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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Wiltshire => Topic started by: stikybeak on Sunday 18 March 18 07:51 GMT (UK)
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Hi all, I could do with some advice from anyone familiar with researching Wiltshire records.
I am trying to trace back my Gr-great grandmother’s family and have hit the proverbial brick wall. Her name, from her marriage certificate is Emma Jane Read she married George Haskell 23 June 1874 at United Methodist Church, Salisbury, District of Alderbury in the County of Wiltshire. She was 20yrs at the time of her marriage and a spinster, rank or profession is not recorded, her residence was Fisherton Anger, father was William Read (deceased) his occupation recorded as Gardner.
In Dec 1874 Emma Jane and her husband George immigrated to New Zealand. on board the Edwin Fox and arrived in Wellington, Apr 1875. Their son was born Feb 1875 (surgeon’s records) on the voyage out. On all their children’s births, there were 11 of them, her birthplace was either recorded as Salisbury, Wiltshire or just Wiltshire. She died 1906 at the age of 52 which leads me to think that she was a lot older than the age recorded on her marriage certificate and her birth may have been a lot closer to 1844 not the 1854 that I thought.
I have searched under all the different spellings for Read and used her second name to see what I could come up with but haven’t had much luck. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Cheers
Yvonne
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Who were the witnesses to the wedding
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Very hard to read the signatures they didn't photocopy very well. I can pick out the christian names but not much help without the surnames.
Y
Note: I've just scanned it and altered the background colour and the first witness name looks like:
Thomas T...ttin or tter or tten
the other name looks like:
Harriet T...ttin or tter or tten
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I am not sure why you question her age, her age on marriage and her death all tie in with an 1854 birth.
There is a birth for Emma Jane READ in Wilton Registration District, which is the correct district, in 1854 Vol.05A, Page 250. No mother's maiden name indicating probable illegitimacy.
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Oooops you're right subtraction mistake - 1854 it is.
I had been searching through the Birth Indexes and did look at that particular entry and checked maps to see how far Wilton was from Salisbury. I was hoping to pick up a baptism/christening date first before sending for that birth.
Y
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I think she may me the daughter of Harriet Read born c1833, living in Fisherton Anger a servant aged 18 in 1841.
Harriet was the Daughter of James and Caroline Read, who in 1861 had a granddaughter Emma the right age, living with them in 1861.
I am on my iPad at the moment so rather slow looking them up, if you get stuck I can look further when I go on my laptop later.
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Thank you, I'll look at it tomorrow it's getting a bit late here.
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*UPDATE*
I've just received the 1854 birth certificate for Emma Jane Read. The details are:
When & where born: 3 January 1854, Union Workhouse South Newton
Name: Emma Jane
Sex: Girl
Name and surname of father: -
Name, surname & maiden surname of mother: Emily Read
Occupation of father: -
Signature, description & residence of informant: X the mark of Emily Read, mother, Union Workhouse, South Newton.
When registered: 25th January 1854
Signature of Registrar: Jacob Wm Jeans, Registrar.
Still not 100% sure that this is my 2 x great grandmother, however I shall keep looking and it looks like its South Newton Workhouse records for me. if they're available for searching.
Y
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The 1841 census also has an Emily. Same family has Emma J is with in 1861
1841 Compton Chamberlayne, Wilton, Wiltshire, England
All b in county Wiltshire
James Read Male 40
Caroline Read Female 36
George Read Male 10
Harriott Read Female 8
Emily Read Female 5 ****
Maria Read Female 2
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1871 Emma Read Female age 17 Pauper Inmate Maid of all work born Shaftesbury Dorset.
Union Workhouse Shaston St James Shaftesbury.Dorset.
RG no 1968, page 43.
The supposed grandparents James and Caroline Read 1871 Compton Hut Compton Chamberlayne,Wilts situated on the Shaftesbury road.[Emma is not with them]
Believe Emma is in Shaftesbury Workhouse in 1871,in spite of being entered as born Shaftesbury.
Did your couple go out to NZ with a Methodist group from South Wilts,believe the church is still there,might me worth contacting them to ask what records they may have.Some Wilts churches have not let all their records go to Chippenham Archives Brionne.
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Hi Brionne
Thank you for taking the time to look at this. I also have this for Emma in 1871:
England and Wales Census, 1871
Name Emma Read
Event Type Census
Event Date 1871
Event Place Kensington, London, Middlesex, England
Enumeration District 14
Gender Female
Age 18
Marital Status Unmarried
Occupation Kitchen Maid
Relationship to Head of Household Servant
Birth Year (Estimated) 1853
Birthplace Compton, Wiltshire
Entry Number 24
Affiliate Image Identifier GBC/1871/0034/0037
With this one being in Middlesex I did wonder whether she had met George in that area as his family were from Hillingdon Heath/Cowley.
Just a thought.
Y
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Yes,Believe now you are correct.
Interested to know how Emma and George managed to sail to New Zealand, imagine they would have needed some sponsorship of some kind,sometimes employers helped or a church. Poor Emma must have had a pretty grim early life,obtaining a servants post in Kensington must have been her saving grace so to speak. See my PM.