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Would a rootschatter who has easy access to HALS look-up the baptism of James Barnes in the Cottered Parish records. I've found a Cottered baptism in IGI for a James Barnes, son of Thomas and Elizabeth, dated 24th April 1799. I am dubious about this entry and would like it checked against (a) the Cottered parish BMD microfiche and (b) the Bishop's Transcript (if it exists). Any extra/different details from those recorded in IGI would be good. Any indication that James' mother was a Mary not Elizabeth or was Elizabeth (dec'd) would be great.

The story is that I'm seeking the birth/baptism of my great great grandfather. He died in May 1892 at the age of 94. I've traced him through the various census records. He claimed to be born in three different Herts villages - Cottered, Ardeley and Rushden. Cottered is the only one of the three to have a baptism of a James Barnes at about the right time. (His parents Thomas and Mary nee Warren were married in Ardeley and they lived in Rushden for over 40 years.)

Taken at face value this seems great as his father's name was Thomas. However, as stated, his mother's name was Mary not Elizabeth which obviously throws a spanner in the works.

In addition I find, also according to IGI, that there are only two Thomas and Elizabeth Barnes couples producing children at this time in Hertfordhire. One couple live in Barley the other Sandon. Both couples baptised all their children in their respective villages, including one each in 1799. This would appear to make it most unlikely that they would have another child baptised elsewhere. Who therefore were Thomas and Elizabeth of Cottered? This couple appear not to exist!

The lookup would be great. Any observations that could throw light on the incorrect name for the mother as recorded in IGI would be of interest. I have nothing to suggest that Mary was ever called Elizabeth. She had seven other children with Thomas all bapt. Rushden on each occasion the mother was named Mary.

Thanks

Benzol

Hi All WW1 veterans - need help.

I have three WW1 photos and 2 medals of my father Ernest Baines. I think they were taken in the environs of St. Albans Herts. Apart from this I have no details and few family anecdotes. I am told that he served in Ireland and France. This may or may not be true.

The medals, Victory and British, still in their box and still in the envelope in which they were sent describe my father as Driver Baines RE Regt No 492373 (T) 2548. He was apparently discharged from the army on 19 February 1919. One of the photos shows him at 22B Pack Stables another is entitled 59th Signal Company B.Det R.E.

I have arranged to visit the RE Museum in Gillingham next week to peruse the 59th Signal Company's records. Doubt that any personal details will surface but you never know! Hopefully the visit will give some idea of where he served.

I've looked for my father's record at Kew without success presumably like so many others they were in the "burnt series". I don't know this for sure.

Hope you've all been patient enough to reach this point. I would be grateful for any tips. How can I research my father's war service or his company, regiment etc? Any help would be appreciated. Does anybody know what  a "Driver" was? I'm pretty sure that my father didn't drive a car. I guess the word meant something else in WW1.

Thanks to one and all.

Benzol

Hi Rootschatters

Can one of you intellectuals please give me the meaning of  "seurjan als". I came across this in the Crewkerne Somerset Baptisms 1750. The phrase was entered before the family name. Anybody know what it means.

Benzol

My great uncle Alex was believed to have been a sailor. He appears in the 1901 census for Victoria BC as a fireman on the SS Willapa berthed in Victoria on the night of the census. The 1911 census shows him married with children, still in Victoria. It also says that he immigrated to Canada in the 1890s. It's difficult to say but looks like either 1892 or 1897. Is there anyone out there who might know if there are Canadian records which detail immigrants into the country other than via shipping lists? I suspect great uncle Alex jumped ship! Are there likely to be ship crew records for the Canadian Pacific Steamship company which owned th SS Willapa? Any advice appreciated thanks.

Benzol