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Author Topic: Help please to find my great grandfather before 1881  (Read 518 times)
YvonneR
RootsChat Veteran
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Posts: 708



Help please to find my great grandfather before 1881
« on: Thursday 04 June 09 09:55 UTC (UK) »

Hi everyone

I really need some help with a major brick wall regarding George Towner, my great grandfather


The census details that I have are:


1901 Household members, living at 73 Gleave Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham (civil parish Northfield, Worcestershire)

Head, George Towner, age 50 
Wife, Louisa, age 50

Children
Ada, age 20 
Harry Towner 18  (my grandfather)
Albert, age 15 
William, age 13 
Leah, age 10 
Gertrude, age 5

All of the family born Birmingham, Warwickshire
 
Lodger, Arthur Hall, age 21, born Herefordshire (married Ada in 1901)

RG13
Piece 2809
Folio 8
Page 8




1891 Household members, living at 8 Prospect Road, Moseley, Birmingham (civil parish Birmingham, Warwickshire)

No surname transcribed in index

All born Birmingham, Warwickshire

George, age 37 
Louisa, age 40
 
Children
Thomas, age 19 
Florine, age 17 
George, age 12 
Adeline, age 10 
Albert, age 5 
William, age 3 
Leah, age 6 months

my grandfather Harry born 12 March 1883 is not in the household and I haven't found him in this census


RG12
Piece 2399
Folio 35
Page 26


1881 Household members, living at 2 court 7 House, Brass Street, Aston, Birmingham

All born Birmingham

George, age 24 
Louisa, age 28

Children
 
Thomas, age 11 
Florence, age 6 
George, age 2 

Boarder George Butcher, age 33

RG11
Piece 2995
Folio 62
Page 28


George's age varies by six years over the three census and I know that this is not unusual but the marriage certificate in 1880 shows his age as 22.

The certificate details are:

Married at St Stephens Church, Birmingham, Warwickshire, 7th November 1880

George Towner, age 22, Batchelor, Machine Maker, Residence Brass Street, Father: John Towner occupation Carpenter
Louisa Baines, age 28, Spinster, Residence Brass Street, Father: John Baines occupation Plumber

Witnesses: John Poole, Matilda Rick.


My problem is whose children are the three with them in 1881 (and 1891) ? ? ?  Huh I cannot find birth index entries under Towner or Baines or varients. There is an extracted baptism entry in the IGI for Florence in 1880.

Also I cannot find a birth entry for George Towner, nor can I find him in 1871 or 1861. In fact I cannot find a John Towner (father) either.

There is a James Turner and family in Birmingham at the time, he was born Oxfordshire and occupation Carpenter and I have tried to find a connection. Traced him back through the census and in 1841 he has a brother John and their father Thomas was a Carpenter but I cannot make a connection as I can't find the brother John after 1851 to eliminate him from my search.


It all feels somehow strange  Undecided....so please, please can someone help or give me some ideas as I am brain whacked with this!  Sad  Huh  Wink


Thanks for reading this major monologue

Any help at all will be very much appreciated

Best wishes

Yvonne


Added: Sorry should have said...to add to my feeling of strangeness, I cannot find Louisa Baines born Birmingham in earlier census nor birth index! There is a Louisa Baines of about the right age born in Leicestershire and having a father John Baines but of course I cannot really make the connection at the moment.
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My family research
Sheridan - Leitrim, Ireland, New York, USA, Birmingham, England
Finnegan - Ireland, New York, USA
Gilmartin - Leitrim, Ireland, New York, USA
Cashal -  Ireland, New York, USA
Donnelly - Ireland
Reilly - Ireland

My husbands family research
Robinson - Birmingham, England
Turner - Birmingham, England
Beresford - Birmingham, England
Hall - Birmingham, England



Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
amber39
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 242


Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk


Re: Help please to find my great grandfather before 1881
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 04 June 09 11:58 UTC (UK) »

Perhaps Louisa had been married before and Thomas and Florence are from her first marriage. Therefore she could have been married to George under her maiden name or her married.
She is also older than George which makes this more likely that this is a second marriage.

Regards   Amber39
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Norfolk: Copling,Coppen ,Oakley, Vertigans,Mallowes/Mallis.
Suffolk:  Grist, Scopes, Bullenthorpe. Knights
Cambs.: Wilson, Andrews.
amber39
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 242


Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk


Re: Help please to find my great grandfather before 1881
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 04 June 09 12:02 UTC (UK) »

I have just noticed that you have the marriage certificate so ignore my last email.

Regards   Amber39
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Norfolk: Copling,Coppen ,Oakley, Vertigans,Mallowes/Mallis.
Suffolk:  Grist, Scopes, Bullenthorpe. Knights
Cambs.: Wilson, Andrews.
rootgirl
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Posts: 7


Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk


Re: Help please to find my great grandfather before 1881
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 04 June 09 12:16 UTC (UK) »

Have you tried the 1891 census, sometimes if people were out of the house at the time the censor called they weren't recorded?
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janan
RootsChat Marquessate
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Posts: 5860



Re: Help please to find my great grandfather before 1881
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 04 June 09 12:22 UTC (UK) »

Hi Yvonne

I notice there is also a George Towner a sawyer born Greys Oxfordshire c1825 which seems to make the Rotherfield Greys family even more likely, but as you say it is making that link.

The only likely Thomas Towner born c1870 I can see in 1871 is son of a John Towner born c1844 Greys Oxon and lving in Rotherfield Greys. No sign of an Oxon born Thomas in 1881. So could John born 1844 be a possible brother to your mysterious George?


Will keep burrowing.

Jan  Wink
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ALL CENSUS DATA INCLUDED IN POSTINGS IS CROWN COPYRIGHT, FROM  www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

bedfordshire - farr, carver,handley, godfrey, newell, bird, emmerton, underwood,ancell
buckinghamshire- pain
cambridgeshire- bird, carver
hertfordshire- conisbee, bean, saunders, quick,godfrey
derbyshire- allsop, noon
devon - griffin, love, rapsey
dorset- rendall, gale
somerset- rendall, churchill
surrey/middlesex - douglas, conisbee, childs, lyon groombridge
Annette7
RootsChat Veteran
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Posts: 673



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Re: Help please to find my great grandfather before 1881
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 04 June 09 14:53 UTC (UK) »

Whilst I have had no luck in finding them on earlier census I note that a John Towner bc.1825 died Mar. qtr. 1881 Birmingham.   Can't find him on earlier census either but possibly he could be John Towner the carpenter and father of George.

Annette
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Scopes (One-Name Study - Worldwide)
Suffolk - Grist, Knights, Bullenthorpe, Watcham
Scotland - Spence, Horne, Cowan, Moffat
London -  Monk

Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.   Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.   Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
lesleyhannah
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Posts: 1075



Re: Help please to find my great grandfather before 1881
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 04 June 09 16:37 UTC (UK) »

My ageing brain is probably not keeping up with all the facts here - so sorry if I'm being stupid, but could George and Harry be the same person? I've got a few people on my tree who were known as a name not on their birth certificate, and I've no idea why.
Lesley
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YvonneR
RootsChat Veteran
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Posts: 708



Re: Help please to find my great grandfather before 1881
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 04 June 09 17:45 UTC (UK) »



Thank you all very much indeed for your responses, it is excellent to have some input into this side of my family.  Grin  Grin  Grin

amber39, even though you have written a second message saying to ignore the first, I really do feel that you could be spot on and Louisa was possibly married before....I haven't found anything that matches yet but it is definitely something that needs a lot more research. Thank you



rootgirl, I have checked for Harry in the 1891 census as he could have been visiting relatives or friends etc., haven't found him yet but will continue the search....I appreciate your message very much


janan, I hadn't considered that, even though I had looked at that particular John and Thomas. It gives me another route to explore and I am so pleased to have someone else's views because it enables me to return to previous searches. Thank you for reminding me about this particular angle...


Annette7, I had seen that death index entry and I think to get the certificate is my next thing to do, to see what clues are available. I also found a marriage for a John Towner and Hannah Dent in 1846 and found the couple on the 1851 census living on Colmore Street, Birmingham. This had been filed away because I couldn't find them after that census.....but I will revisit it and see whether I should get the marriage certificate, it might have some clues and thank you very much for your help



lesleyhannah, you are absolutely right and I have searched for a "Towner" born Birmingham for George but there is only one in the time frame (William Thomas) and he is the son of the James Towner that I mentioned in my message. Regarding George and Harry, George is the father and Harry the son  Smiley  Wink but I have become very confused with the whole search so I can understand what you mean  Grin  Grin  Grin


It is back to the beginning for me in this search....I need to get some certificates even if it is to rule people out!

You are all brilliant and thank you for taking the time to help me out with this  Smiley  Grin  Grin  Kiss  Grin  Grin  Smiley


Very best wishes to you all

Yvonne
Logged

My family research
Sheridan - Leitrim, Ireland, New York, USA, Birmingham, England
Finnegan - Ireland, New York, USA
Gilmartin - Leitrim, Ireland, New York, USA
Cashal -  Ireland, New York, USA
Donnelly - Ireland
Reilly - Ireland

My husbands family research
Robinson - Birmingham, England
Turner - Birmingham, England
Beresford - Birmingham, England
Hall - Birmingham, England



Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
janan
RootsChat Marquessate
********
Posts: 5860



Re: Help please to find my great grandfather before 1881
« Reply #8 on: Friday 05 June 09 14:42 UTC (UK) »

Yvonne

Let us know what you find out from the certificates

Jan Wink
Logged

ALL CENSUS DATA INCLUDED IN POSTINGS IS CROWN COPYRIGHT, FROM  www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

bedfordshire - farr, carver,handley, godfrey, newell, bird, emmerton, underwood,ancell
buckinghamshire- pain
cambridgeshire- bird, carver
hertfordshire- conisbee, bean, saunders, quick,godfrey
derbyshire- allsop, noon
devon - griffin, love, rapsey
dorset- rendall, gale
somerset- rendall, churchill
surrey/middlesex - douglas, conisbee, childs, lyon groombridge
YvonneR
RootsChat Veteran
*****
Posts: 708



Re: Help please to find my great grandfather before 1881
« Reply #9 on: Friday 05 June 09 19:16 UTC (UK) »

I certainly will Jan  Smiley have only ordered the death certificate for John Towner at the moment, should have it hopefully next thursday.

Best

Yvonne
Logged

My family research
Sheridan - Leitrim, Ireland, New York, USA, Birmingham, England
Finnegan - Ireland, New York, USA
Gilmartin - Leitrim, Ireland, New York, USA
Cashal -  Ireland, New York, USA
Donnelly - Ireland
Reilly - Ireland

My husbands family research
Robinson - Birmingham, England
Turner - Birmingham, England
Beresford - Birmingham, England
Hall - Birmingham, England



Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
YvonneR
RootsChat Veteran
*****
Posts: 708



Re: Help please to find my great grandfather before 1881
« Reply #10 on: Tuesday 09 June 09 07:48 UTC (UK) »

Hi Jan and everyone who has helped with this  Smiley

On friday I ordered John Towner's death certificate online direct from Birmingham Register Office (will do this again for Birmingham certs in future as it has just arrived, whereas it is at least a week from GRO  Roll Eyes)

Excellent news as this certificate confirms that this is my 2x great grandfather John Towner

John Towner, age 56, Carpenter
Died, 28th February 1881, Workhouse, Western Road
Cause of death, Bronchitis
Informant, George Towner Son, in attendance, 2 Court, Brass Street

This is the first time that I have had a family member associated with the workhouse, so this will be a new research for me.


I am not sure how to further my research at the moment as I just cannot find father or son in earlier census'

Will have to give it some thought and if anyone can come up with any ideas, I would be so grateful  Smiley  Smiley  Smiley

Best wishes

Yvonne
Logged

My family research
Sheridan - Leitrim, Ireland, New York, USA, Birmingham, England
Finnegan - Ireland, New York, USA
Gilmartin - Leitrim, Ireland, New York, USA
Cashal -  Ireland, New York, USA
Donnelly - Ireland
Reilly - Ireland

My husbands family research
Robinson - Birmingham, England
Turner - Birmingham, England
Beresford - Birmingham, England
Hall - Birmingham, England



Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
janan
RootsChat Marquessate
********
Posts: 5860



Re: Help please to find my great grandfather before 1881
« Reply #11 on: Tuesday 09 June 09 09:35 UTC (UK) »

That's fantastic Cheesy

One step in the right direction, the man exists so where the **** is he on censuses Huh

I will continue looking

Jan Wink

Re workhouses

This site is great

http://users.ox.ac.uk/~peter/workhouse/

and this one

http://www.institutions.org.uk/workhouses/
Logged

ALL CENSUS DATA INCLUDED IN POSTINGS IS CROWN COPYRIGHT, FROM  www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

bedfordshire - farr, carver,handley, godfrey, newell, bird, emmerton, underwood,ancell
buckinghamshire- pain
cambridgeshire- bird, carver
hertfordshire- conisbee, bean, saunders, quick,godfrey
derbyshire- allsop, noon
devon - griffin, love, rapsey
dorset- rendall, gale
somerset- rendall, churchill
surrey/middlesex - douglas, conisbee, childs, lyon groombridge
YvonneR
RootsChat Veteran
*****
Posts: 708



Re: Help please to find my great grandfather before 1881
« Reply #12 on: Tuesday 09 June 09 11:06 UTC (UK) »

Thanks for the links Jan  Grin  It could provide a way of finding out about John if there are any records for the workhouse!  ..and thanks loads for your help with the search

Yvonne

Logged

My family research
Sheridan - Leitrim, Ireland, New York, USA, Birmingham, England
Finnegan - Ireland, New York, USA
Gilmartin - Leitrim, Ireland, New York, USA
Cashal -  Ireland, New York, USA
Donnelly - Ireland
Reilly - Ireland

My husbands family research
Robinson - Birmingham, England
Turner - Birmingham, England
Beresford - Birmingham, England
Hall - Birmingham, England



Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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