Genealogy Chat

Hi All. I have a marriage certificate for William Martin to Annie Gadfield. The marriage took place December 1884 at registry office, Newport, Monmouth.Wales. Father for William is Henry Martin (quarryman) deceased. William is aged 26 making him born c1858. I have found William with wife Annie in 1891 census living in Pontypridd, Glamorgan. His details are c1859 Surrey, England. On the 1901 census he gives c1858 Abingdon, Berkshire. I have trawled the 1861 census for 3 days (477 possible matches) in an attempt to match William with father Henry. I have managed to get it down to 20 possibles all over the country but none in Berkshire or Surrey. Anybody got any suggestions as to where i go from here please. Regards. Alyson

Can't find him at all on 1881 census and no William Martin births 1858 on Ancestry civil reg :-( nell

Thanks Nell. Regards. Alyson

Hi I thought as he married in monmouthshire in 1884 that he may well be on the Wales census of 1881 but the only William Martin born in England I could find was down as an adopted son born Gloustershire. Its funny because he obviously had not taken the name of the head of the house? Was their address at time of marriage on the cert? Suzanne

Thought I was doing OK, working back with one born Abingdon in the right year - on 1881 and 1871 - til I got his with his dad, who was Thomas not Henry Gggrrrrr!! Of course, it could be the wrong name on the marriage cert for his dad - but how can we ask him (Do you know your dad's name for sure??) Merry

Hi Suzanne. All it says on the marriage cert for residence is Risca. Regards. Alyson

Hi Merry. Thankyou for trying. Oh by the way i DO know my dads name for sure as i have a copy of his birth cert. This one is driving me mad!!! Alyson

I meant ask William, not you!!! LOL! Oh....What about this 1861 family: Elizabeth Martin abt 1831 Marcham, Berkshire, England Wife Marcham Berkshire Henry Martin abt 1825 Marcham, Berkshire, England Head Marcham Berkshire Henry A Martin abt 1859 Marcham, Berkshire, England Son Marcham Berkshire Jane Martin abt 1857 Marcham, Berkshire, England Daughter Marcham Berkshire William Martin abt 1854 Marcham, Berkshire, England Son Marcham Berkshire Marcham is 2 miles from Abingdon.......Henry is an Ag Lab, but maybe changed when they moved to Wales? (if they did, lol) Merry

Where did you find that one Merry?? Alyson

On Ancestry 1861. I put Abingdon in the Keywords box and it popped up!! Merry

Thankyou so much Merry. This could be the lead i am looking for. I will go and have a look. Goes to show what a fresh pair of eyes can do. Alyson

Coming forward with the same family, dad Henry has died before 1871 and they are still in Berkshire.....so that doesn't fit for the occupation of dad??? Think I'm going to sleep on that! Be careful, there are a couple of William's born in Marcham and it's the ''wrong'' age one who might be yours. Yours didn't name any of his children Ulwin by any chance?? In 1871 there was a brother called that (though mistranscribed). Hubby says it's a Welsh name!! (Not sure whether William would go and live in Wales just because his bro had a Welsh name, though!!!) Merry

Hi Merry. I agree with what you say. This is the closest i've come to finding him. My Williams children were called Elizabeth Ann, Albert George, Maud, James Edward, Florence May and Mary Jane. I also looked through the censuses to trace this family. (not sure if i am right though). Ulwin disappears in 1881 census and Oliver and Elizabeth there with i presume new Hubby William living in Marcham. Cannot find any of them in 1891 census. 1901 census just Elizabeth and hubby William still living in Marcham. Thankyou. Alyson

Think i will sleep on this . I have to be up early in the morning for the children to go to school. Thankyou Merry for ALL your help. It is very much appreciated. Goodnight. Alyson

I followed this William Martin living in Newport in 1881 back to see if I could find his father but low and behold he doesnt ever appear!!! Having said that on 1861 there is a son called Henry and they often called their first born after the father? Oh well thought it was worth a shot. 1881 Mary J. Martin abt 1834 Bude, Cornwall, England Head 31 Marshes Rd, Newport, Monmouthshire William Martin abt 1856 Newport, Monmouth, Wales Son 31 Marshes Rd, Newport, Monmouthshire 1871 Elizabeth Ford abt 1804 Hrats, Cornwall, England Mother Newport Monmouthshire Albert Edwd Martin abt 1859 Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Newport Monmouthshire Mary Jane Martin abt 1828 Purghill, Cornwall, England Head Newport Monmouthshire William T Martin abt 1855 Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Newport Monmouthshire 1861 Frederick Horman abt 1845 Gloucestershire, England Boarder Newport St Woollos Monmouthshire Alfred Edward Martin abt 1859 Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Newport St Woollos Monmouthshire Henry J Martin abt 1852 Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Newport St Woollos Monmouthshire Jane Martin abt 1827 Poughill, Cornwall, England Head Newport St Woollos Monmouthshire William T Martin abt 1855 Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Newport St Woollos Monmouthshire Elizabeth G Short abt 1833 Poughill, Cornwall, England Sister Newport St Woollos Monmouthshire George John Short abt 1856 West Indies, Bu?? Nephew Newport St Woollos Monmouthshire Henry William Short abt 1856 West Indies, Bu?? Nephew Newport St Woollos Monmouthshire Suzanne

Who were the witnesses at William and Ann's marriage? I was wondering if there any unusual family names that would help to identify the correct MARTIN family. Gwyn

Don't know whether this will help, but you should try Oxfordshire as well because Abingdon is actually in Oxfordshire. But now I am wondering whether he actually meant Abinger rather than Abingdon? I will look at the images... Kate.

This could be him in 1881 England, but unfortunately it doesn't help to find his family! Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Relationship Residence View Image William Martin abt 1858 Abingdon, Berkshire, England Lodger (Head) 18 Sun Street, Canterbury St Alphage, Kent, England Sidney Solley abt 1860 Sandwich, Kent, England Lodger 18 Sun Street, Canterbury St Alphage, Kent, England His occupation is 'Outfitter's Assistant' and he is unmarried. Kate.

Hello All. I appologise for not replying to you but since i logged off the other night i have not been back on the computer until now. We have been refitting our bathroom and have encountered problems with it so i have been busy there. Thankyou to you all. Regards. Alyson

Hi Gwyneth. The witnesses do not hold any clues i don't think. Martha Ann Jones and Edith L Jones. I have tried to find them on the censuses but Jones is such a common name. I was thinking that the 2 girls were possibly sisters so tried to match them up with no success. Thankyou. Alyson