Genealogy Chat

See below

According to the 1891 and 1901 censuses my great grandmother was born in Oldbury, Worcestershire. There are three Oldburys in the Midlands, none of them in Worcestershire at the moment. Further to complicate things her date of birth could have been anywhere between 1855 and 1865, depending on which census you look at. She is 30 on the 1891 census but 44 on the 1901 census, so her birth date could be anything from 1856 to 1861. And she is Annie Maria Cowley on my grandfather's birth certificate, but Hannah Maria Cawley when she got married, father James Cawley. She is Annie Sherwood on the census for 1891, although it looks as if they didn't marry until 1893. My aunt seems to think that Annie married twice, so the widow bit would fit in, but she would have to be using her maiden name. Children were Annie M Sherwood c 1881, Emily Elford Sherwood 1885 and my grandfather, James Alfred in 1888. I wonder where the Elford came from? Any ideas or other leads?

Hi Brian I believe that Oldbury was in the Staffordshire census in 1851 and the Shropshire census in 1841. Have you tried Westmidlands bmd? Heather

Brian I hope this helps: 'Oldbury is at the centre of Sandwell, both geographically and as the site of the borough's Council House. The town dates from the 13th century, and for most of its history it was part of the parish of Halesowen in Worcestershire' From http://www.aboutbritain.*com/towns/Oldbury.asp

This could be a GRO transcription error, I have a wedding certificate for my William Samuel Crawley in the name of Crowley, I have contacted GRO and I have to submit relevant details and evidence of the error. As your names are similar this could be the case. Regards Christina

I have Cowley from Worcestershire (Upton upon Severn) and they do not appear on the 1901 census. I eventually traced them through an address and found the name spelt wrong. I have contacted 1901 twice in the last year but the entries have not been corrected. Cowley seems to be one of those names that is never heard as it is spelt for some reason!! Jacky

Brian, Do you have an occupation for James? Could she be listed as Maria? 1871: Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish or Township County/Island View Image Aurther Cowley abt 1869 Langley, Worcestershire, England Son Oldbury Staffordshire Emma Cowley abt 1867 Langley, Worcestershire, England Daughter Oldbury Staffordshire James Cowley abt 1826 Stroud, Gloucestershire, England Head Oldbury Staffordshire James Cowley abt 1860 Whiteheath Gate, Worcestershire, England Son Oldbury Staffordshire Maria Cowley abt 1859 Whiteheath Gate, Worcestershire, England Daughter Oldbury Staffordshire Mary Ann Cowley abt 1831 Warley Wigorn, Worcestershire, England Wife Oldbury Staffordshire Thomas Cowley abt 1852 Langley, Worcestershire, England Son Oldbury Staffordshire William Cowley abt 1853 Worley Wigorn, Worcestershire, England Son Oldbury Staffordshire This James is a Boat Man. Crista

Crista I'll check that out, thanks. Home computer's a bit off colour at the moment, though. Hence the delay in responding. I've done some work on the Elford possible connection, but that looks like a dead end at the moment.

Had a look at the 1893 marriage certificate last night and the father James Cawley is shown as a Labourer. Hannah Maria's age is given as 33.

Here she is in 1881: Household: Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability Thomas HALFORD Head M Male 29 Claverdon, Warwick, England Labourer Maria HALFORD Wife M Female 29 Oldbury, Worcester, England Labourer Wife Ann Maria HALFORD Daur Female 3 m Margate, Kent, England Source Information: Dwelling 87 King Street Census Place Margate St John Baptist, Kent, England Family History Library Film 1341234 Public Records Office Reference RG11 Piece / Folio 0985 / 97 Page Number 16 Elford/Halford.... What do you think? Name Year Quarter Record Type District County Cowley, Hannah Maria 1874 March Marriages Dudley Staffordshire Worcestershire Halford, Thomas 1874 March Marriages Dudley Staffordshire Worcestershire Crista

Well done Crista, I'm sure that's them, right location and places of birth for the two females. No wonder I couldn't find the daughter in 1837 under either Sherwood or Elford! How did you do that? Looks like the Boatman's daughter is probably out of the frame as she'd only be 15 if married in 1874, I haven't come across one that young yet, but always a possibility I suppose. I've got the 1874 marriage on freebmd, I'll send for the certificate once my computer at home is fixed. Halford/Elford is certainly a possibility, especially as Hannah/Annie could not read/write and had a Worcester accent but was in Kent. I now need to tie down Hannah's birth and see if Thomas died, he's not on freebmd so far as I can see, so I'll check on 1837. Looks like she reverted to her maiden name when she married again in 1893 and didn't tell the registrar she'd been married before, as the certificate doesn't say 'formerly Halford, formerly Cawley'. GRRRRRRR!

Right, I've sent for the certificate for her marriage to Thomas Halford, that should give an age and help tie down the birth year.

Any use? Ann Maria Coley abt 1858 Oldbury, Worcestershire, England Daughter Oldbury Staffordshire

That's a possibility, Jim. Thanks Where did that come from? Would the father be James?

1861 census Ann Coley abt 1831 Warley Wigorn, Worcestershire, England Wife Oldbury Staffordshire Ann Maria Coley abt 1858 Oldbury, Worcestershire, England Daughter Oldbury Staffordshire James Coley abt 1826 Eadington, Gloucestershire, England Head Oldbury Staffordshire James Coley abt 1860 Oldbury, Worcestershire, England Son Oldbury Staffordshire Mary Ann Coley abt 1855 Langley, Worcestershire, England Daughter Oldbury Staffordshire Thomas Coley abt 1852 Langley, Worcestershire, England Son Oldbury Staffordshire William Coley abt 1853 Langley, Worcestershire, England Son Oldbury Staffordshire

That would make her 16/17 when married in 1874. Iin 1881 she had only the one new-born child with her, so pregnancy wasn't the reason for marriage unless the child was still-born or died. No children 1874-1881 seems a long gap for those days.

Got the certificate. Crista and Jim, you were right and I was wrong. It was the boatman. Her age was shown as 17. Whooppee! Now for the birth.

I've now sent for a birth certificate for Ann Maria Coley, Dudley district June quarter 1859. That would match in name/date with the 1861 census as above, but makes her very young to get married in 1874 and she would have to have lied about her age. Still, better a long shot than no shot at all!

Hi Brian, The James Cowley/Maria is interesting. My Maria Freeman, born 1846 Ambrosden, Oxfordshire had 3 illegitimate children, Charles & William (Twins) 1865 and Henrietta Maria in 1870. She subsequently married a James Cowley, about whom I know nothing, in 1873.

Jim I think it's unlikely as the 1826 James was still with Mary Ann in 1871 and the 1860 James would have been too young. However, this on has been a real nightmare as both the Christian and Surname are different on virtually every record and I was beginning to despair of getting anywhere until Crista came up with the goods. General: I can't find Whiteheath Gate or Warley Wigorn on a map. Anyone local who can place them?