London Birth/Census lookup request please? COMPLETED

[Lisa Harding]

Hiya

Can anyone help with a lookup request as i have hit something of a brick wall and can't find the person I am looking for at all!!

My Great GRandfather was Joseph Howard and he was married to Louise Mann. They married in 1907. On the marriage certificate from Bermondsey, South London his father is listed as a Wiliam Howard who's occupation is given as 'Lead Worker'

Josephs age at marriage is given as 29 on the certificate which would make him born in abt 1877/1878. Unfortunately I do not know where he was born and anything else about his parents. The married couple lived at 4 willow grove, i assume (because of where they were married) somewhere in Bermondsey. A search on free BMD and the other ususal places has not revealed any Joseph Howard that i can see that might be the right one.

I dont think Joseph himself would show up in the census as i believe that he would have been on duty with the Royal West Kent Regiment who he was with in 1897 (Africa?) and later in life in WWI

Can anyone tell me how i might be able to find his birth record at all? This would solve a massive hole in our family history. I can supply more details of his marriage and his children if that might help anyone?

Many thanks in advance as always
Lisa

[nanny jan]

Hi Lisa,

If you think Joseph was born 1877/78 have you looked for him with father William on 1881 census?  It's free to view on both www.ancestry.co.uk and www.familysearch.org.

Nanny Jan

[Lisa Harding]

Hi Nanny Jan

Yup, have looked for him in the 1891 and 1881 censuses but without knowing which William Howard he is and where they hailed from it is like looking for a needle in a haystack"!! Howard is something of an ambiguous name and i am having difficulty tracking him down.

The WIlliam I did find had a son Joseph, but when i then went to look for the birth record i could not find it all!!!!

am stumped.
Lisa

[nanny jan]

Hi Lisa,

I wonder if it would be on his Army records?   Perhaps one of our military experts can help out.

Nanny Jan

p.s. I'm having trouble hunting my family of Howards too! (London)

[Lisa Harding]

Its funny because up until now my mums side of hte family has been so easy but on this I am stumped. It all started so well with finding his marriage and even his grave with the details on it. I even have pictures of him in uniform and his militia records, but there is no clue on there as to where he was born and it only gives his address!

Total nightmare these Howards!

L

[nanny jan]

Hi Lisa,

Thinking sideways now but have you any info on Louise Mann?  Was she born in London?  If not, might give a clue for Joseph.

Nanny Jan

[Lisa Harding]

Hi Nanny Jan

Louise Mann was born in Great Yarmouth in Norfolk and was 2 years younger than Joseph. She was the daughter of Charles Benjamin Mann. Does that help?

Thanks again
Lisa

[nanny jan]

Hi Lisa,

2 thoughts:

Possible childhood sweethearts, so Joseph could be from Great Yarmouth.

Can you find Louise on 1901 census?

Long shots I know ............

Nanny Jan