Joseph Smith, New Invention, Willenhall, Staffs?

[rosie99]

I agree with you about the probable fictitious birth for Joseph 

[Smudge.Smith]

How can you be so sure the 1812 baptism you found is your Joseph.  The 1851 census has his age as 39 (about 1812) but ages are not always reliable on the census.

There is also this baptism at St. Giles Willenhall 17 Feb 1811, Joseph, son of Benjamin and Ann Smith.

I’m not sure.. that’s why I’m asking.

[Smudge.Smith]

Thanks for taking the time to look at this.
Yes the census details are correct. Uriah was my GGrandfather, Henry was his father and the elusive Joseph was his.
I got G Smith off Joseph and Catharines marriage record so I suspect the trail ends there unless I can find Mary Smith Joseph’s Mother assuming that’s her maiden name and he’s illegitimate.
Thanks for looking.
Typing on phone at the moment so have limited access to records until I get home tonight if you need more info.

[rosie99]

I am wondering if this is Joseph in 1841 living Willenhall.
H0107/985 Bk9 folio 9 p11
Ann Smith 70
Joseph Smith 25
Both born Staffordshire
Copy is very light but Joseph's occupation could be Engineer or similar

[Smudge.Smith]

I am wondering if this is Joseph in 1841 living Willenhall.
H0107/985 Bk9 folio 9 p11
Ann Smith 70
Joseph Smith 25
Both born Staffordshire
Copy is very light but Joseph's occupation could be Engineer or similar

It could well be. I wonder if his mothers name was Mary Anne (given the propensity for going by any name that they chose to use at the time). It might explain Mary at the Christening and Ann on the census.
The occupation certainly looks like "Engineer" and fits in with the death record that was kindly provided by Willow.

[rosie99]

I doubt that is his mother with him, perhaps grandmother 

[Jool]

I am wondering if this is Joseph in 1841 living Willenhall.
H0107/985 Bk9 folio 9 p11
Ann Smith 70
Joseph Smith 25
Both born Staffordshire
Copy is very light but Joseph's occupation could be Engineer or similar

I think you could be right Rosie, and I agree his occupation does look like Engineer.  Just to add a bit more weight to your find, on the same census page there are 2 families of Tarbucks, one household transcribed as Sumlscok on Anc***** but the original image looks like Tarbuck.

Added:  4 pages back there is Catherine Tarbuck b. 1816 with what appears to be her parents William and Mary. 

[Smudge.Smith]

OK I'm confused now.

Hi, where did you find the baptism record?  I looked on the Wolverhampton Archives website and it shows Joseph as illegitimate son of Mary, no mention of the father. 

Willenhall St Giles's Baptisms 1642-1812 A-Y
SMITH Joseph son of Mary - illegitimate 14 Jun 1812

http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/resources/indexes

Added:  FreeREG also shows the same information - illegitimate son of Mary
https://www.freereg.org.uk/

but the alleged reference to his death:

Joseph buried 31.1.1854 Union Street Wesleyan Methodist Chapel Willenhall aged 52 of Lane Head Engineer puts his age at 52, which means he would have been born around 1802 - some ten years before his christening mentioned above and out of sync with ages given in the  the census.