Genealogy Chat

I know that relationships quoted on census sometimes meant a different thing from what they do now, but how about this?..... see below in a sec.

My gtx2 grandfather on one census is 29 yrs old, living with his wife (28) and children. and GRANDAUGHTER aged 13!!!! I can't work out the maths! She hasn't got the same name as the family, but I checked the neighbours and she doesn't seem to belong to them either. Who could she be? Claire xx

Could you give their names and which census it was, plus where they lived? Hopefully someone will work it out! Merry

Yes, it is Robert Britten, born 1852 in northamptonshire. He can be found on the 1881 census living in Bethnal green. His supposed grandaughter is Anne Wrigley, born 1868! I would love to know if there is an obvious explanation. (I am very good at missing the obvious) Claire xx

Unlike step or in-law relationships, granddaughetr usually means what it says. Presumably she is the child of a married daughter, you need to look for any daughters he may have had, and then their marriages, before you consider any more obscure relationships. Jennifer

Someone of 29 with a 13-yr-old g-dtr? Arithmetically extraordinary! He'd have to have been a 16-yr-old with a child old enough to have a child. Could she be a God-Daughter? Mis-heard by enumerator, with un-engaged brain! Christine

Don't have time to look now......school run! Back about 6.30pm......if no-one's got to it first! Merry

I think this is Robert's family in 1871, given the names Caroline and Henry (same names as his children in 1881): View Record Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish or Township County/Island View Image View Record Alfred Britten abt 1861 St Giles, Northamptonshire, England Son St Giles Northamptonshire View Record Caroline Britten abt 1838 St Giles, Northamptonshire, England Wife St Giles Northamptonshire View Record George Britten abt 1846 St Giles, Northamptonshire, England Son St Giles Northamptonshire View Record Henry Britten abt 1816 St Giles, Northamptonshire, England Head St Giles Northamptonshire View Record John Britten abt 1854 St Giles, Northamptonshire, England Son St Giles Northamptonshire View Record Joseph Britten abt 1852 St Giles, Northamptonshire, England Son St Giles Northamptonshire View Record Robert Britten abt 1850 St Giles, Northamptonshire, England Son St Giles Northamptonshire So Robert should be about 31 instead of 29 in 1881, but it still doesn't explain Annie! Kate.

His oldest daughter was only born in 1875 and he is only 29 himself so he couldn't possibly have a real g/daughter aged 13. I was thinking along the lines of step family somewhere, but the name Wrigley means nothing to me! Claire xx

Yes Kate, I believe that is him in 1871, but as you can see, no Wrigley there to connect him to Annie! hmmm....God daughter I suppose is a possibility. How would I find out? Look for baptisms of an Annie Wrigley? Claire xx

This must be Annie's birth: Births Mar 1868 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WRIGLEY Ann Northampton 3b 55 But you would think that Robert would be too young to be her godfather anyway (or maybe not?). If you could find her baptism it won't tell you who her godparents were (unless she was Catholic). I'm afraid I have to plead the same excuse as Merry now - hope somebody can solve this one in the meantime! Kate.

Can you find a marriage for Helen Britten, his elder sister (age 18 in 1861) ,to someone called Wrigley. Then it could be that the house really belonged to his father and they said Grand-daughter instead of niece? Christine

Now if I ordered her birth cert, would it give an address, because then I can see if her family lived near as I have his address in 1861 and 1871. If near by, or if parents had similar occupations, I could then conclude that perhaps she WAS a god daughter due to friendship between the families????? or is that just jumping to conclusions? Claire xx

Ahhh I see what you are getting at Christine. I'll have a look! Claire xx

Or the friends are these (marriage): BARRATT, Clara 1867 December Marriages Kettering Northamptonshire Wrigley, Raby Charles 1867 December Marriages Kettering Northamptonshire 3b-391 Christine

Oh well done! That looks promising! Thanks. I'll look for them on the census and see how close they were living. Claire xx

According to the 1871 census they didn't have a daughter called annie (who should have been 3) living with them. :o(....and they weren't in the same parish in the 1861 Claire xx

Here's Annie in 1871 (mistranscribed like almost all the family barring the Head!): Source information: RG10/1481 Registration district: Northampton Sub-registration district: St Giles ED, institution, or vessel: 9 Folio: 71 Page: 22 Household schedule number: 112 GSU Number: 828792 St Giles Northamptonshire - 108 Market Street Thomas Wrigley abt 1827 Kettering, Northamptonshire, England Head Louisa Wright abt 1826 Kettering, Northamptonshire, England Wife Mary A Wright abt 1852 Kettering, Northamptonshire, England Daughter Thomas Wright abt 1854 Kettering, Northamptonshire, England Son Samuel Wright abt 1856 Kettering, Northamptonshire, England Son Louisa Wright abt 1858 St Sepulchre, Northamptonshire, England Daughter Emma Wright abt 1860 St Giles, Northamptonshire, England Daughter James Wright abt 1866 St Giles, Northamptonshire, England Son **Ann Wright abt 1868 St Giles, Northamptonshire, England Daughter Ellen Wright abt 1870 St Giles, Northamptonshire, England Daughter The BRITTEN family are at 101 Market Street

Bingo! They lived at 107 Market street.........Robert Britten is a few pages along at number 101 MARKET STREET!!!! Do you think then I can safely assume that it IS GOD daughter and not Grand daughter> Claire xx

I wonder who Mary Ann Wrigley married? Christine