Genealogy Chat

Thanks, that's better.

breath breath *in with anger - out with looooove*

It's my blinky 'normal for Norfolk' relatives! Doing my head in!

Interbreeding?

Can I say 'Is anyone normal in Norfolk'? Or will I be hounded by the PC Police?

Hey, Gramps, as I sit here in my office with 2 heads and webbed feet looking out across the local countryside for local people! Of course we is normal in these parts. NB Perhaps thats why I had no Fanny???

My lot seem to name the next baby after the one that died before.......If that makes any sense.......A lot of it in my norfolk tree.........Makes it difficult to research ,grr.

It was superstition Polly - if 'Death' saw the same name he would be confused and not take the next baby.

I didn't know that ! Pass it on to the family......

Ive got three James in a row (youd think they would have realised it didnt work wouldnt you)

Hallo peeps! OK, this is my problem. I have great-great-great grandparents called (of course) William & Mary Gray. Here they are in 1851: 1851 HO107/1820 Folio: 313 Page: Registration district:Loddon Langley Street, Langley, Norfolk William Gray abt 1787 Topcroft, Norfolk, England Head Age: 64 ag farm lab. Mary Gray abt 1789 Ellingham, Norfolk, Wife 62 William Gray abt 1840 Hardley, Norfolk, Grandson 11 Octivian Gray abt 1848 Langley, Norfolk, Grandson 3 I know that William b. 1840 is the son of my gt x 2 grandfather (another William, of course!). But I don't know who Octavian is. I know the answer lies in the birth cert, which I haven't got yet. But I thought I'd find Octavian in 1861 and he is here: 1861 South Denes Road (Freemans Buildings) Great Yarmouth St Nicholas John Gray abt 1821 Langley, Norfolk, Head* fisherman Ann M Gray abt 1818 Southwold, Suffolk, Wife >>Octavian Gray abt 1848 Langley, Norfolk, Nephew fisher boy George Wilson abt 1859 Harwich, Essex, England Nephew I don't know who THIS John Gray is and he doesn't appear in any other census. Of course the answer probably lies in the Langley parish registers which aren't on the IGI. Octavian, bless his heart, dies in 1869, though registered as Octavius. Fortunately my direct line is clear, though full of Johns and Williams. nell Hence my 'arrgh'.

I would guess that Octavian would be the eighth child of his parents, if that is any help. Also, I have seen the term 'nephew' used pretty loosely on censuses, certificates etc. though I'm sure you already know that. Maybe somebody is going to the Norfolk record office and can have a look at the parish records for you? Also, presumably you've tried the Norfolk Transcription Archive already? I would have a look for you but the kids are desperate to go on the computer... http://www.genealogy.doun.org/transcriptions/index.php Kate.

Kate I've tried the Norfolk Transcriptions site - zilch. Don't tell me Octavian might have 7 OTHER siblings, I can't even sort him - and the elusive 1821 John Gray out, never mind any more!!! Thanks for your help. I think I'll just have to save up and get Octavian's birth cert. nell

Do you have William senior in 1841? He seems to have moved around a bit, judging by all the different birth places on that 1851 census.

Hallo Phoenix! Well, I've managed to find out that Octavian/ius married Ellen Roe and that they had 2 children. Oct died in 1869 and I've traced Ellen and her children through the 1871-1901 censuses. As for William senior, not sure which one you mean. William I was born Topcroft in 1787 and says so. His son William II born 1811 is missing in 1841 (wife is on her own with William III), missing in 1851 (wife now with 3 sons describes herself as 'railway labourer's wife). Wretched man comes home to die in 1858, death cert says he is an ag lab. His son John says his dad was a fisherman on his marriage cert. Confused? Me too! nell

I actually had access to some genuine census images, courtesy of Origins, so I was looking for Grays for you, in case they were mistranscribed on Ancestry. But my session has expired, so no go. I must be brain dead too, as I was looking for Octavius in 1841.

Phoenix I appreciate your time and trouble (and credits!) I think I shall have to make Oct's birth cert a priority when I get the funds. His poor wife was widowed with 2 children at the age of 25 and spent the rest of her life working as a domestic servant, she died at the relatively young age of 59.