A Smith dilemma in Alford

[ladybird]

This is my first foray into Lincs, so please be gentle with me...especially with a name like Smith to hunt down 
I have a Robert Smith (born c1815 in Alford) in all the census up to and including 1871, His occupation on these and on his daughters marriage cert is a tailor.
His wife is Elizabeth born c1819 in Alford.
They moved to Hull between 1841-1851, where they stayed.
His oldest child Eliza was born c1839, she is my g/grandmother. She is down on all census as born in Hull, but a couple of other children were then born in Alford, so maybe they moved backwards and forwards a bit before settling in Hull.

I cannot find a marriage for Robert Smith and Elizabeth. I had hopes of the freebmd entry in June qtr 1838, but it turns out that that Elizabeth Abbott married a William Smith
http://www.s10.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/spilsbyRD.xls

Can anyone help or suggest where to try next please
Many thanks Sylvia

[Redroger]

You could try FreeReg. I have just had a look, and there are several marriages for a Robert Smith, but none that stand out. It could be too, that they never married, which might account for a move to Hull, and when they returned to Alford on visits, it would be assumed they had married in Hull, and they would not disillusion people who thought so. Good luck.

[sillgen]

Have you found birth registrations for the children?   A birth certificate will give Elizabeth's maiden name and then you have two names to look for in the marriage stakes.
Andrea

[ladybird]

Thank you folks, I've been putting this family to one side for too long now...time to do something about them.
And thank you for the heads up on freereg, I'd forgotten about it. It turns out a further child was baptised in Alford even though all census give his birth as Hull.
Trying to find Smiths in Hull is a nightmare but I will send for one of the Alford births.
There is a marriage of a Robert Smith (widower) in 1835 in Heckington to an Elizabeth Bassett. It says the groom's home parish is Donnington.
How far are these places from Alford or Spilsby please?

[Geoff-E]

Here's a map http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=539620&Y=365540&A=Y&Z=140

You will see Alford and Spilsby are pretty close.
Heckington is about 35km from Spilsby ... Donington about 10km SE of Heckington http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=520140&Y=340740&A=Y&Z=130

[Redroger]

Even though some communities seem fairly remote from one another, never forget the "hiring fairs" which were held at least once a year in the market towns, the purpose was to hire staff, labourers and domestics, or if you were looking for a job to get hired. Needless to say they often doubled as dating agencies, these fairs are responsible for many of the more extended distances that our ancestors seem to have moved.

[ladybird]

I've sent for b/certs of 2 of the children, Thomas in Spilsby and Lucy in Hull. They don't seem to be very good at registering their children either, these are the only 2 possibles at the GRO, so will be keeping my fingers crossed the reference match with father Robert will help.

[ladybird]

Just a bit of an update on the Smith certs

Thomas b1844 Spilsby - wrong, illegitimate to Charlotte Smith
Lucy Smith b1858 Hull - correct, father Robert a tailor. mother Elizabeth Smith formerly VINTER.

Now at least I have the mother's mn but another head banging exercise!! Did they marry? If so where? 

There is a probable baptism for Elizabeth Vinter in Alford Apr 1819 (she gives those details through all the census)

[Geoff-E]

Hmmmm ... 

Marriage 3 Aug 1840 Louth
Edward SMITH (son of Robert) to Elizabeth VINTER (dau of Robert)

From Louth spreadsheet here http://s10.freefronthost.com/mi/index.html

Marriages Sep 1840 
SMITH    Edward         Louth    14   654    
VINTER    Elizabeth         Louth    14   654