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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Sussex => England => Sussex Lookup Requests => Topic started by: ag10 on Thursday 12 May 05 12:44 BST (UK)
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I'm trying to pin down an extremely elusive grandmother.
Her name was Charlotte Martin, father Henry Martin.
One possibility is one born abt 1873 in West Grinstead (Horsham), mother also Charlotte (from 1881 census).
If it's her, the birth should be 22 January, but I can't see her on FREEBMD or 1837online.
One or both of her parents may have been Catholic (does that make any difference to the records?).
I'm in S Wales so I can't visit.
Is there a way to check to see if the birth date corresponds?
I'm a relative beginner (no pun intended!) so any help or advice at all will be very gratefully received.
Thanks!
Al
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You can't get the actual birth date unless you buy the certificate or can find a baptism record. Can you post a few more details? It helps to know as much as possible. Have you got her marriage certificate? Where di she marry? What was her father's occupation? Have you found her in 1901? Every little bit helps.
Search a year either side of her possible birth year on 1837online and see how many there are. If you are sure it is Jan 22 then with luck it should be registered in the March quarter so try those first then try June in case they were a bit late. Being Catholic does not affect the register of births - only the church for baptism.
Martin is a very common Sussex name.
Andrea
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Thanks, Andrea.
IF it's her, she married in 1912 in Pontardawe, S Wales.
The marriage cert gives father as Henry Martin, Coachman (Domestic).
There's no sign of her before that (unless this is she) which is why I wanted to check the birth date if poss as she's only one of a quite a few possibilities.
According to family memory she had a sister Kate, and was educated and boarded at a 'convent' in London.
The Sussex match is the best so far, except the birth year is a lot earlier than expected (1880).
It seems to me that people might well change their birth year, but are unlikely to change the day/month, which is what I wanted to check.
If I contact the local registrar would they check the date, or would I definitely have to buy the cert on spec? If I was reasonably sure it was her, I would, of course. But I'm not.
Anyway, thanks again for your help and info.
All help is very gratefully received!
Al
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I think you probably need to do a comprehensive search of the 1901 and try to find a Martin family with a Charlotte and Kate/Catherine in it - not easy! How old was she on the marriage certificate? Who were the witnesses?
The local register office may well tell you if the date of birth is correct. They seem very helpful nowadays. When I first started they would not say anything!
Andrea
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Hi Andrea,
I'm in the middle of an exhaustive (and exhausting) search of the 1881 census, which is where I turned up this match - best so far. Father, occupation and sister all match - but the birth year would be about 1874 whereas from the marriage cert it should be 1880. Seems a lot to knock off! (Did people worry about being older than their husbands then?)
However, I've now found an IGI record of a Charlotte (father Henry) christened 22 Feb 1874 at Shipley (near W Grinstead on my map!). Would the christening have been 1 month after birth?
Help! Where do I go from here?
Thanks for the interest, Al.
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Dates for Christenings vary. There was no hard and fast rule. I think you need to think very careful about what you know as fact and work from there. Why did you choose Sussex? Was that just because you found a Charlotte daughter of a Henry? Very risky way forward or rather backwards!
When did she die? What age was she then? That might give an idea as to whether the marriage age is correct. Did she have an occupation at marriage?
How did she come to be In Wales?
There are too many queries here for me to be sure you have the right Charlotte.
Andrea
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OK...
I know very little as fact!
The father and occupation was from the marriage cert (father deceased, BTW), as was the supposed year of birth (1880).
That year ties in with the stated age at death, but then it would, wouldn't it!
We've no idea how she came to be in Wales, and she was apparently very secretive about her past!
Family memories suggest a sister Kate (who died about 14, but before you ask I've tried looking.)
But several people say her birthday was 22 January.
So that's why I've been looking for a Charlotte, father Henry - occupation coachman, sister Kate.
I've followed up a few other possibilities, but the Sussex record is the only one so far that matches all that - except for the birth year.
I reckoned that if the birth date was 22 January it would be a more likely match!
And that's why I want to check it!
I agree it's all very vague - but that's all the info I've got to go on!
Anyway, thanks for the help!
Al
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In the 1881 census there is a Charlotte in Humberstone Leicestershire b c 1877 whose father is Henry, a coachman. No sister Kate though but she could have died earlier? Henry has died by 1891. I cannot find the Charlotte b West Grinstead in 1891 or 1901. Not an easy one this one! try posting it again on the general census board to see if anyone can find her. I bet someone will!
Andrea
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Andrea,
Sorry for the delay in answering - I didn't get a notification so I thought you hadn't replied!
I had found the Humberstone entry and followed it up, but the birth date seems to be later in the year so the match is not so good.
I note you say Henry has died by 1891. Did you find a death record??
I can't trace Charlotte in '91 or '01 either, though I think her mother Charlotte is around (I can't check as I'm in work at the mo!!).
I've now been told her sister Kate may have died at around 14, if that helps.
Would I get details if I subscribe to 1837online?
Also do you have a local address, or better an email address, for where I'd have to apply for a birth cert for the W Grinstead Charlotte?
Thanks ever so much for your help.
Al
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You could look up all births on 1837online and they have a link to the GRO to buy the certificates so you could find the West Grinstead one there too. otherwise look on Genuki for Sussex and find the register office that covers West Grinstead. I expect it is Horsham but it may not be.
Re Henry dying - without looking it up again I am assuming that I found the family in 1891 and the wife was a widow - if you see what i mean!
Andrea
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OK, thanks for the info.
I'll keep trying and if I get nowhere I'll try asking on the general board as you suggest.
Once again, thanks for the help, Andrea.
Al