Robert Williams Born 1878 Bradley

[Obwan]

Looking to purchase the birth certificate of my great grandfather Robert Williams.  The 1911 census has his place of birth as Bradley, Stafford.  Excuse my ignorance but I can't work out if this is Wales or England.  From the marriage certificate (Jun 1905) I have his age as 27 living in Connahs Quay, father John Williams. I assumed he was from Wales but now find there is a Bradley in Staffordshire.    Any ideas how I isolate the correct Robert Williams?   Thank you for any help. 

[maidmarion]

Hi Obwan and welcome to rootschat 

It can be a bit of a nightmare trying to locate a person with such a common name but don't dispair, at least you have some good information ie. father's name and hopefully Robert's place of birth.

Here is the Genuki link for the village of Bradley in Staffordshire, England, which shows it to be a very small village which also must be in your favour. The village does have its own Parish Church so it may be worth a look at the PRs, if the family were nonconformist though then this may not be of any use. Bradley is covered by the Stafford Registration District.
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/STS/Bradley/index.html

Have you tried to find him in earlier census? This may help to confirm place of birth.

maidmarion 

[maidmarion]

Searching free BMD between 1876-1880 for a birth of a Robert Williams gives 12 for the county of Staffordshire but none that I can see are registered in Stafford. I don't know the local area though, sorry.
http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl


Do you have an occupation for his father John? 

MODIFIED to correct my date error.

[wrjones]

There is also the village of Bradley near Gwersyllt Wrexham.Incidentally it is about ten miles from Connahs Quay.See this map;
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0aht/

Regards
William Russell Jones.

[Obwan]

Thank you all

Father john William's profession is listed as Collier.   Sorry for a late reply my computer had an "episode" last night and the "post" icon would not respond.

I always assumed Wales, Is there an old name Stafford associated with the Bradley, Wrexham area? 

[maidmarion]

Deleted.
Sorry wrong age.

[maidmarion]

Hi
Was Robert also a miner? Can you post the names of the witnesses at the marriage please.

Thank you
maidmarion

[Obwan]

I will check tonight on the witnesses. I'm at work now. One was a John Robert Hill but I can't recall the other.

Everyone's clues have help me identify who I believe could be the one.   I have no idea if Robert was a coal miner but I did find a census entry for John Williams, wife Alice.  John Williams is listed as a collier (I should have focused on the occupation).  My grandmother was named Alice Anne Williams so I'm confident this is the correct household.  This is for  Denbighshire.   

[wrjones]

One important question;Was father John alive when Robert was married?

Regards
William Russell Jones.