South Africa - Immigration Records?

[Adrian Smith]

William Hemmens appears with his family in the 1841 census and again in the 1861 census but are nowhere to be found in '51

Here's the entry for '61

Hemmens   William   head   mar   53   farmer 30 acres   Compton   SOM
Hemmens   Bethia   wife   mar   49   blank   Sterminster   DOR
Barrow      Elizabeth   dau   wid   28   dressmaker   Winscombe   SOM
Hemmens   Hyde   son   un   12   scholar   Winscombe   SOM
Barrow      William E   g.son   un   9   scholar   blank   S Affrica
Barrow      Mary B   g.dau   un   7   scholar   blank   S Affrica
Oliver        John   servant   un   15   servant   Winscombe   SOM

It appears that William may have taken his family off to South Africa where his daughter Elizabeth married and had a couple of kids before returning to WINSCOMBE.

Does anyone know of an online resource that would help me identify when they left for SA and when they returned?

Thanks in advance.

Adrian.

[Valda]

Do you know Elizabeth actually married in South Africa?
More likely I would have thought is that Elizabeth married a soldier.
Army registers (those that took place before an army chaplain and not in a local church) even for events which occurred in England are in the overseas GRO index.
However there is a marriage in Bristol at about the right time

Marriages Dec 1849 
Barrow  Edward    Bristol  11 189   
possible spouse
Hemmens  Elizabeth     Bristol  11 189

Since travel was difficult and expensive whole families didn't 'emigrate' and then have sufficient funds to return. Most ordinary peoples' overseas births (as opposed to the wealthy) that you find in families who have returned to England, particularly as early as 1861 are military in origin.

The children's birth registrations if their father was in the army may be in the GRO overseas index (not on FreeBMD).

Regards

Valda

[Valda]

Adrian

I thought Glen had already found the Hemmens family for you on the 1851 census?

HO107 1936 folio 662
Rodway Banwell Somerset
William Hemens 42 Bishop Compton Somerset Head Married Farmer
Birthia Hemens Sturminster Newton Dorset 40 Wife Married
George Hemens 16  Winscombe Somerset Son
Hyde Hemens 2 Winscombe Somerset Son

Regards

Valda
 

[Valda]

One of the children's marriage certificates would also give you further details of their father and his occupation

Marriages Sep 1880   
Barrow  Mary Bethia    Axbridge  5c 856   
Trowbridge  John Thomas H     Axbridge  5c 856

Mary was in Derbyshire on the 1881 census and gave Natal as her birthplace. William also gave Natal as his birthplace in 1871.

Marriages Sep 1879 
Barrow  William Edward    Reading  2c 622   
HATSELL  Annie Maria     Reading  2c 622

William was in Reading on the 1881 census.

Regards

Valda

[Adrian Smith]

I thought Glen had already found the Hemmens family for you on the 1851 census?

You're so right.  And I'm such a numpty 

I can't find this record on Ancestry or The Genealogist - I wonder where Glen found it?

A.

[Valda]

Probably the same place I found it on the former index you mention. It hasn't been indexed as Hemens but both of us have given you the census reference so you can see the census page for yourself. I have given you what is written on the page itself not how it is indexed.

Regards

Valda

[Adrian Smith]

Do you know Elizabeth actually married in South Africa?
More likely I would have thought is that Elizabeth married a soldier.
Army registers (those that took place before an army chaplain and not in a local church) even for events which occurred in England are in the overseas GRO index.
However there is a marriage in Bristol at about the right time

Marriages Dec 1849 
Barrow  Edward    Bristol  11 189   
possible spouse
Hemmens  Elizabeth     Bristol  11 189

Since travel was difficult and expensive whole families didn't 'emigrate' and then have sufficient funds to return. Most ordinary peoples' overseas births (as opposed to the wealthy) that you find in families who have returned to England, particularly as early as 1861 are military in origin.

The children's birth registrations if their father was in the army may be in the GRO overseas index (not on FreeBMD).

Regards

Valda

Valda,

That's quite possibly the best piece if information and advice if received so far.  Thank you.

Regards,

Adrian.