RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: audrey on Wednesday 26 May 04 17:44 BST (UK)
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Dear all
I rearly need a bit of help from some one that has come up against the same as me my G.grandfather John Sewell died 31 december1887 aged 58 years I have the death cert thought it might of told me his date of birth but it dosent I know he was born in carlisle I also know that his father was John but the IGI tells me that there was 3 Johns born in the same arear at the same time how do I work out which one is mine I have spent months getting no where I have also tried to finde his marriage have all his sons birth cert but no trace of that either I know my great grand mother Mary douglas was born Dumfries so tried Scotland and nothing could some one please tell me where i go from hear
audrey
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Audrey
First Thoughts are - have you followed him back through the census returns, each time picking up bits and bobs of info - birth location, residence, where kids were born indicating wether he moved a lot or not - all that kind of info.
As he died in 1887, he should be on 1881 aged 52, 1871 aged 42, etc - making him born in 1829 or thereabouts. You say there are 3 possible Johns born 1829 - have you tried to find any of them in 1841 or 1851 census returns, thus proving they are the right John - or there again eliminating them.
On the sons birth certificates, where are their births located? - mum usually went home to have her first child and usually married in the parish where she grew up.
There are still endless possibliities to explore
Chris in 1066Land
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thanks chriss I have done all the thigs you segest I have tract him back to botchergate where I know he was born but the secus info is not consistant about his age I know from the birth cert his wife could not write as she sighned with X I have also been told that some people in those days did not often know there own age I know that is the same family on the sencus as all the children are right and I know his wife was Mary Douglas and she was born in Dumfies the eldest child was born 28 june 1853 I sent for the cert although I did have my grandfathers just to make sure they all had the same mother as i could finde no marriage I even paid for some resurch but it turnd up nothing
audrey
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I know this isn't strictly on topic but when a person "made there mark" it doesn't mean they couldn't write. I have a women on my tree (not a direct) who has 5 illegitimate children on 3 she signed her name neatly and on 2 she "made her mark".
Cheers,
Pam