Brickwalled by Great Great Grandfather

[johnabbots1]

Hi, New to the forum, just hope somebody out there might be able to help. I am reasearching my family (Abbots, Abbotts), mainly through the internet as I have recently moved to Sydney. I seem to have hit a brickwall with my Great great Grandfather Thomas Abbotts born approx 1848 in Hanley Staffs, according to the 1871 Census. He then is found on my Great Grandfathers (Jack Abbots) birth Cert. in Dec 1880. On the Census 1881 Hannah Abbotts (formerly Blease), his wife, is widowed. So Thomas must have died between Dec 1880 and Mar 1881. I cannot find any info other than this about Thomas thus giving me a proven source to reasearch the family further. Searched BMD's, census's, etc. He is listed as a Brick Fireman in Hanley 1871. Any help would be really appreciated.
John Abbots

[keyboard86]

Hi John and welcome to Rootschat, the only birth in Staffordshire that would appear to fit your Thomas Abbotts is:-

Thomas Abbotts Sept 1847 Stoke on Trent v17 page 153 ( Stoke on Trent covers the Hanley region )

Purchasing this, but even more so the marriage to Hannah, would enable you to gain information as to the name of his father, and his father's occupation?

Keyboard86

[Wiggy]

I've had a quick look for baptisms  - only 6 about that time - according to FindMyPast - 3 in Derbyshire and others elsewhere - I am not familiar with English geography so don't know if Derbyshire is possible - close to Staffordshire.

In the birth records there are several in Staffordshire but none in Hanley - Stoke on Trent seems to be the same area when I look at the maps  the closest I can find is

Stoke on Trent 1852 2nd quarter ref 6b 169,

 Stoke on Trent 1847  3rd Q 17 153   also.      snap Keyboard!

Can't get any parents names from births.  but might give you somewhere to start.

Hope this is helpful - others are better at this than I am

[johnabbots1]

Thanks so much for your advice, I will certainly apply for the Birth Cert you mentioned. The marriage is a different story, can't find any evidence of this at all. Again searched through BMD etc. on Ancestry and find my past, whilst his death is another mystery..
Another odd event is a 1891 census I discovered listing Hannah as Boon rather than Blease (name listed as "formerly" on Birth Cert of Son),/Abbotts. It is surely her as her Children are all listed, dates correct, Birthplace matches up. I cant find any evidence of her re-marrying in the years after Thomas's death. Again thanks for your help.

[Wiggy]

Have you tried Family Search - Mormans site?

 - it is free - just beware that the extracted entries are the ones you want - they are much more reliable that the submitted entries.

belated Welcome to Rootschat.  Good place for breaking down brick walls!

Wiggy   

[johnabbots1]

Thanks Wiggy, I will have a look at this site. Following your and Keyboards advice re: Thomas's Birth, I returned to Ancestry to see if I'd missed it on a BMD search. There was no birth for Thomas Abbotts, 1847. Is one site more complete than another or is this a common problem?

[Wiggy]

Don't know but I have the same problem - sometimes stuff is found on Family search which isn't on FindMyPast - sometimes in reverse - I don't use Ancestry much now as I don't have subs - so can't comment on that.    It is time consuming going to every site if you don't find it on the first!     

Sometimes you can get lucky and find OPR (Old Parish records) in the area which will have stuff - Cornwall has great OPC records on their database.   (If you have rellies in Cornwall give a big cheer - I know I did!)  and all the time more and more is coming online.   So what you don't find this week may well be there next month! 

Wiggy      (I am just passing on info which others around here have taught me!     )

[keyboard86]

Hi John, without spending a penny, I use Freebmd, which allows phonetic searches, my favourite every time for post 1837 BMD's

It is the marriage that is important, although they may not have even married, also she may not have married a Mr Boon? Just hope that someone comes up trumps for you.
Keyboard86

[angelfish58]

Here's a possible SeptQ 1865 Woolstanton 6b 113 two of the names listed are Hannah Blease and Ralph Boon. Off to do some checking