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Hi,

I believe I've found the correct family of my great x 3 grandfather David Thomas, but think I need some proof.

David Thomas married Mary Ann Pierce (or Pearce) in 1864 in Tipton, Staffordshire. His marriage certificate gives his fathers name and profession as David Thomas, Labourer. Their ages are a little out, David's age is given as 22 (I think he was born in 1839, so 24/25), Mary Ann's as 20 (I have her birth certificate, she was actually 18 at the time).

They can be found on the census records from 1871 to 1891:

• 1871 Oldbury Road, West Bromwich. David, 31, born "Shropshire Ougistree". Maryan, 25, born Worcestershire Dudley.
• 1881 Edge Street, Sedgley (Dudley reg. district). Their ages are very inaccurate here as David is said to be 50 and born in Wales, Mary Ann 30 born in Dudley (and their oldest child is 18).
• 1891 Chell Street, Sedgley David, 52, Mary Ann 46. Their places of birth are the wrong way around, David is said to have been born in Dudley and Mary Ann in "Shropshire Salop".

I'm thinking they gave ages that were closer together when they got married as there was a difference of around 6 years. Their ages on the 1871 and 1891 census records are similar so they're most likely to be accurate.

It looks like "Ougistree" on the 1871 census is actually Oswestry. I can't find a David Thomas son of a David Thomas on the earlier censuses in Oswestry, so I think this was given as the nearest town.

There is a David Thomas son of David Thomas on the 1841, 1851 and 1861 censuses living and born in Llanyblodwel (or Blodwel) born in 1839/1840. It looks like David senior died sometime after 1861. There's a few possibilities for Jane on later censuses.

There is also a baptism in Llanyblodwel that can be found on FamilySearch, and I now have a scan of the image after requesting it through the photo duplication service. David Thomas was born 30th July 1839 and baptised 6th August 1839, son of David (labourer) and Jane Thomas.

Looking up Llanyblodwel it's in Oswestry registration district and very close to the Welsh border. The name also sounds like it's in Wales. This probably explains why on the 1881 census David's place of birth was given as "Wales".

I can rule out the David Thomas living in Church Stretton district in 1851 with parents David (a Blacksmith) and Jane as they can all be found living together on the 1881 census in Church Pulverbatch, Atcham district.

I've also searched for a will on Ancestry.co.uk relating to either of his parents. The only David or Jane I could see from Llanyblodwel was a Jane Thomas that died on 13 April 1881 at "Blodwel Vicarage", but the index says she was a spinster.

Everything fits but I'm not sure there's any real proof that this is the correct family, other than perhaps the fact that there is nothing I can see that suggests they are not the correct family. I suppose an expensive option would be to purchase deaths certifcates for all David Thomas' in Oswestry between 1861 and 1871, of course the earlier ones don't include an age in the index.

Hi,

I can't seem to find a birth record for my great x 3 grandmother Sarah Dunckley. She was born about 1858 in Bilston (according to 4 census records, though one census says Sedgley).

Does anyone have access to baptisms in Bilston and the surrounding area around that time? I'd like to confirm her parents names and date of birth or baptism.

I havve also struggled to find the family in the 1861 census, does anyone have any ideas?

Her father is named on her birth certificate as Richard Dunckley. In December 1858 Richard Dunckley and Mary Lockley (or Lochley) married in Moxley, West Bromwich registration district in 1858.

Thanks

I'm doing some research into a family for a friend, but struggling to get any further.

I have the marriage certificate for Cyril Frederick Kelly and Betty Patricia Duling, they married in Wandsworth, London in 1950.

The certificate says Cyril's father was Frank Kelly, a fitter. I also have a copy of his birth certificate as I knew he was born in Belfast in 1923. His birth certificate states his father was Fred Kelly, a fruiter, and mother was Eve Marks (didn't know for certain, but we believed her name was Evelyn).

Fred/Frank and Eve's children I believe were born in the following order: Cyril, daughter, son, Hilton James (d.2008) and daughter.

I'm told they separated and it was a mixed Catholic/Protestant marriage.

Unfortunately I can't find a record of their marriage, or birth records for any of their children on the indexes on Ancestry (am I right in thinking Northern Ireland isn't covered on these indexes after 1921?).

There are a few Frank/Fred Kelly's and Evelyn/Eveline Marks on the 1901 and 1911 census records, but no way of telling if any are correct.

Cyril's marriage certificate stated his rank or profession as "3rd engineer merchant navy". I've ordered copies of his "Seaman's Pouch" from The National Archives website, but I guess it's unlikely to reveal any new information on his parents.

Thanks

I've attached a scan of a plaque passed down to me.

I'm told it was from my great great grandfathers business, suggesting my great great grandfather was James Hamilton.

However I cannot work out where it fits into the family. My great grandfathers marriage certificate states his father was Andrew. Several pieces of information from various certificates and other records suggest I have the correct family.

I'm wondering how old the plaque is. It doesn't even fit in when tracing the family further back. Any ideas?