Genealogy Chat

Thanks Judith for that. Everyone has been so helpful to me. Suddenly from knowing very little about Eleanor France i now know her mother and step family.Later today i shall trace back this william swift to see if he is related to them all somehow. best wishes Chris

Thanks Deb,I have found someone on genes that seems to have this swift family on their tree.i've sent a message and hopefully they might know a bit about the family and if they have any connections to France/davies/ Hodgkiss/ powell !!! aren't families complicated !!! chris

There are a couple pf possibilities here: first, the registrar can only record what the informant tells them, so the informant could have got it wrong, or even lied! The other possibility is that he meant half-brother or step-brother, as people frequently mix these terms up with brother in law. regards, Deb

Yes, thankyou Bob and Allie.Everybody has been so helpful .Chris

Hi Chris, You may be able to find out more by looking through the baptisms for Madeley at the Archives in Shrewsbury. That may give you a few clues. Its free too! Allie

...wow you've had some good help! I'd just add that Kath is very correct in saying that 'brother in law' instead of 'step brother' was very much the phrase used in those times. I have a similar situation in my Mothers lineage. sometimes you have to get the pen and paper out and map it. Happy hunting. Bob

Thankyou kathleen, Yes perhaps it would be an idea for me to look for william swift on previous census's to see if he fits in the puzzle.Have now found that eleanor had step family (davies)maybe one of them married a swift ??? i'll keep lookin. THANKS cHRIS

Hi Judith,WOW Thankyou very much for this.All the pieces are slowly fitting together. This is definitely eleanor on the 1851 census.The william davies 1847 is the same one that eleanor's daughters are staying with on the 1881 census (down as neices)SO her mother was selina.I will send for eleanor/ellen birth certificate. Just got to find out where my william swift fits in to all this.!!! maybe another day Thanks again chris

Could William Swift be a step brother rather than a brother in law. At that time the two were interchangeable. Kath. x

Glad to help a little. And good luck with your search!

Thankyou ed and yes linda i had a look at this birth on ancestry and there is another one for a selina France1843 in madeley as well. This could be another clue because william and eleanors daughter was called Mary selina (unusual name for the time).Just going to see if i can find any France's on 1851 census in madeley. Thanks Chris.

Linda, You are a STAR, I feel sure this is them on 1871 census. THANKYOU SO MUCH. Will just have a look at free bmd at that birth. if i could get Elanor's birth cert and found out who her mother was it could be a great help.Chris

Linda, You are a STAR, I feel sure this is them on 1871 census. THANKYOU SO MUCH. Will just have a look at free bmd at that birth. if i could get Elanor's birth cert and found out who her mother was it could be a great help.Chris

Could this possibly be Eleanor's birth record? From freebmd Births Mar 1841 (>99%) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- France Female Madeley 18 111

yes.

Hi, probably not much help to you, but I found a William Hodgskins in 1871, occupation coal miner, born Madeley Wood, Shropshire c.1842. He's living with wife Elleanor (aged 29), also born Madeley wood, at 20 Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs. Name: William Hodgskins Age: 29 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1842 Relation: Head Spouse's Name: Elleanor Gender: Male Where born: Madeley Wood Civil Parish: Tipton Ecclesiastical parish: St Martin County/Island: Staffordshire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Disability: View Image Registration district: Dudley Sub-registration district: Tipton ED, institution, or vessel: 13 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 32 Household Members: Name Age Elleanor Hodgskins 29 William Hodgskins 29 View Original Record View original image

Thanks bacardi, no, on the 1891 census william is just living with his 2 daughters. I KEEP thinkin that because on the marriage cert eleanor france's father is unknown maybe she was brought up by a completly different family.More CONFUSION now i have found the 2 daughters 0n the 1881 census (down as neices) WITH A william and catherine davies living in cornsay durham. what a headache this all is !!!!! CHRIS

Chris How about William marrying again? - I've found it several times in my tree - especially when a father has been left with children:-( Perhaps a quick trawl through FreeBMD might bring something up?? Hope this helps Bacardi XX Oops - just re-read your message and you have already considered this - erm - no help at all then was I? (Was there anyone else with William on the 1891 Census?)

Anymore suggestions ? thanks chris

Thanks mumsy,Sorry I should have said William only had a brother Richard Powell born 1846(my g grandfather). chris