The death certificate arrived for Maria Washer and after so long of hmming and ah-ing as to whether or not to buy it, it turns out to be the right one - widow of William Washer and mother of Matilda Young, who registered the death. (Matilda seems to have registered the death of almost everyone in her family). Now if I could only decipher what it was she died of...
The marriage certificate was for Alfred Young and the witnesses were his brother John and wife Sarah Young, proving that the two East End Youngs are indeed my missing brothers from Bridgwater.
Not bad. In about a week, my more speculative certs will turn up. Can't wait!
Monday, 9 June 2008
Saturday, 7 June 2008
Things I'd Like to Find
Some clue as to when Edward Jewitt died (b.1756; yes, him again).
I have more information on this ancestor than many others, but do I know when or where he died? No, I don't. And he could have been in Hull, Lincs, London or even America. Or anywhere else, frankly. I want to find him. If he made a will, that would be even better. Finally some real proof that he was or wasn't father of both John Rodgers Jewitt and Francis (Brown) Jewitt.
Ellen Hargrave's birth certificate.
The poor mite died in St Pancras workhouse in November 1848 and the workhouse master couldn't even bother to put her parents' names on the death cert. Luckily, the workhouse records still exist, so I could prove she was mine. But I want her birth certificate. In this period, I'd normally assume that she wasn't registered, but in this case all her siblings were. Why can't I find her?
John Jewitt's marriage to Amelia
Maybe the aforementioned death cert will give me some clue as to her previous name, but I can't find this and it seems a little late for one of those second marriages where neither partner bothered to actually marry. (1897-1901). But I can't find it.
What happened to Joseph Washer?
I suspect possibly a death on board ship or something. I cannot find his burial yet and really, I should have been able to.
As any family historian knows, our ancestors do this sort of thing to annoy us. It wouldn't be family history if it was all easy, would it?
I have more information on this ancestor than many others, but do I know when or where he died? No, I don't. And he could have been in Hull, Lincs, London or even America. Or anywhere else, frankly. I want to find him. If he made a will, that would be even better. Finally some real proof that he was or wasn't father of both John Rodgers Jewitt and Francis (Brown) Jewitt.
Ellen Hargrave's birth certificate.
The poor mite died in St Pancras workhouse in November 1848 and the workhouse master couldn't even bother to put her parents' names on the death cert. Luckily, the workhouse records still exist, so I could prove she was mine. But I want her birth certificate. In this period, I'd normally assume that she wasn't registered, but in this case all her siblings were. Why can't I find her?
John Jewitt's marriage to Amelia
Maybe the aforementioned death cert will give me some clue as to her previous name, but I can't find this and it seems a little late for one of those second marriages where neither partner bothered to actually marry. (1897-1901). But I can't find it.
What happened to Joseph Washer?
I suspect possibly a death on board ship or something. I cannot find his burial yet and really, I should have been able to.
As any family historian knows, our ancestors do this sort of thing to annoy us. It wouldn't be family history if it was all easy, would it?
Certificate Fever
I've been spending some ill-gotten gains (well, not really) on more certificates. As this money came via a family history source, I have to put it towards research, don't I?
So I've been buying those certificates I wonder about, rather than the certain ones.
I'm looking forward to finding out what happened to Mary Turner and Amelia Jewitt (who are reasonably safe bets) and Caroline Louisa Jewitt, who may be a missing daughter of John Francis and Martha Ann Jewitt. She fits neatly into the gap between the two eldest sisters and Martha had an elder sister called Caroline.
Plus, trying to make sense of the Nelmes family who elude me, despite their helpfully unusual surname. They lived in London, which complicates everything. However, two likely candidates for missing siblings who died young are James and Charles. (Even if not 'mine', there's a strong likelihood of their being connected somewhere down the line, so I feel it's a risk worth taking.)
Thinking along the same lines, it occurs to me that ordering a clutch of early Nelmes marriages from London might begin to show who's connected to who. I'm going to consider that one a little longer before I finish my reckless spending, though.
Trouble is, my other certs haven't come after 5 working days, so it looks as though the GRO is getting slow again. Ordering more at this point may not be good for me! I shall have to learn the lesson of patience, but it's hard work when certificates could arrive any day.
So I've been buying those certificates I wonder about, rather than the certain ones.
I'm looking forward to finding out what happened to Mary Turner and Amelia Jewitt (who are reasonably safe bets) and Caroline Louisa Jewitt, who may be a missing daughter of John Francis and Martha Ann Jewitt. She fits neatly into the gap between the two eldest sisters and Martha had an elder sister called Caroline.
Plus, trying to make sense of the Nelmes family who elude me, despite their helpfully unusual surname. They lived in London, which complicates everything. However, two likely candidates for missing siblings who died young are James and Charles. (Even if not 'mine', there's a strong likelihood of their being connected somewhere down the line, so I feel it's a risk worth taking.)
Thinking along the same lines, it occurs to me that ordering a clutch of early Nelmes marriages from London might begin to show who's connected to who. I'm going to consider that one a little longer before I finish my reckless spending, though.
Trouble is, my other certs haven't come after 5 working days, so it looks as though the GRO is getting slow again. Ordering more at this point may not be good for me! I shall have to learn the lesson of patience, but it's hard work when certificates could arrive any day.
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Certificates...
Have used my birthday money to send off for some certificates and am now post-watching for the arrival of two certs. In particular, I'm keen to know if the death cert for Maria Washer is the right one, as the age isn't quite right. Fingers crossed...
Friday, 30 May 2008
Making 17th C Links
I'm just about to finally start making sense of my latest discoveries from the SRO but a word on my main achievement...
I'm a little bit dubious as yet, but hopeful. My doubt comes from the fact that Young is a very common surname, something I tend to forget, as my Young family are the only ones with that name born in Bridgwater prior to about 1850, so I'm used to being able to claim them as my own.
What has tantalised me for a while is the fact that I have traced my Young family back to a Thomas Young, son of Robert Young. Now Robert would have been born around 1743. What do I find in the 1740s but a Thomas and Anstice Young having children, including a Roger, born 1743. No sign of a Robert - or of Roger later in life.
This time I had a bright idea and used the Poor Rates. I'd noticed Thomas and his father Robert listed there and decided to take it back. After all, it might lead me to discover Robert's father (or what was very likely to be him.)
So I set to work and found, sooner than I expected, Robert and Thomas Young paying rates for the same building from 1775 backwards. I then checked the parish registers for Bridgwater, with particular note of burials. Roger Young is the only one of Thomas and Anstice's children not buried and Thomas was born in 1717, making him the right sort of age to be Robert's otherwise unexpectedly long-lived father.
Yes, all a little shaky still, but it's looking likelier. Just have to see if there's anything else I can do to prove (or disprove) this theory. (The bishop's transcripts don't exist for the 1740s, so no use checking that to see if Roger might have been corrected to Robert).
But my suspicion suddenly looks a whole lot more realistic.
I'm a little bit dubious as yet, but hopeful. My doubt comes from the fact that Young is a very common surname, something I tend to forget, as my Young family are the only ones with that name born in Bridgwater prior to about 1850, so I'm used to being able to claim them as my own.
What has tantalised me for a while is the fact that I have traced my Young family back to a Thomas Young, son of Robert Young. Now Robert would have been born around 1743. What do I find in the 1740s but a Thomas and Anstice Young having children, including a Roger, born 1743. No sign of a Robert - or of Roger later in life.
This time I had a bright idea and used the Poor Rates. I'd noticed Thomas and his father Robert listed there and decided to take it back. After all, it might lead me to discover Robert's father (or what was very likely to be him.)
So I set to work and found, sooner than I expected, Robert and Thomas Young paying rates for the same building from 1775 backwards. I then checked the parish registers for Bridgwater, with particular note of burials. Roger Young is the only one of Thomas and Anstice's children not buried and Thomas was born in 1717, making him the right sort of age to be Robert's otherwise unexpectedly long-lived father.
Yes, all a little shaky still, but it's looking likelier. Just have to see if there's anything else I can do to prove (or disprove) this theory. (The bishop's transcripts don't exist for the 1740s, so no use checking that to see if Roger might have been corrected to Robert).
But my suspicion suddenly looks a whole lot more realistic.
Monday, 12 May 2008
Somerset Curiosities
An interesting trip to the Record Office...
Just one or two oddities I found in the parish records:
I'm a little puzzled over 'Collick Puffin' buried 7th Jul 1704 in Bridgwater St Mary's. The writing was readable and this does seem to be what it says. But it can't be, can it?
And the death of John Tailor, buried on 2nd Dec 1716 with his two children must have been the talk of the town for some time, as the three of them were "blown up with gun powder."
And I've now made my first proper venture into 17th Century parish registers and so far, they've proved to be a lot more legible than most 18th C efforts. I had been wondering if it would be worth pursuing any further if I had to stare at yet more and more faded microfiche copies of terrible handwriting, but it seems I won't have to give up in order to save my eyesight and sanity yet.
Just one or two oddities I found in the parish records:
I'm a little puzzled over 'Collick Puffin' buried 7th Jul 1704 in Bridgwater St Mary's. The writing was readable and this does seem to be what it says. But it can't be, can it?
And the death of John Tailor, buried on 2nd Dec 1716 with his two children must have been the talk of the town for some time, as the three of them were "blown up with gun powder."
And I've now made my first proper venture into 17th Century parish registers and so far, they've proved to be a lot more legible than most 18th C efforts. I had been wondering if it would be worth pursuing any further if I had to stare at yet more and more faded microfiche copies of terrible handwriting, but it seems I won't have to give up in order to save my eyesight and sanity yet.
Friday, 2 May 2008
Off to Somerset
I'm heading back home, so my posts may get all irregular again. ('Home' will forever be Somerset no matter how long I've lived elsewhere). I shall get to see my family, best friend - oh, and have some visits planned to the Somerset Record Office...
Yes, more info that I might one day transcribe & let people see. (Oh, I promise to improve honestly).
Yes, more info that I might one day transcribe & let people see. (Oh, I promise to improve honestly).
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