Here's a nice one: John Smith - Completed Thanks

[CV-S]

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone could help locate my ggg-grandfather, John Horace Smith (1850-1895) in any censuses.
I already have him in the 1881 census, where he is living with his wife and six children in High Street, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. He is working as a labourer.
He was born in Baldock, Hertfordshire in 1850.
He married Martha Haggar (1845-1929) in 1869 after two of their children were already born.
They moved to Staines, Middlesex c1877 and then settled for good in Walton-on-Thames in c1879.
Any help gratefully recieved.
Thanks

[Mort29]

1851 census of Baldock, Herts - HO107/Piece: 1709 Folio: 95 Page: 8 - @ White Horse Street
 
John Smith 32 Head of household born Baldock: a Gardener
Eliza Smith 32 Wife born Herts, Buckland
Arthur Smith 9 son Baldock
Jane Smith 7 dau ditto
John H Smith 8 Months old born Baldock



There's multiple John Smiths marrying Elizas in Hitchin District alone, and more elsewhere in Herts - you may need to get John H's Birth Certificate to establish his mothers Maiden name ...


Births Sep 1850 
 
Smith  John Horace     Hitchen  6 546   



Here he is after marriage to Martha, still with his parents, but now in:-

1871 census of Clothall, Herts - RG10/Piece: 1364 Folio: 81 Page: 11 @ 'Clothall End'
 
John Smith 51 Head of Household born Herts, Norton? : a Gardener
Eliza Smith 51 Wife born Buckland
John H Smith 21 son born Baldock: a Gardener
Martha Smith 25 Dau in Law born Norton
Arthur W Smith 1 Grandson born Yorks, Gildersome
Alfred Smith 1 Monthold Grandson born Herts, Clothall ??

Joseph Dickerson 18 Lodger Essex: a Footman
Sarah Hagger 46 Married Visitor born Herts, Norton: Ag Lab Wife

[CV-S]

Thank you very much. (And so quick!)

Very interesting, I thought his father's name was John but I also though he was an only child.

Thanks again

[Yorkslass]

And this could be him in 1871, living with his parents -

RG10/1364 Folio 81, Page 11,
Living at Clothall End, Clothall, Hertfordshire
John Smith, Head, mar, 57, Gardener, born Herts, Norton
Eliza           wife, mar, 57                 born Herts, Buckland
John H Smith  son, mar, 21   Gardener, born Herts, Baldock
Martha   dau in law 25, born Herts, Norton
Arthur W  grandson 1, born Yorkshire, Gelderstone
Alfred   grandson 1 month, born Herts Clothall crossed out, can't read entry...

Yorkslass

[CV-S]

Thanks Yorklass, this is great. Yes, that is them.

I think it's nice when families live together like that.

Great info

Thanks again, CVS

[CV-S]

Oh dear, my internet's messing up a bit.

A big thanks needs to go to Mort29 as well!

I'm pretty sure that's Martha's mum visiting them.

Sorry about that

Thanks again both of you

CVS

[Mort29]

note that a relation of Martha was visiting in 1871.

The lads ages are drifting by 1881, where Alfred is shown with PoB of Baldock.

Have you found out why Arthur was born in Yorkshire?

[CV-S]

No, the fact that Arthur was born in Yorkshire is intriguing me.

John was only about 18 when he was born and he wasn't married to Martha, plus she was older than him, so maybe she went to Yorkshire to have the baby to avoid scandal.

Maybe she ran away or something, I don't know.

I guess the birth certificate could shed some light, so I'll think about it (their son Ernest was my gg-grandfather)

It seems like John followed his father's profession early on.