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Staffordshire / Hard Nut to Crack
« on: Thursday 25 January 24 10:47 GMT (UK) »
Good morning
I have a James Smith watch maker born 1837 St Ives Huntingdonshire , in Wolverhampton and his 'wife' Sarah Moore born 1844 Birmingham.
I've finally bitten the bullet and bought a marriage certificate for 1911 .
It tells me that his father is William Smith carpenter and Army pensioner deceased which as James is 73 is hardly surprising.
James is also a widower which may explain why they didn't get married before.
The 1911 census tells me James was also in the Army for 10years and is a pensioner. He now can't write his name as he could in January when he got married.
Trouble is Smith is not a great name to find and James's first marriage could be anywhere.And there seems to be no Army record for either him or his father.
The censuses have James and Sarah in Wolverhampton 1881-1911 .
Before that possible entries 1841 and 1851 at St Ives
1851 Back st .St Ives
Elizabeth Smith widow 36 laundress St Ives
James 15 ag lab
John 13 ag lab
Ann 10
Joseph 4
George 10mths
1841 gives his father as William age 35 labourer and an extra son William 12.
But a carpenter isn't a labourer and would a sg lab really become a clock maker ?
I'm not sure and there seems to be no parish records on line for St Ives.
So can anyone find James's first marriage ,his army records and his parents?
Fingers crossed
Ciderdrinker
I have a James Smith watch maker born 1837 St Ives Huntingdonshire , in Wolverhampton and his 'wife' Sarah Moore born 1844 Birmingham.
I've finally bitten the bullet and bought a marriage certificate for 1911 .
It tells me that his father is William Smith carpenter and Army pensioner deceased which as James is 73 is hardly surprising.
James is also a widower which may explain why they didn't get married before.
The 1911 census tells me James was also in the Army for 10years and is a pensioner. He now can't write his name as he could in January when he got married.
Trouble is Smith is not a great name to find and James's first marriage could be anywhere.And there seems to be no Army record for either him or his father.
The censuses have James and Sarah in Wolverhampton 1881-1911 .
Before that possible entries 1841 and 1851 at St Ives
1851 Back st .St Ives
Elizabeth Smith widow 36 laundress St Ives
James 15 ag lab
John 13 ag lab
Ann 10
Joseph 4
George 10mths
1841 gives his father as William age 35 labourer and an extra son William 12.
But a carpenter isn't a labourer and would a sg lab really become a clock maker ?
I'm not sure and there seems to be no parish records on line for St Ives.
So can anyone find James's first marriage ,his army records and his parents?
Fingers crossed
Ciderdrinker