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Hi Jean,

Thanks for the information and replying so quickly. Wasn't sure I'd get one considering how long ago the original messages were posted!

Yes the marriage was the handwritten record. I expect most of the Devon records you mention can all be viewed on FindMyPast, so it may be worth a look.

From what I remember Sarah's parents marriage record had two witnesses, one with the surname Spiller and the other Spark, which helps to confirm the link.

Scott

Thanks to this I've found/confirmed a few details on missing children.

Even better it looks like I've found the birth record of one of my great x 3 grandfathers. William Baines born about 1854 in North Clifton, Nottinghamshire (Newark RD) appears to have been recorded as William Bean. There were 3 William Baines also born in Newark RD between 1854 and 1856. In the past I had ordered certificates with the fathers name so they would only post them out if correct. Always wondered if they really were wrong, mothers maiden name shows they were.

Unfortunately I still can't find the birth of another great x 3 grandparent, Sarah Dunckley (or Dunkley, Dunklin etc) born about 1858 in Bilston, Staffordshire (should be Wolverhampton RD). Mothers maiden name was Lockley. Parents Richard and Mary married December 1858 so she may have been registered as Lockley, but all the births of Sarah Lockley's have a mothers maiden name. Any ideas?

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.

Does anyone know how complete the Dorset marriage records on Ancestry are? I've found the marriage below in the indexes, but I can't seem to find it in the Dorset records.

Thomas Loveless
Sarah Hallett
District: Bridport
Year: 1875
Quarter: Apr-May-Jun
Volume 5A
Page 717

A tree on Ancestry says they married at Baptist Chapel, Bradpole, Dorset on 4 April 1875, but unfortunately they've not uploaded any images or included any other details.

The other couple in the index are James Bowdidge Taylor and Catherine Manley, and they also seem to be missing. I'm guessing the records for where they married just aren't on Ancestry, rather than them being mistranscribed.

Hi Ravelin,

Good to know you also found the marriage record.

I'm also descended from Edward born 1750, but then through his son Jeffery. I've not been able to find his marriage to Elizabeth, who was born in Oundle, Northamptonshire (according to the 1851 census).

Have you managed to trace any of the other lines further back, i.e. Elizabeth Webb, Mary Ellis, Sarah Puttock? It would also be interesting to know if you've found any other information on the families, other than what's in the parish records.

Scott