Hello everyone
Been away from the family tree for a while and am hoping that perhaps there might be some new documentation around that may shed light on the father of my great great grandmother.
So far I have found out that Rosanna Bellamy was born 1st November 1850 - I have found a birth register for her in Horncastle in Dec 1850 and sent off for the birth certificate. Her place of birth is listed as Coningsby and her mother is recorded as Sarah Bellamy. There is no name of father, however on the certificate she is named as Rosanna Holmes. On the 1851 census she is living in Coningsby with her grandmother (Susan Bellamy) and her mother plus presumably older sisters Susan and Emma. Both of these are listed as Bellamy's but I have found birth entries that also list Emma as a Holmes Bellamy (Dec 1844, Boston).
I also have a copy of Rosanna's marriage certificate to my great great grandfather James Edward Woods, which took place on 7th November 1866 in Moulton, Lincs. On this Roseanna lists her father as a James Holmes and whilst it is not very clear I think his occupation is listed as a farmer and then in brackets deceased. She is also calling herself Rosanna Bellamy Holmes.
I have been unable to find a marriage record between Sarah Bellamy who I believe, from census records to be born in Billinghay around 1824 and a James Holmes - although I am not convinced they married because Sarah is living with her mother and 3 children in the 1851 census and I can find no records of Sarah after this date until a possible death register in June 1900, aged 76. Can anyone find Sarah on later census records for me please?
I know its a long shot in trying to locate the father of a possible illegitimate child but was wondering whether anyone could help me? I have a possible lead that could possible be the James Holmes I am looking for.
In the 1841 census there is a James Holmes, aged 15 living at home in the hamlet of Walcott with his father John, a farmer. Then in 1851 there is another, possibly the same James Holmes aged 28 still in the hamlet of Walcott. I believe Walcott to be fairly close in distance to Billinghay - where Sarah's family come from originally.
I know longer have access to the census records to persue this any further and was wondering whether anyone could help with tracing James Holmes, finding a marriage for James and Sarah - althoughh I doubt that one exists or has access to the parish records for Coningsby/Billinghay or Walcott that may shed any light on Rosanna's parentage?
Thanking you in advance
Melanie