General Chat

My grt nan ROSE FRENCH, born Motherwell Scotland, got her marriage to albert Thompson but apart from that she didnt exsist!! no birth, death, census etc, Its really winding me up!! Wend x

John Morrell - from Court records (he got a servant girl - Jane Huish b1791 Porlock - pregnant) we know he was a Cordwainer of Dulverton in 1818, which is when his son, William was born. And that's it - no other info, not even a clue about his age.

I too have way too many brick walls, however here is one that had 3 years work on and evetually solved-ish kind of-ish lol. Hubby's grt grandfather was called Henry Thomas RIVERS born 1873 sourced via death cert. No birth cert could be found for him. When 1901 census went online there was no stopping us we thought - we found him aged 27 born in Mile End. Then he popped up again in the 1891 census aged 18 and disappeared in the 1881. However thank fully he was living with his grandmother and her daughters throughout - one of the daughters was Henry's mother we know that NOW! So when we looked up Granny there was a grandson called Robert Henry JACOBS ( Jacobs being Granny and her daughters name) aged 8 born Mile End. Sounds so simple NOW but back then had hardly any resources and no idea where to look - still no idea as to who his Mother was though.

My partners Great grandfather John Berisford Robinson. He is born 1845 in newcastle under lyme then disaapers til 1881 as a lodger in Bucks then marries in Devon 1882 is still in Devon in 1891 then disappears again. Debbi

All these missing people - where do they go?? My great grandad Edwin Henry Butler (born c. 1868, Leicester) doesn't appear to be on the 1881 census but I know he wasn't dead as I have a picture of him in 1932 with my dad!!!! Karen, Have you tried all sorts of different spellings on 1901? Have found many of my rellies and other people on the 1901 spelt VERY wrong!!!!!!!

Mine is Henry William Smith, born Bristol in 1848, and his Wife, Emily Martha ?, born Horsleydown in 1850. It's driving me round the twist. I know he was about as I have he's Christening details and the entries for the 1881 Census. But apart from that he's like the invisable man. Angie.

I have two, 1. My g.grandmother Sarah Sole (Sowle, Soal or Soale) born 1825 in Edmonton (presumably Mdx). Cannot trace her family or marriage to Edmund Sanders by whom she had umpteen children, the first that I know of being born in 1848. 2, An adopted aunt born Lilian Walker, abandoned in Whitehaven, CUL in 1896, aged about 6 months. Len

1/ My grandfather's eldest brother was killed in the 1st WW and yet isn't remembered by the CWGC/MoD. I'm trying to find out more about this. Percival Thomas Weir Stephenson (2nd Royal Fusiliers (London Regt) - GS/67458) was killed on 26/10/1917 in France, but I haven't been able to find his death record yet. Reading his wife's and family's obituararies and In Memoriam in the local paper for the next five years was very moving. 2/ Going beyond my g g g grandparents is proving difficult. James and Jane Stephenson were both born late C18th near Bamburgh in Northumberland. I've found them and their family on the 1841, but they're Presbyterian and I haven't found any church records to take me to their parents - yet! 3/ My MiL's mother went awol in the 1940s. Ada Roberts (nee Powell) is probably dead now. Luckily my MiL rang a sister of Ada this week and found out about her parents and a likely birth date for Ada. Hopefully these leads will bring results next time I check the GRO lists. John

Oh Boy I feel better now after reading these - It's nice to know i'm not alone - Mine are Gran and Grandpa Carter - thought I had them till I realised I was following the wrong William - He won't be found in 81 91 or 01 census.. G.Grandad Davis - born in Oxfordshire - was he heck - not even sure if he 'chose' his surname to suit the occasion.. G.Grandad and G.Grandma Furguson - two more who seem NOT to have been born where they say they were.. Happy hunting everyone! Sue

Mine are Emma Bassell, born in Pill, Somerset in 1857. Know who she married, names of her children and when and where she died, but cannot find anything out about her birth family. Also, my Prewett family, they were in Monmouthshire in the 1881 census, but nowhere to be found in 1891 or 1901 census, have had a thought put to me that they may have emigrated, had a look on Ellis Island, but not there. Hope I can find them all soon, driving me mad.

Hi Maggie Mine is John McMurrich Old Kilpatrick, Dunbarton Married to Margaret Smith C1750 Had son Robert 1753 I know I've been pretty lucky to get this far, but thats my brick wall, guid auld John

Richard Woods born Lancs 1877 - 1880. Too many born around the same place and same time. Driving me potty and he is only 1 great grandfather. I have marriage and death certs but no birth cert as yet. AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Hi Maggie, Mine is my great great grandfather CHARLES WILLIAM HACKART who landed in Grahamstown, South Africa, Sometime after 1850. Then vanished off the face of the earth. I have traced the rest of the family all down the line. Unfortunately, He was the only link to get off of the African Continent to trace my Irish Roots. I intend ordering the 1878 Voters Roll for the Cape. C.D. Hopefully, this could give me me some clues. Lindy:-(( still digging up skeletons.

Mine is Mary Ann Thornbury. Listed on 1881 and 1901 census as born in Kilkenny 1851. No birth, marriage or Christening record. Death entry in her married name of Plummer. Listed on her children's birth certificates as formerly Thornbury so was married by 1871/2 when first child was born. There are 36 Thornburys on GC and 4 are this lady as 2nd cousins are also searching. No Thornburys to be found anywhere!

My wall's got so many bricks missing it's surprising it is still standing. My paternal grandmother, Hannah Jane Harris married grandad in 1892, age stated as 20 on her church marriage certificate which is in my possession, father Charles. No sign of them on 1881. My maternal great grandfather, James Francis Sherwood's marriage to Annie Maria Cowley is a lost cause. My paternal Gt gt grandfather, Alfred Worboys who according to the census should have been born in Hertford town about 1847 is nowhere to be seen. My wife's maternal gt gt grandmother, Matilda Boten isn't in the baptism records where she should be in Essex. In fact the 1881 census only lists one Boten family in the whole of the UK and that's in Kent, yet Freebmd has a death for what may be her father in Essex after 1881. The list goes on and on !

Mine is George Green/Greenley. He was born c1772 (according to burial records). He was married 23 July 1797 according to the IGI - no fathers name or place of birth given (parish records for this date are missing). And he died in 1850 - just before the 1851 census. So I've got nothing to go on. Jeanette:-(

hi maggie my brickwalls are alfred and arthur jones two brothers ive got info on alfreds death where and when he died etc and thats it its so frustrating ive tried all i can think of to try and find a birth for these brothers. jackie

Zoe, Isn't it good when you make a breakthrough!! Tina, Why "Swampduck"?????????

Mine is Charles Gloster, Silversmith and his wide and daughter - both called Florence. I know he exists as he is on my gt gt Grandmothers wedding cert as father. Her name is Florence Selina Gloster - who by the way was never born as I have checked ten years either side of the dates and she's not there. She's also not the census until she's married. I can't find a birth of marriage for Charles either so haven't a clue what his wife's maiden name is. On the other hand I received in the post yesterday some 1871 printouts that have finally proved the assumptions I made about someone else father. YAY!!!!!

hiya maggie, im still trying to find 2 brothers edward and vincent williams ive tred everything its driving me mad but i wont give up :0) tinaxxx