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I have just returned after having to 'park' my research for a while and am already climbing the walls!! Can anyone please advise me where to look next for my Thomas Ward. I am trying to trace his birth/parents but with such a common name I'm having trouble. The details I have on him so far are:

marriage 1878 in Sculcoates name of Father John Ward deceased china repairer

I also have him on every census from 1881 to 1911 inclusive and the ages he gives relate to him being born in 1858.

On his death certificate in 1931 his age was recorded as 76 which would make him born in 1855 but I think the census records may be more accurate?

Sorry for such a long post but I would really appreciate any advice

many thanks
ps sorry forgot to say born Leicester

Possible?

Name: Thomas Ward
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 23 Jan 1859
Christening Place: SYSTON,LEICESTER,ENGLAND
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Death Date:
Name Note:
Race:
Father's Name: John Ward
Father's Birthplace:
Father's Age:
Mother's Name: Elizabeth

That family in 1871 (not saying it's the correct one, maybe the names of the siblings ring a bell?)

Name: John Ward
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1871
Gender: Male
Age: 44
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Birthplace: Leicester, Leicestershire
Schedule Type: Household
Registration District: Leicester
Sub-District: Leicester, West
Parish: All Saints
County: Leicestershire
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Self John Ward M 44 Leicester, Leicestershire
Wife Elizth Ward F 42 Leicester, Leicestershire
Son John Ward M 18 Leicester, Leicestershire
Son Tom Ward M 12 Leicester, Leicestershire
Son William S Ward M 9 Leicester, Leicestershire
Daughter Millicent Ward F 3 Leicester, Leicestershire
Boarder John Greenwood M 41 Leicester, Leicestershire

Have you considered that he may have made up a name for the marriage?

This one is listed with William Ward, age 3



1861 England Census


Name:Thomas Ward

Age:5

Estimated birth year:1856

Relation:Inmate

Gender:Male

Where born:Lon Langton, Leicestershire, England

Civil Parish:Lutterworth

County/Island:Leicestershire

Country:England

Registration district:Lutterworth

Sub-registration district:Lutterworth

ED, institution, or vessel:Lutterworth Workhouse


Household schedule number:1

Piece:2247

Folio:13



Edit: The occupation on the above 1871 census has the father as a bricklayer

Thank you Beverley it's so hard to know if that's him or not but I really appreciate your effort :-)

Gins - thank you for your reply. no I hadn't considered that - do you mean he made up his father's name?

It was not unheard of for an illegitimate person to "make up" a deceased father for the marriage certificate so that they saved face in front of the new in-law's.

Kath. x

Thanks for that Kathleen I hadn't thought about it and there apparently was never mention of relatives by my T Ward.
- I had a look at the entry Gins posted and that Thomas was there with a brother William - no sign of parents how sad :-( If I tried to follow them through do you think they may still be in the workhouse on the next census?

Is this your Thomas (there is a 76 year old death in Scarborough 1931). I see he says he is a China Mender so not too much imagination needed to say that was his father's employment if that is what he did.

1911 census transcription details for: 40 Bar Street Scarborough

National Archive Reference:
RG14PN28937 RG78PN1666 RD527 SD2 ED13 SN165
Reg. District: Scarborough
Sub District: Scarborough
Parish: Scarborough
Enum. District: 13
Address: 40 Bar Street Scarborough
County: Yorkshire (North riding)
Name Relation Condition/
Yrs married Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born
WARD, Thomas Head Married M 53 1858 China Mender And Dealer Leicester Leicestershire
WARD, Ellen Wife Married F 52 1859 Assisting In The Business Seby Yorkshire
WARD, Mary Daughter Single F 24 1887 Assisting In The Business Hull Yorkshire
WARD, Joseph Son M 14 1897 Errand Boy To Chemist York Yorkshire
WARD, William Son M 12 1899 Attending School York Yorkshire
WARD, Robert Son M 9 1902 Attending School York Yorkshire

MArried 31 years, 10 children born and all still living

Hello Stuart
yes that is my Thomas although he didn't start out as that so I was surprised at the time to see that as his father's occupation

However, he is in York in 1901 and recorded as a Scissors Cutter and Grinder and in 1891 a Lodging House Keeper in Sculcoates, Hull !

1881 has him as a Cutler b Hull and wife Ellen b Hull too rather than Selby as per the other census!!

have just noticed (!) on 1881 census there is a neighbour James Ward with a mother Bridget (although that name doesn't appear anywhere in the descendants.
May have to try and follow that up. thanks to all Have to go and provide OH with dinner now - will be back later :-)

Was his dad John a china repairer,just asking as Thomas in 1911 is a china mender + dealer.

Maryb.

Mary, see my post at 1910 - have already been down that route and found by the post at 1923, he was something different in each census!

Sorry Stuart,my fault didn't refresh the page.
The Thomas and William in lutterworth workhouse 1861,there is also a Catherine Ward age 27.
could she have been their mum.

Maryb

Hello Mary thanks for your posts; yes my Thomas was a china repairer and dealer eventually, started as a cutler, then boarding house keeper.
I hadn't spotted Catherine Ward - it is a possibility as there was a Catherine child of Thomas, I know that could be clutching at straws but often the parents names were carried on for the children

Oh why couldn't they have had an uncommon name! :-D