Genealogy Chat

Please help I'm tracing my family tree and I have a question that seems impossible to answer. My Great Granadad ( David Hadley) was born in circa 1872 in the 1881 census he is living with mum (Mary Hadley) Dad (Charles Hadley) two sisters, one brother and a cousin. His relation to the head (Charles) says SON. In the 1891 census he is living with a Margaret Cooper who is Head and a William Cooper (Son) to head and he (David Hadley) is also down as SON. Now I'm 99.9% sure that I have the correct David. Now before I went back to the 1881 census I thought he perhaps had a different dad but obviously the 1881 census contradicts that as there is a Charles Hadley that comes up as dad but more to the point he can't have two mums. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how he could have two mums, unless he was adopted, I just dont know. Please help? Also what suggestions do you have for tracing mothers and fathers before the 1837 birth records. Many thanks hope there is someone who can help.

Do you have his marriage or birth certs? If you do who is named on the them as the father/mother? It may be possible that David and his family are mis transcribed on one of the census so you would be able to find them or find it difficult to find them. Mhairi

Hi, I have sent of for his marriage certificate but I should have sent really for his birth certificate so I get mother and fathers name. Also the rest of the family are still living together in 1891, well one daughter and another daughter that has come back home with two children but who wasnt in the 1881 census as she was a servant in another home and 12 years older than David. Kind Regards Charlotte

Do you know if Margaret Cooper had a Daughter and he was her son in law

Charlotte, I wonder if you might have the wrong family in 1891? If this is your family in 1881: 1881 census - 7 Bridge St., Bilston, Wolverhampton Charles Hadley, head, 51, Engine Driver Colliery, born Willenhall, Staff. Mary, wife, 50, born Salop Church Aston Clara, dau, 17, Domestic Servant, born Willenhall Phoebe, dau, 13, Scholar, born Willenhall Harry, son, 11, Scholar, born Bilston, Staff. David, son, 8, Scholar, born Bilston Clara Davies, niece, 9, Scholar, born Willenhall Then isn't this the same family in 1891? 1891 census - 80 W. Hampton St., Bilston Charles Hadley, head, 62, Stationary Engine Driver, born Willenhall Mary, wife, 60, born Church Aston, Warwickshire Ann Greaves, dau, married, 31, born Willenhall Clara Hadley, dau, 27, born Willenhall Alfred Greaves, grandson, 3, born Nottingham Walter Greaves, grandson, 1, born Nottingham Mind you that doesn't help in finding David in 1891. Margaret

Same family: 1871 census - Lunt Lane, Bilston Charles Hadley, head, 40, Engine Driver, born Willenhall Mary, wife, 40, born Salop Church Aston Ann, dau, 11, Scholar, born Willenhall Clara, dau, 7, Scholar, born Willenhall Elizabeth, dau, 5, Scholar, born Willenhall Phoebe, dau, 3, born Willenhall Henry, son, 1, born Bilston Lot Hadley, father, widower, 77, Watchman at Colliery, born Willenhall 1861 census - Noose Lane, Willenhall Charles Hadley, head, 31, Iron Works Engine Driver, born Willenhall Mary, wife, 30, born Salop Church Aston Abel, son, 2, born Willenhall Jane, dau, 2, born Willenhall Ann, dau, 1, born Willenhall Lot, father, widower, 64, Watchman at Colliery, born Willenhall

I can't find a David Hadley at all on the 1891 Census who fits your description. Can you confirm how you made the connection with the Cooper family? It is just possible that he simple did not appear on the 1891 census, or his name was mis-transcribed. When was he married? I cant find this on Free BMD The 1901 Census shows him and wife Mary with Mother in Law Jane Green. Was this his wife's maiden name? Name Age Jane Green 62 Dara E Hadley 3 David Hadley 29 Harold Hadley 1 Mary J Hadley 29 As far as certificates are concerned you really need both his marriage and his birth certificate, not one or the other. Without the marriage certificate you don't have confirmation of his father, so you need this first.

I've found the 1891 entry you refered to (Ancestry have Margaret mistranscribed as Marjorie). As Margaret was 71, rather old to be his mother, it seems likely that the enumerator made a mistake and either David was her grandson or perhaps just a lodger

Hi Sylvia Yes Margaret did have a daughter listed in the 1881 cenus so that maybe possible. I cant remember now how old she was I forgot at the time to copy/save the info so I will look up that again and see, its possible he might have been married before or lived with another lady before but I will look and see where the daughter is living in 1891 first. Thank you for your comments

Hi Margaret Yes thats the correct family in 1891 thats his older sister Ann who wasnt at home in 1881 (was a servant in Nottingham) but was with some of the other brothers and sisters in 1871 which are also listed in 1881 i.e Phoebe, Clara etc.

Hi Margaret Ive just seen that you found the info I was referring too. Thats it so maybe he was just mis-transcibed as SON and was just a LODGER

Mary didn't marry again. She's on the 1891 census with the same husband that she always had. The only problem is that son David is missing. She's also on the 1901 census, a widow living with son Harry and wife.

Hi Margaret, I dont have that info for Harry in 1901, are you able to to tell me what his wifes name is? Dont look if you are having to use credits for it. No I dont think Mary was married before or after she has been with her husband since the 1861 census and possibly before but I need to buy credits for the 1851 census before I know what was going on then. I have looked at the 1841 census but Dad Charles is only 12 then and living with Dad and 2 sisters but thats another question (how to find out what mums name was and find date of death) so thats not it. Anyway Margaret/Majorie Cooper has a husband and other children in the 1881 census. so it isnt the same person. Now I'm even confusing myself blubbering on.

Hi Maragret I didnt say please or thank you for your info. Please, thanks for your time I think that covers past and present replies

Hi Karen, no everything else fits other than him being son to both ladies. I just think that it is a mis-transcription, I hadnt even thought of that when I posted question. Thanks for your thoughts and time Kind Regards

Charlotte, don't buy any credits unless you have to. I'm getting my info from Ancestry. I have a subscription so it's not costing anything. I'll go and get that info from the 1901 census now. Margaret

1901 census 387 Sheffield Rd., Rotherham, Yorkshire Harry Hadley, head, 31, Blacksmith Striker, born Bilton, Staffs. Eliza, wife, 41, born Basford, Notts. Harry Widdowson, stepson, 16, Sheet Mill Backer, born Basford, Notts. Mary Hadley, mother, 71, born Church Aston Salop Just noticed that it says married for mother, Mary, not widowed. Also Harry's wife must have been married before or had an illegitimate child. Margaret

Since Mary was listed as married in 1901 I've been looking for Charles. There is one who's aged 72, a father-in-law to Lewis Allen in Manchester. Lewis is married to a Phoebe, age 33. Only problem is that birthplace for Phoebe and Charles is Little London, Staffordshire. Does it mean anything? Margaret

Charlotte you should let people know that you have 2 threads on this subject as a lot of look-ups are being duplicated. Georgina.

I'm so disappointed, Charlotte. I have spent a lot of time on this only to find that you have another thread with the same look-ups. I quit! Margaret