Genealogy Chat

(Sam don't laugh I'm onto Thomas's daughter now!!!!) Trying to trace my grandmother - but before I send for what I think may be her birth certificate I would appreciate some advice. Name Catherine Ann Ward daughter of Thomas and Ellen Ward Working backwards I have: date of death 1967 and GRO no. marriage quarter in 1917 & GRO no. I have her on the 1891 census aged 2 living in Kingston upon Hull (Southcoates parish) with the rest of her family ( although she is down as Katherine on that one - it's definitely her) On 1901 census she is not with the rest of the family, who by that time are living in York (still with me?) Yorkshire BMD has a Catherine A Ward born 1889 in West Sculcoates, Hull which seems to tie in with other siblings born there so I have presumed this is my gran. so when I found on the 1901 census index a Cathrine ward aged 12 in Sculcoates, I thought I'd found her staying with relatives. HOWEVER, when I viewed the image she is listed as the daughter of that household!! So my question is - to those who have stayed the course this far!!! - is do you think I've not found my gran's birth at all? My poor brain (what's left of it!) can't cope now so I would appreciate an objective view on this. thank you Christine :(

Christine Forget the census for a moment. If you have the reference to her marriage [and you're sure its her] get it, because it will confirm her parents'names and possibly give her age. You can then check out the census using her parents' names as confirmation, but if she was 12 in 1901 it is possible she was out working in another household as a domestic servant. I am rather suspicious about other siblings - all my family branches are oozing with Thomas, William, Charles, Ann, Mary and Eliza - they aren't distinctive enough to be sure you have the right family. Catherine/Katherine/Katharine are quite common and Ward isn't unusual either.

Hi Helen, Thanks for your reply. Yes I am sure it's her mariage so I'll send for that certificate as a starting place. I know what you mean about common names - it sure ain't easy!!! That's what's giving me so much grief! LOL I'm fairly certain about the siblings though because there were 10 in all!!!!! and they repeat at the right ages with the right parents - thank goodness! I hadn't thought about her working! Don't know what I'll do next if dob is confirmed though - unless - do marriage certificates show place of birth? Christine:)

Christine, Have you viewed the image for the rest of the family in 1901? Could be she's on there but wasn't transcribed. Crista

Hi Crista, I have viewed the image but unfortunately she's not on it! Thansk for the thought anyway. :)

Hi Christine The marriage certs that I have just have the place of residence at the time of marriage - ie. Hull. Have you checked the births for Catherine and her siblings on YorkshireBMD? Jeanette

Christine...............DON'T MAKE ME COME UP THERE....... ;) I was sure that was Catherine(Cathrine) on 1901, where are the rest of them? I can't find Patrick, mother Ellen, Thomas, Charles. *Have just found daughter Ellen, or have I?

Hi Jeanette, Have checked births on Yorkshire BMD and think I have found all the ones who were born in Hull - there's a lot in Sculcoates that match the years and dates anyway! There's only 1 catherine A birth around 1889 and that's the one born in Sculcoates which made me think the age 12 one on 1901 census was her. Thanks for your input tho' Christine

Hi again Sam! Thomas Ellen George(!!) who is down as Geroge Patrick! John Charles Joseph & William are all on the 1901 mistranscribed as WORD Not there are Thomas jnr age 20ish - but I think he was off at the Boer War then! Ellen 18ish Mary Veronica 14ish and my gran (Catherine, Katherine, Kate. Cathrine or whatever!) aged 12!! I never realised when I started this a couple of months ago that it would take over almost my entire life!!! :)) I guess I'll just have to start sending for a few certificates and hope I get lucky. (I'm getting greyer by the minute!) cheers Christine

When you send for a birth certificate you can stipulate that you only want it if the parents names are correct. If you send from the general register office they only charge about £4 to search if its wrong and if you know the actual local office they don't charge anything for searching.

Christine, that's weird as I thought Ellen & Mary were the only ones I had found, scrapping with daughter for the PC now though, she thinks homework is more important than this........... What does she now eh? Get back to you later. *I'll give him George Patrick!!*

This Catherine who's with the "wrong" parents in 1901 -- is she with the same parents in 1891? Post details and ask for a lookup (not me sorry, I'm not subscribed at present). If there were two 2-year-old Catherines in 1891, you know you're missing a birth, otherwise, could still be you were right in the first place, the 1901 Catherine is yours and with rellies, but not really the daughter

Thanks for the advice Christine - I'll try that :)

Robin, You're a genius! I hadn't thought of that one. Many thanks - Im off tyo post a request. Update to follow (I hope)!! Christine :)

Thanks Penny for the lookup (records office board). Think that answers that then. There are births for Margaret A, Catherine and Annie in Myton subdistrict, so it looks like the 1901 Catherine is a red herring. No reason to think the other birth isn't yours, but still the question of where she is in 1901. Perhaps they lost her when they moved to York

Hi - I'm back again ! Hi Robin, I see you've been folloing the records office board thread. At least your suggestion and Penny & Suzanne's help has eliminated that Chatherine in 1901. So the Catherine A born in Sculcoates is probably my gran? but still don't know where she is in 1901 (Robin your post really made me laugh!!!) She was with them when they moved to Scarborough so they obviously found her again!! I've had an update from my father who seems to think she had relatives in Lancashire so maybe she was visiting there, I'll try a 1901 decoder search again. and to think I decided to follow this track as I got so fed up of trying to trace her father before 1881 - thought I'd go for something easier! (should have known there's no such thing) I do appreciate all your help. Many thanks Christine

Hi again I've got Ellen WARD aged 18 in Kingston Upon Hull working as a "General servant Domestic" Obviously not at home, explaining why her surname is not transcribed as WORD like the others. Also have a 13yr old Mary Ward born Yorks Hull, in Kingston Upon Hull, wonder why she's not at home either, no occupation. Unless it's a different one.

There's only one MARY on 1891 with Hull as place of birth, maybe she is ours on the 1901 then Christine, I have no credits on 1901 to have a look though. Shame Yorkshire is not on Ancestry yet. I'd love to know where she is/was.

Hi Sam, Thanks for that. I'll invest another fiver on 1901 when I've got a few more to lookup - will try to see if Ellen & Mary are the right ones & will keep you posted. Oh what a lark! Hobby? it's an obsession!!! will keep you posted. Christine :))))