Hi Diane Thankyou very much for your help. My search for Henry Boyles has been a brick wall for ages. When Henry Francis married Sarah Knight in 1856 he knew the name of his father i.e. Henry Boyles who was an Ag Lab. When Henry Francis was christened, and I have the records from West Sussex, no father is mentioned.
What is confusing is that Henry Francis names his birthplace as Sutton in 1851 (he was 18) when he was living with a Hubbard family in Pulborough as a servant journeyman blacksmith. In 1861 he gives his birthplace as Pulborough and in 1871, again Sutton. He died later in 1871. There are some Francis baptisms in in Sutton 1820-1841.
I recently found out that Harriet Francis married a Thomas Child in December 1838 In the 1851 census for Pulborough which I have from West Sussex I find that Thomas Child is a blacksmith an Harriet gives her birthplace as Birdham although she was christened in Siddlesham the daughter of Charles and Martha Francis. In 1841 Thomas and Harriet are living in Lower Street but no sign of Henry who would be about 8yrs.
From the IGI I can only find one Henry Boyles in the period born in 1810 to a Nicholas Boyles and Ruth Boniface in South Berstead.
South Berstead is quite near Siddlesham hence my interest in the Henry Boyles of Brighthelmston who married another Harriet (Bishop) in Feb 1837. I wonder if the 1851 census in Brighton shoud be Berstead instead of Binstead. So what happened to little Henry in 1841 and am I on the right track for his dad. I have traced this Henry Boyles back and would love to be convinced that I hve the right bloke
because this is my direct paternal line. What are the odds?
All help appreciated Findo
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/p/a/r/David-M-Parker/index.html
