Genealogy Chat

Have you an ancestor who you've lost complete trace of or a brickwall to knock down? post his/her info or the mystery you want to solve in this thread and see if another member can help you find them :~)

My nanna Emma Swarbrick doesn't seem to have been born. For some reason I have the year 1920 but my mum doesn't think that could be right. I've checked bmd for a range of years but can't find her. Married Ronald Holt - no idea of year but first child was born 1948. Died Dec 1992

My great-great grandparents are a mystery before marriage. I know from various censuses that John Smoothy was born about 1813 in Chelmsford, Essex. I know from censuses and her baptism record that Ann Chowns was born in Farnham Royal, in Buckinghamshire. They married in 1858 in Kennington, Surrey and reappeared in 1860 when their eldest child was born in Richmond, Surrey. They remained in Richmond until their deaths in 1894. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE IN 1841 OR 1851 - how do I find them on a census when there is no universal name index? nell

Helen: Is there any chance you can check parish records to find out who their parents were and brothers and sisters etc?

I've got a few but here's one that's bugging me! Got my great Grandmothers marriage cert. She gives her maiden name as Elizabeth Walker, father Edmund Walker (deceased). Witnesses are Emma Walker (think it's her mother) and John Osborne (could be mothers brother). I know from a book my Grandma wrote that Elizabeth had siblings called Nell, Charlie, Bill and Frank. The only family I can find to fit this info on the censuses doesn't have an Elizabeth in the family but they do have a Sarah of the right age. How do I find out if my great Grandmother changed her name? Jeanette x

Joanne Have you got their marriage certificate? Or even their first childs birth cert? They might give you a clue to go further Jeanette x

My brickwall is two abbott sisters, Jane and Mary Ann, Jane born 1839, last known in 1861 with sister Beatrice and her hubby Richard Baxter in Rochdale Mary A b 1833, last known in 1861 with sister Beatrice and hubby Richard in Rochdale, Mary A claimed to be married on census with a son Frederick, 8mths, so born 1860, married name Haigh. I have found on FreeBMD the birth reg for a Frederick Abbot Haigh 1860 Halifax,Yorks his birth place was Brighouse, not far from Halifax, I can find no marriage of Mary A Abbot to a Haigh and no trace of Mary or son after 1861, though I've found a possible death for Mary in 1864 in Rochdale but it don't say the age on FreeBMD so I'm not sure. Both sisters were born Flitwick,Bedfordshire

Louisa Mary Ann Wilkes born 29.03.1849 London/Middlesex to Eliza & Jesse Wilkes not found in any census until 1881 where she is married to Charles Hartley. Irene

Joanne I know a bit about Ann's family, but I need to go back to the Centre for Bucks Studies in Aylesbury to go through the parish registers. I also need to go to the Chelmsford records office to do the same for John. But I don't think either of those places will help with the 41 and 51 censuses as they weren't in their places of birth or where they were married. Needle & haystack time! nell

Helen I wonder if this site has the indexes you are looking for http://thegenealogist.sandn.net/ Jeanette x

I have my Nans Birth Certificate, that says her father was Jack Davis, Mother Beatrice Day. I then found a marriage certificate for Beatrice and Jack in 1910 Jacks father was Mark Davis, and it works out that Jack was born about 1889. I cannot find anyJacks with father names Mark. Not on the 1901 census. they married in Mile old end of London . so dont know if that is where he comes from. I dont know what happened to Jack as my Nan would never talk about him. all I know is that my Nan was born in Southwark in her Grandads house. So dont know if Jack disappeared before she was born. It has been bugging me now for nearly 2 years. Debbie

Joanne Emma Holt (nee Swarbrick) Have searched 1837 online for you. I assume the December 1996 you mentioned was the month your Nanna died. There are 2 deaths for Emma Holt's in December 1996. Details for deaths are: Name Date of Birth Registration District Year of Registration Month of Registration ----------------------------------------------------------------------- HOLT, EMMA 28 March 1898 DERBY 1992 December Volume No 6 Page No 736 Reg No 1292 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HOLT, EMMA 30 January 1926 PRESTON/S R 1992 December Volume No 40 Page No 1943 Reg No 1292 Date of births are indicated as part of the information above. One is 28/03/1898 and the other 30/01/1926. If you think one of these is yours let me know. I'll then go back onto 1837 or potentially BMD and see if I can see a birth ref. for you. With kind regards Karen

My Grandma's Father was called James Fairhurst born c1880, this is on her birth cert. My Grandma was born 1911 on 1st January. In January 1913 her Mother remarried another brother William Thomas Fairhurst, Pemberton, Wigan. I have marriage cert. I do not know what happened to James or who parents are as I cannot find any trace of him or parents even trying through William Thomas. If anyone can fathom this out it would be greatly appreciated. Andrea

Andrea How do you know James and William were brothers or even related? How do you know that your great Grandmother was married to James? Jeanette x

I know from Family members, my grandma only died last year aged 92 and I still have a great uncle living. Also, Mother (Alice) was a Smith. On second marriage cert she puts her name as Fairhurst. Andrea

Thanks for clarifying that Andrea! lol Ok have you tried looking for a marriage cert for Alice and James? Was your Grandma the only child from their marriage. What is the name of the father given for William on that marriage cert? Are there any clues form the witness names? Don't I ask a lot of questions! lol Jeanette x

Jeanette, cannot find William's birth cert, there are too many fairhurs't living in Pemberton around that time. There is 1 older brother, John and 3 "step" brothers, James, Charles and William. The last is still living. Not only do I have Fairhurst which is very common in that area, but Mother was a Smith - nothing down for me. And to add insult to injury Alice's Father was James Smith. Have death cert for him but no birth or marriage. Andrea

Andrea You say you have William and Alices marriage cert. Does it state who Williams father was on that? And were the witnesses family members?

Ive searched 1837 online for this and still cant find it at all, driving me crazy. DEATH. EDWARD POWELL. either 1957- 1958 Left England to travel back to Rhodesia, BUT never made it, he died on the boat. :-)

Still looking for William Aldridge, his son Henry George Aldridge married Lucy Ann Trinder in 1891 Poplar, their is a Henry George Aldridge listed on the 1881 / 1901 census (born Herts) but this is not the one as my G G Grandfather had died aged 30 at 11 Park Place, Poplar 1900. On Henry's and Lucy wedding cert, William is listed as Captain. That's all i have on him, no dates, no place of birth and no wife. Any help appreciated. Debbie