How to progress.....

[Navigator]

I may be attempting the impossible with the family name of SMITH!! 

I have my paternal grandfather's (Charles William) wedding and death certificates, which agree within a year with his date of birth.  I am now trying to locate his birth certificate with this date of birth and using oral information from a now deceased aunt, that he was born in Ipswich. 

I have (I hope) exhausted the Ancestry site resources.  Am I attempting the impossible with this available information, or am I missing something?

Thanking you in anticipation.

[Barbara F]

Hello Navigator and welcome to Rootschat 

You don't give any timescales so I am not sure whether this is relevant or not!  Have you found him on any censuses?  These would, I hope give some confirmation of his place of birth.

Smith is not easy but if you give us some more details we may be able to help.

Barbara

[LoneyBones]

Hi Navigator, welcome to RootsChat.
The certificates you have should give you the names of his parents. But certainly some dates would help.

Leonie.

[charlotteCH]

Hi Navigator... and welcome to rootschat.

have you looked for his birth on freebmd?  Assuming it's post 1837, you may well find him there... worth a try.

charlotte

[Navigator]

My thanks to every one for their prompt replies.

I am sure as I can be I have exhausted the census and birth reference sources, that said I do get tunnel vision after several hours of searching!!!

The details I have are as follows:

Name;  Charles William Smith dob September 14 1881 (confirmed by reference to marriage and death certificates, may be a year out).  Death September 17 1942.  Marriage in Wandsworth, death in Hertfordshire.

Other facts:  oral information that he was born in Ipswich and had a brother(Edward) & 2 sisters Mabel Jane and Blanche.  I have no idea of the birth order of these siblings.

If anyone knows a way of fitting these pieces of the jigsaw together I will be very grateful for their advice.

[Barbara F]

Hello again

What was the name and occupation of Charles' father on his marriage certificate?  Also, what was Charles' occuption when he married and who were the witnesses?

This information may give us some more clues.

Barbara

[Navigator]

Good evening Barbara F.  Thank you for your continuing interest and offer of help.

Charles' father's name was HENRY SMITH, a joiner of 4 Lubeck Street (probably Wandsworth).  Street searches have been unsuccessful.

Thank you again, fingers crossed!

[LoneyBones]

There is a Charles William Smith born  Hackney, 1881.  Vol. 1b Page 534. This is on FreeBMD; http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl
It doesn't give parent's names.

IGI has very few Charles Smiths born at that time. So maybe not as common as one would think.
Maybe try the 1891 Census.

Leonie.

[charlotteCH]

Good on you Leonie for finding a possible on freebmd...
often it's a case of new eyes looking at data.

charlotte