Genealogy Chat

I believe that my g.grsndmother is ann forster, bn in 1883 in sunderland. She was married to john smith and had my grandfather nicholas swan smith in 1910.

I do not seem to be able to find ann's family, and the family name of smith is not exactly helping!!

any assistance/ideas would be great.

mark.

You say you "believe" your great grandmother was Ann Forster. Do you have your grandfather's birth certificate to confirm this?

I can't find a marriage of Ann Forster to John Smith. Do you have the marriage certificate?

Is this your great grandmother and your grandfather in the 1911 census?:-

1911 census transcription details for: 19 Cornhill Road Southwick

National Archive Reference:
RG14PN30235 RG78PN1743 RD555 SD4 ED1 SN247
Reg. District: Sunderland
Sub District: Southwick
Parish: Southwick
Enum. District: 1

Address: 19 Cornhill Road Southwick
County: Durham

Name Relation Condition/
Yrs married Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born

SMITH, Annie Head Widow F 28 1883 Durham Sunderland<<<<<<<<<<<<
SMITH, Robert Son M 5 1906 Durham Sunderland
SMITH, Elizabeth Daughter F 2 1909 Durham Sunderland
SMITH, Nicholas Son M 1 1910 Durham Sunderland<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Kath. x

Hi Kath

yes, I have my grandfathers birth certificate and Ann's name looks like forster on the record. I had seen the 1911 census, but this is where I then start to lose the trail.

mark.

Possible marriage?

Marriages Sep 1900 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foster Annie Easington 10a 766
Smith John Easington 10a 766

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

According to the 1911 census she'd been married 10 years, had 4 children, one had died.

This MAY be them in 1901

1901 at 6, Back George Street, Sunderland
SMITH, John Head Married M 25 1876 Labourer In Ironyard Sunderland
SMITH, Ann Wife Married F 18 1883 Sunderland
SMITH, William Boarder Single M 20 1881 Labourer In Ironyard Sunderland
SMITH, James Father Widower M 58 1843 Labourer In Ironyard Sunderland

Possible in 1901?

1901 England Census
about Ann Smith Name: Ann Smith
Age: 18
Estimated birth year: abt 1883
Relation to Head: Wife
Gender: Female
Spouse: John Smith
Birth Place: Sunderland, Durham, England
Civil Parish: Sunderland
Ecclesiastical parish: Monkwearmouth Venerable Bede
Town: Sunderland
County/Island: Durham
Country: England
Street address:
District: Sunderland
Sub-registration district: Monkwearmouth
ED, institution, or vessel: 7
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 4722
Folio: 36
Page Number: 63
Household schedule number: 375
Household Members: Name Age
John Smith 25
Ann Smith 18
William Smith 20
James Smith 58

William is a boarder, James is father, a widower.

This is really good, thanks. Any idea on how I trace the Forster name back further.

????
Births Dec 1882
Forster Ann Sunderland 10a 640

This is an strange name maybe “Forster” mis-heard by the recorder???

1891 at 43, South Johnson Street, Bishop Wearmouth, Sunderland
DORCER, Micheal Head Married M 35 1856 Ship Yard Labourer Ireland
DORCER, Ann Wife Married F 30 1861 Ireland
DORCER, Mary Daughter Single F 9 1882 Scholar Sunderland, Durham
DORCER, Annie Daughter Single F 8 1883 Scholar Sunderland, Durham
DORCER, Charles Son Single M 0 (6M) 1891 Sunderland, Durham

Good luck,
Joseph

It's hard to pinpoint Annie in the 1891 census. I think you'd have to order the marriage certificate to get father's name.

Incidentally I have Fosters in my tree and they're sometimes spelled Foster and sometimes Forster. Something to do with that northern accent, methinks.

Certainly the Dorcers are not on any other census, or record.


It is certainly possible that Michael's Irish accent confused the enumerator :-)

Mary Dorcer on the 1891 census (the eldest daughter on that census) could be this birth if the name was mis-heard:-

Name: FORSTER, Mary
Registration district: Sunderland
County: Durham
Year of registration: 1881
Quarter of registration: Apr-May-Jun
Mother's maiden name: Not available before 1911 Q3
Volume no: 10A
Page no: 701

Kath. x

Thank you everyone. Several lines to look at.

Just when you think you have a link away from Smith, which must be the hardest name to trace, never simple!

Mark.