Joseph Woolley - being very elusive!

[Jamjar]

Did Joseph have siblings?

Jamjar

[Willow 4873]

No idea as I can't find him until after his marriage

Willow x

[Milliepede]

Have you got the witness names from the marriage? 

I see there was a lodger on one census but guess he hasn't lead to anything.

[Milliepede]

There is a family tree with father James Woolley born Dec 1837 Tipton Staffs but don't know where this has come from and no wife/mother for Joseph listed.

Could be a clue but it has parents for James as John Woolley and Martha Grindy and their marriage 1838 after the birth of James soooooo could James be technically a Grindy and thus his son also be Joseph Grindy?

That supposes James was married to his mother at 18 so all pretty unlikely.
I will eat my hat if there is a birth for Joseph Grindy in Walsall 1855 

[Milliepede]

Well that James is a coal miner so that fits and in 1871 he is married to Ann with 5 young children. 

Ann is 19 in 1861 and they have a baby John.

So none the wiser really re Joseph but it might lead somewhere you never know.

[Willow 4873]

The witnesses at the wedding were Rose Tasker (Mary's sister signed X) and Edward Cordle who signed (looking at the census b1853 Walsall but doesn't seem to be any other connection)

Edward Holmes on the 1911 census doesn't seem to be connected to the family either (looks like he married Hannah Rowley 1873)

Here's a question - what happened to army deserters around that time? there is a Joseph Kennedy the right age and place of birth deserted 13.8.1875 parents James and Bridget

Willow x

[Willow 4873]

Think I have cracked the Holmes connection Mary Ann's aunt married a Holmes

Willow x