Genealogy Chat

William Robinson was still alive on 8th April 1901. I have no idea how old he was then but this was the date of his son's marriage, Alfred Robinson. His son was 22. His son's address on 8th April 1901 was: Branscomb Villa, Gilbert Street, Waltham Cross, county of Hertford. William Robinson's rank or profession was Iron moulder (journeyman). I have found a William Robinson aged 64 in the 1901 census living in Sheffied with a wife Sarah E Robinson aged 42 - he is down as moulder (steel and iron) is this the right person do you think? I was expecting to find him in the Waltham Cross area as the family came from this area but can't find a fit? Can anyone help?

Just because it doesn't say 'deceased' for the father on the marriage certificare does not mean he was alive. It could just be that the vicar did not ask and the son did not think to say. On the other hand the occupation fits. He may have gone to Sheffield for work - perhaps even temporarily. It was a huge steel manufacturing place. Is it the right wife on the census? I'm sorry for you searching a name like William Robinson. It will make finding his death very difficult. Anne

Not sure about his wife. Haven't got their marriage cert.

Most of my marriage certs state if the father was deceased. Was this generally true?

My grandfather was not on the 1901 Census because he was in the Boer War. Might your William be there with him? Pat

Good suggestion Patricia - there would have been a need for his particular skills at that time and place.

Was the 1901 cenus taken after this marriage - 8th April 1901. Is there a list of serving men in the Boer War? Did men 'volunteer' for the war?

Time and again I have not found people on the census via the index but they have been there if I have looked for their children. The indexing is a mess. Can you search under his sons name or any other children? Regards Jeanie A.

You need to find the son with his parents on an earlier census (1881 is free) and find out if the birth info for the parents tallies with that for the people you found in Sheffield............. Have you actually found Alfred on 1901? Where was he born? What was his occupation? (On the marriage cert) Reg

Julia .No its not necessarily true that a marriage cert WILL state deceased for the father even tho he was. My grandfather married his first wife in 1898.his father was named but not deceased. Grandad ,by then a widower,married my nan in 1909 and on that cert his dad is named and deceased, logically i searched ,and even bought a wrong death cert< between those dates. The last time grt grandad had been seen was on the 1881 census &&&& in a Freebmd update I suddenly found his widow marrying again in 1893!!. & further investigation found Grt grandad had died in 1884 aged 37 from TB. SO grandad couldnt have been asked when he married first in 1898 whether his dad was still alive and so he only stated his dads name

1901 census was 31 March 1901. My grandfather was in the navy and away in China at the Boxer Rebellion during 1901 but I found a website somewhere listing ships away - I'm sure there'll be something out there for army personnel. Do you have your lad's birth certificate to verify mum and her age? Jill

No I don't have birth cert etc yet, early days in researching this branch of family. Thanks for advice.

You haven't answered the query about Alfred's occupation.........or whether you have found him on any census. Reg

This is Alfred in 1901 at the address given for the marriage: Alfred Robinson abt 1879 Grantham, Lincolnshire, England Boarder Enfield Middlesex He is an engine fitter. Merry

1881: William ROBINSON Head M Male 45 Warrington Iron Moulder Elizabeth ROBINSON Wife M Female 41 Giberalter James ROBINSON Son M Male 23 Grantham, Lincoln, England Iron Moulder Fanny ROBINSON Wife (Sons) M Female 21 Peterborough Joseph ROBINSON Son Male 10 Nottingham, England Scholar Edward ROBINSON Son Male 7 Grantham Scholar Albert ROBINSON Son Male 5 Grantham Scholar >>>>>Alfred ROBINSON Son Male 3 Grantham Scholar Agnes ROBINSON Daur Female 5 m Grantham 10 Wyles Buildings, Spittlegate, Lincoln, England Merry

Gibraltar!! That will give you a task! Merry

Nudge......seems a shame for Monty's efforts to go unnoticed........ Reg

Thank you Reggie! Perhaps I just haven't finished yet?? I can't find any of them in 1891, not even Alfred! Never mind sorting out whether William was alive or not in 1901! Merry

Alfred Robinson was 22 at the time of his marriage on 8th April 1901. He was an engine fitter. He lived at Branscomb Villa, Gilbert Street, Waltham Cross, Edmonton, Hertford. Father given as William Robinson, iron moulder, journeyman on this marraige cert. I have searched high and low for a William Robinson that fits on the 1901 census. It could be: William Robinson aged 64, iron and steel moulder in Sheffield. Wife, Sarah E Robinson aged 42. William Robinson's birth place is given here on the 1901 census as starby(sp??), Derby and Sarah's Liverpool, Lancs. Is this likely the right William Robinson? I assumed William Robinson was near his son in Edmonton in 1901.

Julia, I have posted William Robinson with his son from the 1881 census. I am very sure indeed that this is the right family. Every census up to 1881 William Robinson says he was born 1835/36 in Warrington. After 1881 I have not been able to trace the family other than Alfred in 1901 (who is def the correct one as he is at the right address!! - In 12 years of searching I have hardly ever seen someone actually telling the truth and living at the address they gave on a marriage record - you are very lucky!!) I would say it's possible (only possible) William was not alive in 1901. Just because it doesn't say he is dead in 1901 doesn't mean he isn't! Merry