Genealogy Chat

... and looking through the 1850 entries for that batch (the Martha Ann Smith one in Norwich), each one I have looked at appears to have the mother's full name including maiden name, so I take it that was just how the vicar liked to record them, and doesn't mean the children were illegitimate. Kate.

No a lot of my Norfolk ancestors had very obliging vicars. On some of the marriages pre 1837 he went into detail about the grooms job and also both dads! Thank goodness. Have you checked the 1851 Norfolk census?

Merry I have got a few more Williams, James's, Martha's and Roberts if you want them. At least my Dad was called Augustus Smith!! maureen wouldnt it be funny if we were looking for the same family, i also have a couple of Mary Ann's going spare!! maureen

Kate, when i looked through that batch number i noticed that there were an awful lot of Williams Smiths as the father and different mothers, i did wonder if William was the local squire with the stories you read about them getting their wicked ways with servants!! No, i havent looked through 1851 census for Norwich, keeping my fingers crossed that it appears on Ancestry pretty soon but going by the different places all the children were born i wouldnt imagine they stayed in Norfolk that long. Someone did look up marriages in the same church as the christening for me, and there is no sign of a marriage for William and Sarah/Ann maureen

NOOOO I don't want ANY more SMITH's - thanks all the same Maureen! My lot are from Oxfordshire, by the way!! Next step for you............await the 1851 census I think!! Merry

Someone is offering look ups on here for the 1841 and 1851

Thanks Heather I have just found someone on the records board offereing 1851 look ups, so have written to her, will now keep my fingers crossed. Also going to have a look at GRO and see if i can send for this Martha Ann Smith birth cert for 1850 without giving parents and see what happens, its beginning to bug me this thing. Thanks to everyone for your help and suggestions. maureen

Maureen - of course you can send for it without giving the parents' names. You would only give the parents' names if you want the GRO to check them and not send the certificate if they don't match (it costs less that way). Kate.