Genealogy Chat

Congratulations Brian. Glad to know you 've got it sorted. Enjoy, Dea x

Nudged to thank all those who had an input (and because I'm SO pleased, a year or more of digging ended).

The RIGHT certificate arrived today. Ann Maria Coley born Langley Green, Oldbury, 6/4/1858. Many thanks to all those who put in their pennyworth to obtain a result. Now to look for the marriage of James Coley to Mary Ann ?Baker? (Certificate not very clear), probably about 1850 (1st child 1852).

Anyone want a birth certificate for Ann Maria Coley Dudley district June quarter 1859?

Thanks Heather and Jim, I'll try to get a detailed map of that area.

Yes that's right Grampa, it's near Blackheath and Rowley Regis. Heather

And isn't Warley a district near Dudley? In fact, thinking about it I seem to remember an address being Oldbury, Warley, Worcs.

Brian Whiteheath Gate appears to be north of Blackheath on multimap. Heather

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?

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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

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.