Genealogy Chat

Thanks Kathleen and Margaret

Sounds like the GRO may be the go.

Sarah

Sarah Lee.

Im in NZ and order from GRO all the time. They give free delivery too, which you wont get with the local reg offices.

Hi Sarah,

I think that since you are in Australia you might find it easier going through the GRO as they are used to sending out certificates abroad.

Kath. x

Thanks Linda

Do you recommend contacting the reg office via email, phone or post?

I'll try to google them to find their contact details.

Sarah

West Bromwich register office are very helpful with searches etc, I use them alot, and would recommend going direct rather than through GRO,

Thanks Reggie

I can't believe how much I have been able to find today, all thanks to the helpful GR submitters.

Sarah

Hi Sarah

Had to go offline.......hence delay in responding

The birth I posted was registered in the West Bromwich district......which includes Wednesbury.

Hope it helps your search........

Reg

hi Kath

Thank you so much. How wonderful to find lots of brothers and sisters in the 1861 census. I will now go and order that certificate so I can confirm it is the correct family.

Thanks again

Sarah

The same family in 1861:-

Name: George Godwin
Age: 14
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1847
Relation: Son
Mother's Name: Hannah
Gender: Male
Where born: Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England

Civil Parish: Wednesbury
Ecclesiastical parish: St John
Town: Wednesbury
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street address: Holyhead Road

Occupation: Brass Moulder

Condition as to marriage: single

Registration district: West Bromwich
Sub-registration district: Wednesbury
ED, institution, or vessel: 17
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 28
Household Members: Name Age

James Boot 66 - lodger
George Godwin 14
Hannah Godwin 49
James Godwin 15
John G Godwin 23
Lucy Godwin 20
Samuel Godwin 12

Source Citation: Class: RG9; Piece: 2035; Folio: 6; Page: 8; GSU roll: 542907.

Kath. x

Lucy and George are daughter and son of Hannah so they are brother and sister. Hannah and George were both born Wednesbury and Lucy was born in Tipton.

James Boot is a lodger.

In the 1861 census (given below) George is described as a Brass Moulder, so the metal work connection is there.

You can order a copy of the birth certificate with the details Reg has given above from this address:-

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/

When the online forms asks you "Is the Full GRO Reference Known?" make sure you tick the "yes" box. The cost is £7.

Kath. x

Wow, Sam and Reggie

Thank you so much for taking time to explore my query. I have 'blown' up the image I have of the marriage, and I think it definitely says "Wednesbury". I would never have got that without your help.

Sam, regarding George's occupation. George Godwin apparently worked in a metal works in England (is a moulder a metal works position?) and was a gardener on his NZ marriage cert in 1882. Family members also remember George being a Sexton. George's marriage certificate also gives the occupation of his father as gardener.

Reggie, thank you for the possibly birth reg'n. Do you know if Shropshire is anywhere near Wednesbury? I haven't researched in England before (mainly Scotland), so I am unsure how I go about obtaining a copy of the birth registration. Would that be my next step in order to confirm if this is the correct birth or not?

The census data is great. I am wondering if it is a sister he is living with along with his mother. More researching to do I think.

Once again, thank you so much for your time and effort.

Sarah

Can't see that same George on 1881 census......not conclusive in itself.................

Reg

Possible birth reg'n

Name: George Godwin
Year of Registration: 1846
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: West Bromwich
County: Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire
Volume: 18
Page: 570

Reg

Same chap in 1871.......Occupation is 'Moulder'

Name: George Godwin
Age: 24
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1847
Relation: Son
Mother's Name: Hannah
Gender: Male
Where born: Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England

Civil Parish: St John
Ecclesiastical parish: St John
Town: Wednesbury
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England


Registration district: West Bromwich
Sub-registration district: Wednesbury
ED, institution, or vessel: 17
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 5
Household Members: Name Age
James Boot 74
George Godwin 24 Unmarried
Hannah Godwin 59
Lucy Godwin 30

Reg

Seems to be the same one that Reggie found 20 years earlier...
Wednesbury is close to Birmingham.

Possibly this one in 1871, born Wednesbury? What was George's occupation?

Name: George Godwin
Age: 24
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1847
Relation: Son
Mother's Name: Hannah
Gender: Male
Where born: Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England

Civil Parish: St John
Ecclesiastical parish: St John
Town: Wednesbury
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability: View Image

Registration district: West Bromwich
Sub-registration district: Wednesbury
ED, institution, or vessel: 17
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 5
Household Members: Name Age
James Boot 74
George Godwin 24
Hannah Godwin 59
Lucy Godwin 30

Possible in 1851?

Name: George Godwin
Age: 4
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1847
Relation: Son
Mother's Name: Hannah
Gender: Male
Where born: Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England

Civil Parish: Wednesbury
Ecclesiastical parish: St John
Town: Wednesbury
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England


Registration district: West Bromwich
Sub-registration district: Wednesbury
ED, institution, or vessel: 1o
Neighbors: View others on page


Reg

Are you able to scan the document and/or email it at all? It may make more sense to someone from the UK if they can see it.

Sam x

I am wondering if some one could help me with a place name.

I have an 1882 New Zealand marriage certificate for George Godwin and Eliza Mason.

George Godwin is listed as aged 33 (ie. born approx 1849) with his birthplace as "Neducebery"? England. The place name is very difficult to read. His parents are "Alex"? Godwin and Hannah Foster. We were always told that he was born near Birmingham or Sheffield. As a young man he worked in the metal works at Sheffield or Birmingham (damaging his right eye when metal got into it) before arriving in New Zealand in 1879.

I have search the IGI but can't seem to find a George Godwin who fits.

Does anyone know what the birthplace could be, or where else I could go to find Birmingham/Sheffield birth records?

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Sarah
Australia