Genealogy Chat

The surname Smith is proving to be something of a hindrance. I have only managed to get as far as 1841(ish) which is when my great, great grandfather William Smith was born.

In the town he was born, there are around a dozen William Smiths born within a two year period and I'm struggling to isolate which of the many Williams he is. I've tried tracing each and every one of them forward in future census' to see if I can find which one he is that way, but to no avail.

Does anyone have any advice as to what I can do to try to solve this one, please?

Thanks
Steve Smith

What info on your William do you have? (dob, occupation, parents, siblings etc?)

Thanks for the reply, Louise.

So far I don't have any of his siblings. The earliest record I have is his marriage certificate in 1867, when he was a widower and married Louisa Aston in Castleford, Yorkshire. On the marriage certificate, William's father is a boiler maker, named Richard.

In 1871 William was living with Louisa and their son William in Hall Street, Bilston, Staffordshire. He is a coal miner.
In 1881 William was still living with Louisa and 5 children, but now in Woodhouse Road, Normanton, Yorkshire. He is described on this census as 'disabled miner'.
In 1891 William was living with Louisa and 8 children at 82 St John's Terrace, Normanton, West Yorkshire.
In 1901 William was living with Louisa and 6 children at 238 Wakefield Road, Normanton, West Yorkshire and was registered disabled.

Any advice you can offer would be very gratefully received.
Thanks
Steve

This is just for my reference: I notuice that his birth year is inconstant

1871 - William Smith, abt 1841 Bilston, Staffordshire,
1881 - William Smith abt 1843, Staffordshire,
1891 - William Smith abt 1848 Bilston, Staffordshire
1901 - William Smith abt 1843 Bilson, Staffordshire

Looking at 1891, it looks like his age has been transposed with Louisa's.

I've made the assumption that we are looking at 1841-3. This may, of course, be my first mistake!

I've found in 1841 -

Richard Smith abt 1801 Bilton, Warwickshire (born in the county) - I can't access the image, but if can, check the occuption

& in 1851: -
Richard Smith abt 1802 living in Bilston , Staffordshire (wife's name Susannah)

Unfortunately the Richard in 1841 Louise found is a farmer.
1851 Richard is a tailor and draper.

I've also tried looking for a Richard in 1871 who may be a boiler maker, but I can't find him in that census either. I did find one that was a brick layer, but I'm assuming that boiler-making was a metal working job?

Not much help, but I wonder if this is him in 1851 with Grandparents? Unfortunately cannot read occupations
Name: William Smith
Age: 7
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1844
Relation: Grandson
Gender: Male
Where born: Bilston, Staffordshire, England

Civil Parish: Bilston
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability:

View Image

Registration district: Wolverhampton
Sub registration district: Bilston
ED, institution, or vessel: 1j
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 132
Household Members:
Name Age
Eliza Ford 23
Smat Rebecca Ford 22
Dinah Harper 70
Thomas Harper 66
William Smith 7

Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 2021; Folio: 223; Page: 36

What was williams occupation on his marriage cert?

He was a coal miner.

I should have guessed!! A common occupation as well does not help!!
Found one b 1842 in 1861, but a forgeman.

The man's a menace, Keith. I've been searching for him, on and off, for about 4 years.

I'm just not sure how I can find him, but there must be a way. Perhaps the parish records for Bilston?

That may be the way to go, parish records for the baptism.

Found this one in 1851, father Richard who is a nail maker, cannot read Richards occupation in 1861 though.

Name: William Smith
Age: 7
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1844
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Richard
Mother's Name: Seby
Gender: Male
Where born: Rowley, Staffordshire, England

Civil Parish: Rowley Regis
Ecclesiastical parish: Reddal Hill
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability:

View Image

Registration district: Dudley
Sub registration district: Rowley Regis
ED, institution, or vessel: 1q
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 121
Household Members:
Name Age
Phebe Smith 4
Richard Smith 31
Seby Smith 30
William Smith 7

Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 2028; Folio: 526; Page: 36

Some early parish record transcripts are here:

http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/england/staffordshire/staffordshire_parish_registers.htm

Unfortunately baptisms only go to 1812!

I've tried the LDS website, too, since that has a lot of parish records on it, but still nothing conclusive.

The biggest problem I have is there are a number of William Smiths who could be the right one, but proving which one is the issue.

Would it be a huge leap to assume that William & Louisa lived close together in 1861.

I have Louisa, listed as a visitor (along with her parents) with a Bullock family in Bristol Street Bilston. also on Bristol Street in Bilston, I have found a William Smith with his wife Ann, but no children. William is an Engineer.

Bearing in mind William was a Widower, when he married Louisa 6 years later, do you think this is him?

Not that it will help too much even if it is, since it doesn't give me any other members of his family, but it may help me to eliminate some other Williams.

Stephen I obviusly can't say for definite but while I've been doing my research I've found every single one of my ancestors living ,if not doors away from their future spouse, then within the next two streets.
Why not try following this Wiliam through the census' so you can at least rule him out?

That's the way I was thinking too, Chrisa. I have found the same thing at that period, almost every couple who married were living within a street or two of each other on the previous census.

I've looked for this William on the next census, with Ann, but can't see him, so it is fairly likely to be my man.

Unfortunately, there are innumerate Ann Smiths in the death registers for the period between the census and his marriage to Louisa, so it's difficult to identify his first wife's death.

I shall have to keep searching, to see if I can identify this William on the earlier census'.

Thanks for your help.