FRETWELL - HELP

[KimFretwell]

This is a real long shot but if anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated.
My great grandfather was John Fretwell, he was born in January 1898 in Stuntney, Cambridgeshire, UK.  His father was Tom Fretwell who, according to family stories, came from Ireland to Stuntney during the potato famine and bought a small holding in Stuntney (known as Tom Fretwells in Dunstall Drove).
I have John Fretwell on the 1901 census living with his father, Thomas, but his birthplace is shown as Stuntney.  I am not sure if I am following the wrong line, if the family story is just that, a family story, or the birthplace shown is incorrect.
I don't really know where to start with regarded to Irish Genealogy (and where to go to try and find Tom's birth certificate) but it would be great if anyone can point my in the right direction.
I have also posted this message on the Irish page.
Thank you
Kim

[PaulineJ]

Did the 1901 census ineicate that there were kids which would have been around in the 1891 census?
We can check that, but NOT unless you tell us the whole household.

Pauline

[KimFretwell]

There was a Walter, aged 15, Thomas, age 13 and Samuel aged 11.  All others were born after 1891.
Thanks
Kim

[PaulineJ]

I did ask for a whole household;
Your information does not give parent's details;
it does not give birthplaces for those three kids;
It doesn't show when they might have moved between the last kid to appear before census and the one after.

FULL 1901 HOUSEHOLD: Names, ages, birthplaces for EVERYONE please.

Pauline

[KimFretwell]

In 1901, Thomas & Sarah Fretwell are living at Dunstalls Drove, Stuntney.  Thomas was born in Stuntney, Sarah in Ely.  The children shown are:

Walter, age 15, born Ely
Thomas, age 13, born Ely
Samuel, age 11, born Ely
Arthur, age 8, born Stuntney
Lydia A, age 5, born Stuntney
John, age 3, born Stuntney
Lillie M, age 2m, born Stuntney

[JAP]

Kim,

Assuming you have the right John FRETWELL, then it seems that there is something astray with your family folklore

Looking at the ages of Thomas's children, it seems likely that Thomas was married ca 1885.  And indeed there is a marriage on FreeBMD at:
http://freebmd.rootsweb.com
of a Thomas FRETWELL in Ely in the Mar qtr 1885.  The only other name on the page is Sarah JEFFERSON.

Looking for an unmarried Thomas FRETWELL of the right age and birthplace in the 1881 census on FamilySearch at:
http://www.familysearch.org
finds Thomas, 32, a farmer of 28 acres, living in the household of his father William FRETWELL, 67, a farmer of 10 acres, in Stuntney.

And William's birthplace is given as Retten (presumably this should be Wretton) Norfolk!

JAP

[JAP]

Thomas FRETWELL's birth is presumably the entry on FreeBMD for the Sep qtr, 1848 in Ely, Vol 14, page apparently not clear (it is entered as _62).

JAP

[Valda]

1891 census RG12 1298 folio 70 Ely Trinity  Cambridgeshire 
Fretwell, Thomas 42 Stuntney, Cambridgeshire,  Head  Married farmer
Fretwell, Sarah 29 Ely, Cambridgeshire, Wife Married
Fretwell, Walter 5 Ely, Cambridgeshire,  Son 
Fretwell, Thomas 3 Ely, Cambridgeshire, Son 
Fretwell, Samuel 1 Ely, Cambridgeshire, Son 

1881 census RG11 1685 folio 33  Stuntney Ely Holy Trinity & St Mary, Cambridgeshire
William Fretwell 67  Retten, Norfolk, Head  Married Farmer of 10 acres
Lydda Fretwell 66 Coveney, Cambridgeshire, Wife Married farmer's wife
John Fretwell 43 Stuntney, Cambridgeshire, Son Farm Labourer
Thomas Fretwell 32  Stuntney, Cambridgeshire, Son Farmer of 28 acres
Henry Minett 9  Ely, Cambridgeshire, Grandson 

1871 census RG10 1605 folio 35 Ely Holy Trinity  Cambridgeshire 
William Fretwell 58  Wretting, Norfolk, Head  Married Farmer of 6 acres
Lydia Fretwell 56  Coveney, Cambridgeshire, Wife Married
John Fretwell 33 Stuntney; Ely, Cambridgeshire, Son  Farm labourer
Thomas Fretwell 28 Stuntney; Ely, Cambridgeshire, Son Farm labourer
Samuel Fretwell 20 Stuntney; Ely, Cambridgeshire, Son Farm labourer
Emily Minot 2  Ely, Cambridgeshire, Granddaughter 

Missing 1861 census

Regards
Valda

 

[KimFretwell]

Thanks so much for your help.  I think the family stories may have been a case of chinese whispers!  They all seem to insist Thomas came from Ireland but I think probably  not.  I will probably need to obtain Thomas's birth certificate to put this one to bed!
Thanks again
Kind regards,
Kim