Bearkat and Jebber thank you for the suggestion.
However we have already checked the non conformist registers, my apologies I should have also listed this in my original entry.
My Dad's cousin also went to England to research the family, she was unable to findout anything about George prior to his marriage in 1829. Extensive research has been done on the witnesses to the marriage of George Frederick and Elizabeth Warden however one witness was a work mate of George's the other perhaps a friend of Elizabeth's no connection could be traced back to either family name. The cousin also hired a researcher but unfortunately despite her excellent efforts no further information could be discovered. As George was a postman for General British Post Office all his working life we also researched through their archives but unfortunately there was no record that could help us.
5 of George's 7 sons came to Australia between 1853 and 1870 the passage to Australia was paid for the 6th but John never arrived, perhaps he died or went to parts unknown as he never made it to Australia, nor has he been traced through the censuses, only 1 son Henry stayed in England along with his sisters Mary Ann, Fanny, Jane and Elizabeth. We have been very lucky in being able to establish contact with some of descendants of all the children who remained in England. However we all hit the same brickwall.
We are hoping that George may have had siblings whose descendants may be able to help. Or we may be able to locate a descendant of George's that we are yet to discover.
Despite the years and the tyranny of distance the oral family history that has been passed down is rather accurate. My Dad was able to tell me the year of arrival almost to the day of his grandfather Frederick Warden and Great uncle Thomas George Warden's arrival in 1857, (20 days before the wreck of the Dunbar), great uncle George William Warden's arrival was after the death of Dad's great grandmother Elizabeth and just before dad's great grandfather's George's death, George William arrived in September 1863, almost that of his remaining 2 great uncles Charles William Warden in 1853 and Robert's 1870 arrival in Australia.
Dad told me his great grandfather was a postman and that he died after falling at work and breaking his leg. At the time I thought no one dies of a broken leg (well not at least these days). George's cause of death was indeed a compound fractured of leg, poll the verdict of the coroner. I have been looking on line for a newspaper report of the inquest to find out more about his injury and death the inquest was held Middlesex coroner Edward Lankester 19 November 1863 . George's wife Elizabeth's death also resulted in an inquest as she was found dead in the street near her home, her cause of death was diseased heart natural causes, post mortem exam, verdict of inquest held 15 May 1862, Middlesex coroner Thomas Wakley.
Unfortunately the history handed down never extended to where George came from. Thankfully the censuses have been able to assist a great deal with the elimination process and at least give us some idea where to look for George.
The Medway cityark is a wonderful amazing collection of records it has helped no end with some of my other Kent families ( mum's side) as are the non conformist registers as I have located other branches of my family through these in Suffolk.
Very recently a lead has come forward on a Warden family who were in the Sheerness area which isn't to far from Chatham it may be possible that George has a connection to them. The family moved to the Willesden/ Hendon Middlesex area around the mid 1820s to early 1830s. One of the sons William was also a postman. It is though that William born c 1813 was the son of James and Mary Warden, James's occupation was a cordwainer or shoemaker.
Some of their known children were Mary, Charles Frederick, Edward, James and David. should anyone out there have a connection to this family I would very much appreciate hearing from them.
Once again thank you to both for your replies and suggestion of non conformist registers and my apologies for not mentioning them.
Pam
