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Dear all,

My relations in Drogheda are recorded in the parish of St Mary's.  The current registers for baptisms (1837-1881) & marriages (1870-1881) I've searched via FindMyPast and manually looked through and fount a few records.

But my question is, does anyone know where the registers for this parish on either side of the available years listed above are located?

As I think there are relations on one branch of my family, the Hodgins, will be recorded in the other years.

Many thanks
Stuart

Hi,

Sometime ago I discovered one of direct ancestors to be Catherine Spinks.  She married Richard Bradley in 1815 in Shipston on Stour, Worcestershire and they had two sons; Isaac and Jonathan.

As of yesterday I've located her baptism record which took place in Shropshire and her parents to be that of Jonathan Spinks and Catherine Weiss.  Johnathan and Catherine married in St Mary's church in Warwickshire.  This being the second branch of my family connected to St Mary's church, the other been the Franks family.

Anyway, on Catherine Spinks baptism record underneath is the word - travelers.  I've researched this term last night and discovered it can either mean an occupation that would require the person to go where the work was, fairground folk or Romany.

I've searched through the census returns but can't find John/Catherine and considering they would be about 70yo by the time of the 1841 census its not surprising.  And I've not discovered any other baptisms for any other children to help my research.

Is there a way to determine what the general term, travelers is in regards to the Spinks occupation?  If they are Romany is there a way to locate the family in any other records?

Hope someone can point me in the right direction.

Many thanks,
Stuart

Hi,

I have very few relatives who appear on the 1939 register, my paternal side are from Ireland and weren't residing in England in 1939.  So, I have managed to find relations on my maternal side but the one missing that I would like to find is my grandmother.

Her name is Annie Elizabeth Franks and she born in 1925 and died in 1988.  I have tried searching using a broad search criteria, last name and Birmingham, last name and birth year etc but no such luck. 

As she was 14 and I thought maybe she was evacuated to another part of the country and broadened my search but still can't find her anywhere.  She married twice in her life, Woodbridge and then Diver.  I did find her mother and sister living in Birmingham and that's it.  Her only other sibling who died prior to 1991 was John Lacy Franks but he too doesn't appear anywhere.

Any help who would be much appreciated.

Dear all

I've just read in the Birmingham Mail that the museum is moving from its current location in Sparkhill to the main HQ in the city centre.  Which will make it easier for those of us researching our ancestors who served with the police. 

They have revealed they plan to put key items on display and other items will be placed into storage at Lloyd House.

Regards
Stuart

Hi,

I am hoping someone can help identify as to what happened to Colin Woodbridge?  Here is what I do know from the records.

He was born in Feckenham, Worcester in England to the parents of Thomas & Ann in 1811.  His occupation was that of a Needle Maker.  He appears in the 1829 & 1830 Worcester Assizes for sheep stealing.
 
For 1830, he is recorded as transportation for life.  He appears on a number of prison ships which include the Dolphin, Chatham & Cumberland.  I've obtained the petition sent to Robert Peel, the then Secretary of State on behalf of Colin, but it was to no avail.

Finally, he is transported to the ship Florentia and arrived in Sydney in 1831.  He was employed by a James McDougall in Darlington, New South Wales.  But on the 6th June 1832 he absconded from his employment and appeared in the Government Gazette as wanted.

It's here the trail runs cold and I wondered if anyone can help locate or offer any advice to continue my search.

Many thanks.