Genealogy Chat

Hi Elaine I am definitley sold on the residence at time of marriage for William White was Holmwood, Surrey and the Engine Driver as Charles Stephen Knight (father) occupation as Engine Driver, but unfortunately I can not find him on the cenus. Joanna

I think its Holmwood which is in Surrey and the occupation is prob Engine Driver. Got my husband to have a look as he has terrible writing but he could not read the name prob Florence and poss Tailor there is a dotted i in the surname.

The thing that's confusing me is James Bunce in 1871. In 1861 he's with his mother Mary Ann Bunce. Rose

Rose No I dont see her in 1881 cenus either -but may be she is my Sarah Ann Knight and did not use Sarah Ann Pocock when she got married in july 1879?? Is this legal?? But then if she made up father anything possible. I just dont understand if her father is Charles Stephen Knight then why can I not find a birth- ok pre-register, marriage ok may be pre-register but death not possible where is it. Joanna

Joanna, I'm not 100% convinced about this. Here's her brother's birth: Births Mar 1863 KNIGHT Stephen Charles Newbury 2c 213 Sarah Ann Pocock is still unmarried in 1871. I don't see her in 1881 and I don't see a marriage. This is from IGI. There's a birth for Florence too. SARAH ANN POCOCK Christening: 27 NOV 1853 Basingstoke, Hampshire, England Parents: Father: STEPHEN POCOCK Family Mother: MARY Source Information: Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type: C136542 Rose

Hi all Think I might be able to explain why the father was Charles Stephen Knight, according to 1881 cenus William and Mary A Knight now living in Worcestershire with sons Stephen Knight c1863 and Charles W Knight c 1871. So Sarah put both her brothers names together to make her fathers name Charles Stephen Knight. Her Step-father was an Engineer/ Signal Fitter -so occupation Engine Driver As her father Stephen Pocock died in 1856 and by 1861 cenus she was known as Sarah Ann Knight, she may never of remembered her own father, as she would of only been between 2-3 years when he died. I will never be able to prove this though Thank you so so much to everyone, but especially Rose for putting forward this theory in the first past Joanna

Rose Well could be stumped then?? Do you think Stephen Pocock, might have been Charles Stephen?? Joanna

Problem is, I don't think you can prove it in anyway. Rose

Rose Yeah that does sound a like this could be the family, but why would she put Charles Stephen Knight down as her father, when he does not seem to even exist??? And any ideas on how I would actually prove this?? I would be able to perhaps within a month or so get to Winchester to Hampshire record office, but what would I view to prove the link?? any ideas very welcome Thank you all Joanna

Just thought it odd this Sarah Ann had a brother called Stephen Charles Knight (aren't too many of those) and she was born in Basingstoke around the right time. Rose

Wow Rose Now thats a theory but beginning to believe that anything is possible as can not find a birth/ marriage or death for a Charles Stephen Knight on Ancestry and would at least expect a death unless he died from 1915 onwards as believe ancestry goes up to this date for deaths approx. Joanna

Do you think the witness might be Florence Ilsley? I have a whacked out theory that Sarah made up her father. Bear with me a bit..... There's this family in 1861: Name: Sarah Ann Knight Age: 7 Estimated birth year: abt 1854 Relation: Daughter Father's name: William Mother's name: Mary Ann Gender: Female Where born: Basingstoke, Hampshire, England Civil parish: Newbury Town: Newbury County/Island: Berkshire Country: England Registration district: Newbury Sub-registration district: Newbury ED, institution, or vessel: 7 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 17 Household Members: Name Age Florence Knight 5 Maria Knight 9 Mary Ann Knight 29 Sarah Ann Knight 7 William Knight 23 Sarah was born in Basingstoke but they're near Reading now. She has a sister called Florence and William occupations is Engines. By the next census there's a brother Stephen Charles. The first 3 children Sarah, Maria and Florence are actually Pococks and their father was Stephen. Florence marries an Ilsley. I don't see an obvious marriage for a Sarah Ann Pocock. LONG SHOT I know. Rose

Elaine and Elizabeth have just sent you both the image of the certificate, sorry it takes my computer a while to attach file and got two messages at same time, didnt like to CC it as dont want to give peoples email address out, only right to do it individually to stop this, out of respect to everyone. Joanna

Joanna I have pm you

Christine Thanks for offer just sent you the image of certificate. Michelle Thanks for looking, no cant think who the witness could be. I know that the marriage was in Amport Church and that William White family live in the White Horse Inn, Amport (that is why his occupation is Inn Keeper, or landlord these days). I have not checked neighbours to the pub, but suppose it could just be a regular. Mary White I believe was William's Mother as he did not as far as I know have a sister called Mary, unless she was a sister-in-law. Thanks everyone again for your help Joanna

Sorry Joanna I have been trying my hardest but couldn't make it out. I agree that 'driver' could be the second part of the occupation but the writing styles seem to differ from one part of the cert to the next. Do you have any details from other censuses or family marriages which may shed light on the witness. An in-law to be ? or close friend and neighbour ? Michelle

Rose Engine Driver is a really good idea. If you look at the signiture of the registrar the surname looks like Dunford to me and the second part the occupation the first letter looks the same as the D for Dunford, so def convinced that is a D. Joanna

I was thinking FLorence or Pleasance for the witness but then thought it's likely to be a male witness. There's usually one of each sex. It might say Engine Driver? Not sure the first letter is an S because it's different to all the other Ss on the page. Rose

Just to let everyone know. Witness Selena suggested second name could be FULLER? and Amy suggested Florence or Maureen for first name of witness and Shoe as second part of the father's occupation?? Anymore ideas greatly received Joanna

Just to let everyone know. Witness Selena suggested second name could be FULLER? and Amy suggested Florence or Maureen for first name of witness and Shoe as second part of the father's occupation?? Anymore ideas greatly received Joanna