Find Ancestors

Starting to expand my tree from very early times, it seems that Charles Meads, was born to Joseph Meads and Charlotte Shaw in 1821 in Hurst, Berkshire, along with 6 other siblings. The last (John Lewis) emigrating to and arriving in Sydney NSW, Australia in 1857
.
A number of census' show Charles moved to Wiltshire (with sister Leah Green and son in 1841), then Herefordshire, where, it seems, he may have married twice. But there seems to be no record of his marriages!
1861 shows him with Mary and 4 children born 1848 to 1859.

1871 shows him with Ellen also with 4 children born from 1864 to 1869.

Can anyone confirm 2 marriages and the dates and names please?

Terrence Meads. South Australia.

1841 shows him in Hurst, Wiltshire saying he was born in that county.

The name Hurst seemed a coincidence, but it may be that rather than the family moving to Wiltshire, county boundaries changed.

No luck so far finding marriages.

Have you tried looking for the births on the children, using the GRO Index which gives the mother's maiden name, and then search for the woman's marriage?

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

you have to register, but it is free


Just follow the links for ordering certificates online, until you get the option to search the Index

1861 for our reference:

Charles Meads
in the 1871 England Census
Name: Charles Meads
Age: 50
Estimated birth year: 1821
Relation: Head
Gender: Male
Where born: Berkshire Huntingdonshire England
Civil Parish: Llancillo
County/Island: Herefordshire
Country: England
Registration district: Hereford
Sub-registration district: Clodock
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Household schedule number: 7
Piece: 2703
Folio: 28
Page Number: 2
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles Meads 50
Ellen Meads 38 - Berkley, Gloucestershire
Alice Meads 7
Agnes Meads 6 - Llanallow, Herefordshire
Jammie Meads 4
Lear Meads 2 - Llanallow, Herefordshire


Seems to be Leah's death - but can't see any sign of her birth:

Leah Ann Meades
in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915
Name: Leah Ann Meades
Estimated birth year: abt 1868
Registration Year: 1871
Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep
Age at Death: 3
Registration district: Hereford
Inferred County: Herefordshire
Volume: 6a
Page: 307


Probably Agnes's birth -

MEADES, AGNES mms GODWIN
GRO Reference: 1865 M Quarter in HEREFORD & DORE Volume 06A Page 494

and Alice:

MEADS, ALICE ELIZA mms GOODWIN
GRO Reference: 1863 S Quarter in HEREFORD & DORE Volume 06A Page 459

Ellen in 1861 ???

Ellen Godwin
in the 1861 England Census
Name: Ellen Godwin
Age: 23
Estimated birth year: 1838
Relation: Daughter
Mother's name: Hannah Godwin
Gender: Female
Where born: Dersley, Gloucestershire, England
Civil Parish: Walterstone
County/Island: Herefordshire
Country: England
Street address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
View image
Registration district: Hereford
Sub-registration district: Clodock
ED, institution, or vessel: 3
Neighbors:
Household schedule number: 36
Piece: 1824
Folio: 24
Page Number: 8
Household Members:
Name Age
Hannah Godwin 67
Ellen Godwin 23


No sign of a marriage to Charles.

Two of the children from 1861:

MEADS, GEORGE WILLIAM mms BROUGHTON
GRO Reference: 1858 J Quarter in HEREFORD AND DORE Volume 06A Page 442


MEADS, ELIZABETH mms BROUGHTON
GRO Reference: 1854 M Quarter in HEREFORD AND DORE Volume 06A Page 432


Again, no sign of parents' marriage.

Charles and Mary are together in both 1851 and 1861:

Charles Mead
in the 1851 England Census
Name: Charles Mead
Age: 31
Estimated birth year: abt 1820
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Mary Mead
Gender: Male
Where born: Burkshire, Huntingdonshire, England
Civil Parish: Stanground
County/Island: Northamptonshire
Country: England
Street address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
Disability:
View image
Registration district: Peterborough
Sub-registration district: Stilton
ED, institution, or vessel: 1c
Neighbors:
Household schedule number: 56
Piece: 1747
Folio: 256
Page Number: 15
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles Mead 31
Mary Mead 25 - Stanground
Ellen Mead 4 - Stanground
Charles Mead 2 - Stanground


I don't see the births of Ellen or Charles.
EDIT:
Yes, I do - see post at 11:52

This is the child transcribed as Jammie in 1871 (posted above) on Ancestry :

MEADES, MINNE mms GODWIN
GRO Reference: 1866 D Quarter in HEREFORD AND DORE Volume 06A Page 483

In 1881 Ellen says she's a widow:

Ellen Meads
in the 1881 Wales Census
Name: Ellen Meads
Age: 40
Estimated birth year: abt 1841
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Berkley, Gloucestershire, England
Civil Parish: Bedwellty
County/Island: Monmouthshire
Country: Wales
Street address: Cottage
Condition as to marriage: Windower (Widower)
Education: View image
Employment status: View image
Occupation: Widow
Registration district: Bedwellty
Sub registration district: Rock Bedwelty
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Neighbors:
Piece: 5249
Folio: 71
Page Number: 14
Household Members:
Name Age
Ellen Meads 40
Mary A. Meads 9 - Bedwellty
Walter Meads 3 - Bedwellty
Thomas Godwin 51 - "wife's brother"


Can't see births of Mary A or Walter.


EDIT:

Yes, here's Walter's birth:

MEADES, WALTER KENEALY mms GODWIN
GRO Reference: 1875 D Quarter in BEDWELLTY Volume 11A Page 122

In 1891 Ellen and Walter are together in Gelligaer, Merthyr Tydfil - although Ellen's birthplace is given as Abergavenny, Monmouthshire.

???

Deaths Dec 1880 (>99%)
MEADES Charles 63 Bedwelty 11a 79

First "wife" Mary's death ??:

MEADS, MARY 36
GRO Reference: 1861 D Quarter in HEREFORD & DORE Volume 06A Page 301


Possible birth ?

Births Mar 1863 (>99%)
BROUGHTON Mary Jane Peterbro 3b 244

I said I couldn't find the births of the children Ellen or Charles.

But here they are:

BROUGHTON, ELLEN -
GRO Reference: 1847 J Quarter in PETERBOROUGH Volume 15 Page 342

BROUGHTON, CHARLES -
GRO Reference: 1849 M Quarter in PETERBOROUGH Volume 15 Page 383



1861 for our reference:

Ellen Meads
in the 1861 England Census
Name: Ellen Meads
Age: 13
Estimated birth year: 1848
Relation: Daughter
Father's name: Charles Meads
Mother's name: Mary Meads
Gender: Female
Where born: Huntingdonshire, England
Civil Parish: Walterstone
County/Island: Herefordshire
Country: England
Street address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
View image
Registration district: Hereford
Sub-registration district: Clodock
ED, institution, or vessel: 3
Neighbors:
Household schedule number: 11
Piece: 1824
Folio: 22
Page Number: 3
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles Meads 42
Mary Meads 35
Ellen Meads 13
Charles Meads 11
Elizabeth Meads 7
George Meads 2

Looks like Mary started calling herself Meads between 1849 and 1851 - but no sign of a marriage.

Thanks very much Gwyn, SylviainCanada and ArgyllGran for the information.
A bit more to work on.

Terence.