Genealogy Chat

I'm stuck on finding anything about my great grandfather. The earliest documentation I have is 1911 Census which says he was born in Hanover subject to British parentage and says he was 41 at the time of the Census. I've exhausted every avenue I can other than the chance that his surname changed overtime which apparent was the norm. He signed the Census Max McThorns, but he witnessed my grandparents marriage signing it Henry McThorns. His wife was called Ida and was born in Berlin (also on Census). After he died she started signing her name Thorns.

Cannot find anything about where he originated or what her maiden name was. Really interested in finding out more about this side of my family but have exhausted all avenues.

Try googling German bmd's and German census. There are numerous sites come up, you would have to look at each one to see if they provide what you are looking for and whether or not they are free sites, pay to view or member only sites

There is this free site where you may find some records
https://familysearch.org/

1911 census transcription details for: Oakden Marlborough Road Ashford

National Archive Reference:
RG14PN6727 RG78PN335 RD126 SD1 ED3 SN183
Reg. District: Staines
Sub District: Sunbury
Parish: Ashford
Enum. District: 3
Address: Oakden Marlborough Road Ashford
County: Middlesex
Name Relation Condition/
Yrs married Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born
MCTHORNS, Max Head Married M 41 1870 Brick Layers Labourer Hanover in the Province of Hanover
MCTHORNS, Ida Wife Married20 years F 36 1875 Berlin Resident
MCTHORNS, Winnifred Daughter Single F 8 1903 School Fulham S W
STACEY, Herbert Boarder Single M 23 1888 General Labourer East Stratford London

1 child born, still living

There is this site Brenda....


Anglo-German Family History Born in Germany/Prussia/Bavaria

Tel. 01752 310852

website www.agfhs.org.uk



Hope this helps.

Maybe 1901?

1901 England Census
about Ida Thornes

Name:Ida Thornes
Age:26
Estimated Birth Year:abt 1875
Relation:Wife
Spouse's Name:Mar Thomas
Gender:Female
Where born:German, Germany
Civil Parish:St Marylebone
Ecclesiastical parish:All Souls
County/Island:London
Country:England
Street Address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
Education:
Employment status: View Image
Registration District:St Marylebone
Sub-registration District:All Souls
ED, institution, or vessel:21
Neighbors:View others on page
Household Schedule Number:310
Piece:105
Folio:24
Page Number:39
Household Members:
Name
Age
Mar Thomas 32
Ida Thornes 26




Andy

Thanks for responding so quickly. Will look into all websites suggested.

regards
Brenda

Thank you for replying so quickly Stuart. I hold a copy of the 1901 Census detailing the information you have sent through, but am unable to trace back any further. Both great grandparents were buried in All Saints Church Laleham, Middx. and my father and his brothers remember tending grave. I am interested to find out where Henry Thorns parents came from and it would be good to find out more about Ida.

I've just joined the familysearch website you suggest but no results have come up.

Thanks for your respond.

regards
Brenda

Many thanks Cynthia will check out the site

regards
Brenda

Thanks for your reply Andrew. The earliest census is 1901- sorry my mistake. But it is Max/Henry McThorns that the surname comes from. i dont know Ida's maiden name.

Thanks for your time anyway.

regards
Brenda

Brenda ..........

have you bought Winifred's birth certificate????


That will give you Ida's maiden name, and thus give you another name to try to find on www.familysearch.org/


OR, have you tried Googling the names?


It is amazing what that simple step can find for you.

just out of interest, and as a reference , this is the enacestry version of the 1911 Census ............

1911 Census

Name: Winnifred Mc Thorns
Age in 1911: 8
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1903
Relation to Head: Daughter
Gender: Female
Birth Place: Fulham
Civil Parish: Ashford
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England
Street Address: Oakdene, Marlborough Road, Ashford
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: School
Registration District: Staines
Registration District Number: 126
Sub-registration District: Sunbury
ED, institution, or vessel: 3
Household Schedule Number: 183
Piece: 6727

Max Mc Thorns 41 b.ca 1870, Hanover, British by parentage
Ida Mc Thorns 36 b.ca 1875, Resident, Berlin, German, Married 20 years
Winnifred Mc Thorns 8
Herbert Stacey 23



are there any other children?

If so, whe and where were they born?

Just because it came up .expect you already have this but shows the name Mcthorns was still being used



Civil Registration event: Marriage

Print Close
MarriageFinder: Winifred Mcthorns married James A Silver
Name: MCTHORNS, Winifred
Registration district: Staines
County: Middlesex
Year of registration: 1923
Quarter of registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Spouse's last name: Silver
Volume no: 3A
Page no: 25

Name: SILVER, James A
Registration district: Staines
County: Middlesex
Year of registration: 1923
Quarter of registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Spouse's last name: Mcthorns
Volume no: 3A

Name: Henry McThorns
Year: 1922
County or Borough: Surrey
Ward or Division/Constituency: Spelthorne
Street Address: Ashford road
With Ida

Still there in 1924 , but on her own in 1926

Not seeing Winifred's birth ,have you located it ?

?? Winifred's death which would give birth 1902/3 as per age 1911 census
Civil Registration event: Death

Name: SILVER, Winifred
Registration district: Surrey Northern
County: Surrey
Year of registration: 1966
Quarter of registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
Age at death: 63
Volume no: 5G
Page no: 250

There is also a James A Silver Surrey Northern 5G 206 Dec Qtr 1967 aged 70

Shirley,
I cannot find the birth, either.

Have checked out all your suggested trying to get more information on my great grand parents born in Germany, with no luck. I have 1911 Census saying they were born in Germany and showing my grandmother Winnifred aged 8. I have my grandmother's marriage certicate and my great grandfather's death certificate (died 19/3/1925 Stanwell Middlesex). I have found an Ida Thorns death record who died in Laleham 1955, however my late father and his brother who is now in his 80s vividly remember going to her funeral six years earlier. They specifically remember this as they both married the following year and their younger brother was too young to attend the funeral (which he would not have been if it was in 1955). I have also found a record showing where Henry was buried and they are sure Ida was buried with him but church records cannot confirm this.

Has anyone got ideas on how to try and find their birth and/or marriage certificates - Ida McThorns born in Berlin and Henry McThorns born in Hanover subject of british parentage as per the 1911 Census. (also known as Max McThorns/Max Thorns). No idea of birth dates or where they married.

:-(

Hi Brenda,

Civil registration of births, marriages and deaths in Germany began following the French Revolution in 1792. Beginning with regions of Germany under French control, most German states eventually developed their own individual systems of civil registration between 1792 and 1876. In general, German civil records begin in 1792 in Rheinland, 1803 in Hessen-Nassau, 1808 in Westfalen, 1809 in Hannover, Oct 1874 in Prussia, and Jan 1876 for all other parts of Germany.

Since Germany has no central repository for civil records of births, marriages and deaths, the records may be found in several different locations:

Most civil birth, marriage and death records in Germany are maintained by the civil registration office (Standesamt) in the local towns. You can usually obtain civil registration records by writing (in German) to the town with the appropriate names and dates, reason for your request, and proof of your relationship to the individual. Most cities have websites at www.(nameofcity).de where you can find the contact information for the appropriate Standesamt.

LA

Maximilian Thoms


Germany, Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898
birth: 14 May 1869
christening: 15 May 1869 KATHOLISCH, DARFELD, WESTFALEN, PRUSSIA
residence: 1869 Darfeld, Westfalen, Preußen, Germany
parents:Bernard Thoms, Maria Anna Koeste

?

from familysearch.org.

Have pm'd Brenda with probable child to marriage of Winifred and James Silver as he may still be alive - no death to 2006 for him.

Also his probable marriage and names of 4 children to that marriage. Am just going to look for possible marriages of the females to get more recent surnames.

Have then suggested Brenda checks Search trees, 192, friends reunited etc to see if she can track any of them to see if they hold any clues

Have also asked if she ever got a birth cert for Winifred for mmn

EDIT - and the youngest of those children would appear to be Brenda, doh!!