Caroline Speller
Relationship to Head of Household: Wife
Condition / Years Married: 13 Years
Gender: F
Age: 37
Estimated Year of Birth: 1874
Employed: Y
Working at Home: N
Place of Birth: Surrey Parish Bermondsey

Householder 3
Henry Speller
Son
11
b1900
Born Surrey Camberwell

Householder 4
Albert Arthur Speller
Son
7
b1904
Born Kent Lewisham

Householder 5
Frederick Speller
Son
6
b1905
Born Surry Camberwell

Householder 6
Nellie Speller
Daughter
3
b1908
Born Surry Camberwell

Householder 7
Robert Speller
Son
1
b1910
Born Surry Deptford

Well Im from Wales as my grandfather James came from london way and met my nan Eira who was from builth Wells, powys, they had 2 sons, my dad John and uncle Colin, who had 11 children between them, 5 boys, 6 girls....
So the name Speller is very rare here, I think theres only 3 entry's in the phone book!
Rowland, have you searched tree's for matches of other people as I have found a lady on here whos husbands father is my granchas brother.
Ive looked at here tree and she has put a frank in as my granchas brother, but I have'nt found out about him yet, Im wondering if hes in the wrong place on her tree and should one of henrys children.

Mmm. I shall look into that. I am certain that the details that Gwyn has about Henry's father being Frederick and a farrier is correct. My grandad always said that his own grandfather (Henry's father) was a a farrier but knew no more.

Wouldn't it be great if we could track all these Spellers back! Kimberly, I shall have a look at other people's trees and see what they have got.

I could open my tree to you but I dont know how to do it. I was just thinking anyway, it cant be the same family as the henry you have mentioned and his siblings dont match mine.
it would be great though, id love to know how much family I have and how many are still alive.

I have looked through various census results and found out that Frederick Speller (b1831 according to 1891 census) and Emily Speller had four children: Charles (b1863), Arthur (b1865), Henry(b1869) and Thomas (b1883). They seem to be living throughout the period around the Camberwell/Peckham area.

In the 1871 census Emily is shown lodging with a family called the Paxtons with her children Charles, Arthur and Henry. Frederick Speller is not living with them in 1871.

In 1891 the three younger children have moved out and Frederick is living with Emily and Thomas.

The parents of Charles [ Mar Q 1878] are James and Mary Ann Speller also on 1871 census as Spiller / 1881 Speller --- Charles is 3y old

if you look at the 1901 census page -- on this page with Charles and Elizabeth in a different house is Charles's Brother Henry M 28y and his wife Johanna 29y

James is James William Bp St Georges old brentford to James and Mary Ann born 21st July 1835 bp 30th July 1835

a younger sister Emily Eliza bp St Georges old brentford to James and Mary born Feb 28th 1846 Bp july 3rd 1846

Emily Eliza Spiller reg. Mar Q 1846 would give you mothers maiden name

James 1801 is born Essex and his wife Mary 1807 Gravesend Kent in 1851

Aww, so I did have it wrong, thank you for that Mavis, I really appreciate your help. I have'nt had time to fill gaps in my tree yet with the kids home, but I will do soon, thank you.x

Kimberly, just a little word of warning. Many of us helpers on here have relied on information from our relatives - and it has been wrong. However much your cousin might say so-and-so was our uncle, and however much your auntie and nan might agree - get proof please. It could all e wrong.

Lots of people are "sure" it is right, but don't have evidence. Get the certificates Kimberly. Please. There is no point in researching the wrong people. No point at all.

Get your own copy of the birth certificate for your grandfather. Get the marriage certificate of your grandparents too. Don't rely on word of mouth, find the evidence for yourself.

My husband was convinced that his dad's father was William Weaver. His cousins thought the same. And one cousin had built a tree going back 4 generations based on this information. It was wrong. A simple application for his mum and dad's marriage certificate showd that his father was James Weaver, not William. Not even the same family. And James turned out to be born in Preston, which solved the mystery of why my husband's dad was always interested in the fortunes of Preston North End Football Club. William Weaver, the wrong man, had nothing to do with the family.

So take care in what information you get from others, it could be totally wrong. Ask what their sources are - certificates for those from the 19th and 20th centuries. Reliable websites from anything older.

Meg

I understand what you mean meg, as I only have one uncle from this family who isnt able to clarify anything either. As I said my grandfather came to wales leaving the family he came from in the london area, so he dont know much, neither did my dad who has now passed away.
If you can say where I order these certificates from, I will get it done.
Thank you
Kimberly

Hello folks. I am not happy about the work you have been doing - it may be on the wrong people. I've sent Kimberly a PM about it, and I might be wrong, but I don't think we have the right Spellers.

I stand to be told otherwise when she replies.

The two boys John (her father), with two other forenames, but as he is likely still alive I am not putting them here, and his brother Colin (also with two other forenames), as she mentions, born Bulith, have mother's maiden name Gough.

So her grandparents could be Frederick J Speller and Doris Gough who married in Paddington in 1936.

Frederick J, not James Frederick. Might be the same man of course. But I think we should hold fire till Kimberly replies to me. There are lots of Frederick J Spellers born about the right year.

Meg