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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Dorset => England => Dorset Lookup Requests => Topic started by: kallie50 on Sunday 01 May 16 01:54 BST (UK)
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Hello
I am in Australia and have traced my g g grandfather, William Henry Williams back to his birthplace, Hull, Yorkshire. He was the youngest of eight children all who were born and some married in Wyke Regis Dorset. William died in Minmi, Australia and his death certificate showed his was born in Hull, his parents were Thomas Williams and Mary Russell. His father, Thomas, worked for HM Customs.
I have checked all records that I know of for marriage details of Thomas Williams and Mary Russell in Dorset. I also checked in Hull. The only possibility I found was – Thomas Williams and Mary Harris, witnesses Mary Williams and William Rufsell. Date of Banns was 2 November 1814. If this is the one I wonder why Mary's surname is shown as Harris. I’m assuming the witnesses were their parents so looked for birth records for Mary, I found two possibilities, there was a Mary daughter of William and Ann bapt in Broadwey 7th Jan 1792 and another Mary daughter, of William and Charlotte bapt in Charmouth March 23rd 1795. If there is any connection her I thought it may be the Charmouth one as Charmouth and Wyke Regis are both west of Weymouth and Broadwey is north. I’m just not sure where to go from here. I really do appreciate any hints/tips/advice
???
Regards
Lynne
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1841 Census for those who may be able to help.
Thomas Williams, 50
Mary Williams, 45
Maryann Williams, 20
Philip Williams, 15
Sarah Williams, 15
Emma Williams, 15
Bernice Williams, 14
Margaret Williams, 8
Louisa Williams, 6
WILLIAM Williams, 10 Mths*, born in County
All others not born in County
HO107/1230/1/St Mary
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First of all, whilst witnesses were sometimes parents, more often than not they were not and could be other family members, or unrelated at all.
Since all but the last of their children were born in Wyke Regis, they appear to have married there, surely Mary Harris is likely to have been one of these two:
Mary Harris bp.9/4/1795 Wyke Regis, dau. of Joseph and Elizabeth
or
Mary Harris bp.26/10/1793 Wyke Regis, dau. of Uriah and Ann
From looking at the baptisms it would see Thomas and Mary had 11 children baptised at Wyke Regis
1815 to 1835 - besides ones shown on census they include a Lydia Adams 15/5/1831, Elizabeth 25/12/1815, another Margaret 29/11/1829, Louisa 30/6/1821, William Henry 17/1/1819. Presumably the latter 3 above must have died since they went on to have further children with these names.
I would say you have the right marriage and that as a William Russell is one of the 2 witnesses there is probably some family connection somewhere and could be why family believed Mary's maiden name was Russell. Probably just a red herring, but a William Russell actually married a Mary Williams (name of other witness) at Shaftesbury 24/10/1817!!
Annette
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Thank you for the responses.
Further checks of marriage details in Wyke Regis shows surname of two different females as 'Harris Russell'. These entries are several years apart, 1822 and 1839, one father has surname of Russell (no Harris) - no fathers name for other entry. I'm probably making a mountain out of a molehill so to speak but unsure of why both marriage and death certificates for William Henry show his mothers maiden name as 'Russell' when other details show it is probably 'Harris'. According to 1851 census, William Henrys father had remarried so his mother probably died before he was 10 yrs old. His mothers maiden name on his marriage certificate may have come from incorrect information he had as a child ???
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dont know if it helps but this is your family in 1851 -
living at salem court holy trinity hull
thomas williams 60yrs married 1st class weigher in her majestys customs born weymouth dorset
elizabeth williams wife 52yrs born whitby yorkshire
john dickenson son in law 20yrs apprentice born hull
henry dickenson 15yrs son in law aprentice born hull
william henry williams 10yrs son born hull
thomas williams married elizabeth dickenson in 1848 at hull register office.
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Mary Harris bp.9/4/1795 Wyke Regis, dau. of Joseph and Elizabeth
or
Mary Harris bp.26/10/1793 Wyke Regis, dau. of Uriah and Ann
Odd banns records in Wyke Regis
Joseph Russell of Abbotsbury and Elizabeth Hewlett otp
30 Jan 1785, 6th and 20th Feb 1785
Joseph Harris of Abbotsbury and Elizabeth Hewlett otp
20 and 27 Mar and 3 Apr 1785
Joseph married (as Harris) to Elizabeth on 6th April
no Joseph Russell to Eliz Hewlett marriage so I suspect that it is only one couple and someone objected to first banns saying Russell was not his real name so Banns reread as harris, but possibly Russell was name he preferred to use.
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Further checks of marriage details in Wyke Regis shows surname of two different females as 'Harris Russell'. These entries are several years apart, 1822 and 1839, one father has surname of Russell (no Harris) - no fathers name for other entry.
The 1822 marriage is for Joan Harris Russell, who may be the Joan Harris bapt Wyke Regis 6 Dec 1798 d/o Joseph and Elizabeth Harris. Could she be Mary's younger sister?
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26 nov 1828 burial of Joseph Harris Russell Wyke R age 72
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Thank you for the information - I will follow up - definately seems to be a connection between Harris/Russell - I am in Australia and coming to visit UK next year, I'm trying to get as much information together before I come to further my research and so looking forward to exploring the areas of my ancestors :-D
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I have found a Mary Russell - Baptism Date 13 May 1792 - Baptism Place Wyke-Regis, Dorset, England - Father Josias Russell and Mother Ann Russell. I have found two other children as well however I cant find any marriage details.
Maybe I need to buy death certificate for Mary - maybe that will give me some information - I know she died in Hull - having moved there with Thomas and their elder children before 1840