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On 20 Mar 1899, William Levi Frier, born in 1877 in Alcester, Warwickshire, England, married Adelaide Mary Weeks (or Weekes), born about 1874 in Goytrey, Monmouthshire, England.

Adelaide is to be found on the 1881 and 1891 censuses with her family. Her parents are William Weeks, born Abt. 1842 in Brecknockshire, Wales, and Margaret James, born Abt. 1842 in Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Wales. They married in 1867 in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales.

Their first two children, Margaretta Louisa Weeks (b 1867) and Elizabeth Ann Weeks (b 1869) are to be found on the censuses and one finds their births in the GRO index with mother's maiden name James, born in Goytrey, Monmouthshire, England. The fifth child, Alfred David Wheedon Weeks (b Pontypool, Monmouthshire) is also to be found in the GRO index with mother's maiden name James, which suggests that Margaret Weeks, née James, is still alive and well.

However, I cannot find any records of the births of the 3rd and 4th children, respectively, Adelaide Mary Weeks (b Abt. 1874) and William Weeks (b Abt. 1876), both in Goytrey, Monmouthshire, England according to the census records.

There are a couple of possible William's born in Pontypool at about the right time, but with different mother's surnames (Robins and Carpenter), but I can't find any record of a birth of Adelaide, who is the person I am particularly interested in!

I'm wondering if anyone has any idea what might be going on here?

The reason I'm interested in Adelaide is that I'm trying to trace this family line forward in time. They seem to have had one daughter, Victoria Adelaide Frier (b 1901 in New Inn, Pontypool, Monmouthshire). However, I cannot find any trace of them after that.

I have for a long time on a back burner to track down details of my ancestor, Frances Mathew, born 1771 in Edingale, Staffordshire. I believe she was christened there on 24 February 1771. It would be very interesting to have her birth or baptism record.

Of even greater interest would be the birth or baptism of her daughter, Phoebe Mathew(s), born about 1796, possibly in Edingale, possibly in neighbouring Lullington or Coton-in-the-elms.

Phoebe is listed as Phoebe Farnell at her marriage (to Thomas Rochford in 1816), following Frances' marriage to Martin Farnell in Lullington in 1805. However, in his will, Martin clearly indicates Phoebe to be the daughter of his wife, Frances Mathew, from before their marriage. I think that Frances was not married when she had Phoebe, which is why I think her maiden name is Mathew, but I cannot be absolutely sure of this.

I hope this makes sense to anyone who might have the time to do a lookup. I was always hoping to get over to the England and go to the Lichfield record office, but so far haven't been able to, and thought that something might have come on-line by now.

Some time ago, I discovered that my mother's parents did not marry until 1939, just after WW11 broke out. However, my mother's birth certificate lists her mother as if she were married, i.e. with the surname of my mother's father followed by "formerly" and then her own surname or maiden name. My mother was born in 1926 in Liverpool.

My question is how would it have been possible for this to be achieved. Wouldn't they have been required to present a marriage certificate when registering the birth?

Could anyone give me the exact address at which Elizabeth Devereaux, born Elizabeth Froude about 1830 in Stoke Gabriel, Devonshire, is living in Toxteth Park, Liverpool, on the 1871 census? I have the other details, but failed to note the address when I had access to these records. Thanks, Alan