Genealogy Chat

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr growling back Who's makin' you growl Nell? Jess ;-)

Problems Helen Ann xx

YES! I just wanted to vent my spleen. I have been trying to sort out some people and see if they are connected to my tree. I have a John Matthews, dairyman, and Louisa Matthews (formerly Langley) on the birth cert of a child called Richard Emmets Matthews, born December 1861. Can't find John & Louisa in 1861 census on 1837online, though the cert address is 121 Portland Street, Walworth, Newington, Surrey. By 1871 the family are still living in Portland Street, but Louisa is widowed. She has an older son called John born in Long Compton in Warwickshire. Long Compton is near Whichford, which is where my gt grandfather Thomas Matthews, also a dairyman, was born. I know from the 1841 census that he had an elder brother, John. Their father was called Emmets. So, I think it likely that John Matthews father of Richard Emmets is also son of Emmets Matthews and brother to my gt grandfather Thomas. BUT there is also the possibility that John is a cousin of Thomas. To see if Emmets is his dad, I thought I would order John & Louisa's marriage cert - but I have just checked Freebmd 1839-59 and it isn't there. I've also checked 1837online for the years 1849-53 [John & Louisa's eldest son was born 1852]. Nothing. I don't even know where they married. Both John senior & junior were born in Warwickshire , but Louisa's birthplace on censuses is Bermondsey. Hence ggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Nell

.... and I used to rib my mum about the milkman every time I got a new brother !

Bloomin' eck! Now I am even more confused! I have just found John & Louisa on 1861 census on 1837online by jiggling my search a bit. Mistranscribed as Mathews, with one t! It gives Louisa's occupation as dairyman (haha!) and John junior's place of birth as Watford, Warwickshire instead of Whichford, or even Long Compton. But now I am confused because with the family is the eldest daughter, Martha, aged 11. On the 1851 census back in Whichford, Warwickshire, there is a John Matthews, 24 and a daughter Martha M., but the wife/mother is called Sally, not Louisa. HEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP! Have lost the ability to think, and possibly the will to live. Nell

Oh eck. Do you think John and Sally had Martha and John junior and then Sally died and John took the kids to London and married Louisa? Ideas please. Help me! nell

But now, I went back to 1851 census and found Sally was born in Long Compton. The registration district which includes LC is Chipping Norton. So I have found a marriage Sep quarter of 1848 (in plenty of time for Martha to be born respectably) for John Matthews, but the only bride transcribed on the page is Jane Williams!!!! Double gggrrr. Nell

Nell There's also a John Matthews marriage in Chipping Norton in Sept Qtr of 1846 but again, not all the brides are transcribed Lou

Helen Would it help if I looked on 1837 for Louisa Langley on the date you have found? Chrissie

There's a place (on a modern map) called Little Wolford - it's a couple of miles west of Whichford.

Lou Typical! Thanks for looking. Chrissie, yes please that would be brilliant. Geoff - I know, thanks. Little Wolford is where Thomas' brother George lived with his family. nell

Nell - perhaps I didn't make my point clearly enough - I was just pointing out the similarity between Watford and Wolford.

Sorry Geoff! I see what you are saying. I am fairly certain it is Whichford - it looks like that on the census but some wally has put a line through it. The Matthews clan were all in Whichford to start with. However I will bear it in mind as I try to untangle this lot. Thanks for your thoughts. Nell

Peter Little Wolford is in Warwickshire, as is Whichford and Long Compton. Watford is in Herts, but it is definitely NOT Watford as the census says 'Warwickshire'. Hope that clears it up! nell

Helen Many apologies - I had to go. Have looked at Sept Quarter 1846 AND 1848 but no sign of Louisa Langley I'm afraid. Chrissie

Chrissie Thank you so much. Nell

Nell Glad you can tell your Whiches from your Wats. I have faith in you! Some people can't tell their Arthur from their Albert. ;)

Geoff you have a very mordant and sardonic turn of phrase! nell

Nell Sorry, I'll delete it if it causes offence!