Where is 'Bar' ?

[kevarms]

Hi,
I've found an ancestor on the 1871 census and his birthplace is given as 'Staffordshire, Bar' ? I can't seem to locate it and it's possible I am not reading it correctly.

Thanks in advance,
Kevin

[PaulStaffs]

There's Barr Beacon which I think was just in Staffs or nearby, Great Barr and Perry Barr which I think came under Warks. What does FreeBMD say about his registration?

Best regards

Paul

[kevarms]

I was actually hoping to find him on FreeBMD once I could narrow down a place of birth. It's a fairly common name, John Newton. I have him on the 1881 and 1911 censuses as being born in West Bromwich.

[DMP]

Hi
Sorry i can't find a Bar
but this might be John
Births Mar 1865   
NEWTON    John  W Bromwich    6b   731

this could be some of his sisters
Births Mar 1863
NEWTON    Mary Jane  W Bromwich    6b   641
Births Dec 1867 
Newton    Margaret      W. Bromwich    6b   666
Births Mar 1870   
Newton    Emma   W. Bromwich    6b   772
Births Sep 1872 
Newton    Hannah     W.Bromwich    6b   739

Brother
Births Sep 1876 
Newton    William     W.Bromwich    6b   844

Donna

[DMP]

Hi
If you contact Sandwell Register Office
Superintendent Registrar,
Sandwell Register Office,
Highfields,
High Street,
West Bromwich,
West Midlands,
B70 8RJ, UK
Tel 0121 569 2480
and ask them to only send the birth cert if the father is the same as one the the marriage cert
you can print a form of from this site
http://www.westmidlandsbmd.org.uk/
look for John Newton 1864 and clicking the reference WBNE/39/482

Donna

[PaulStaffs]

I have him on the 1881 and 1911 censuses as being born in West Bromwich.

Which John Newton is it (i.e. year of birth and wife's name) or can you provide the 1881 census ref? I can see a couple of different candidates.

Paul

[DMP]

Hi Paul
I think this is him
1871
Piece: 2983 f.22 p.37 born staffordshire Bar? father Alfred born 1865
1881
Piece: 2848 f.24 p.39 born West Bromwich father Alfred 1865
1891
Piece: 2270 f. 102 p.9 born West Bromwich wife Martha A born 1866

married
Martha Ann Hill
St Peter's West Bromwich
1887
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0e1w/

1901
Martha A Newton born 1867 West Bromwich is at Piece:2721 F.114 p.33 but no John but it does say she is married her Uncle Edward Hill is with her and the children

Donna

[PaulStaffs]

Hi Donna

If it's that family I have some guesses:

John' siblings Mary and Alfred are twins registered at Stoke on Trent Sep qtr 1860. Mary Jane 1863, John 1865, Margaret 1867 all registered at West Bromwich.

On the 1871 census mother Mary is shown as b Hanley (north) Staffs. I wondered if she lived at nearby BARlaston as a child and returned there for the birth of each of her children.

On the 1851 census (Piece  2005, Folio 153, Page  15) as Mary Mills her birth place might read Blurton (mis-transcribed on ancestry.com) so the above theory is a non-starter. Also on the 1871 her place of birth is shown as North Staffs whereas the three west brom children are listed as Staffs.

If it isn't Great Barr or Perry Barr there's also Barr Common just south of Aldridge. I also noticed Alfred's occupation in the gun trade - there were a number of gun makers in the area around the Wigmore/Old Church area...halfway between Great Barr and Swan Village!

Enough guesswork!

Paul

[kevarms]

Thanks very much guys. I think you have both found the right people.
Donna: I don't live in the UK so it's more convenient for me to order my certs online from the GRO. I think it's worth a gamble on the 1865 birth. I have bookmarked the site you linked to. As well as this line, I have another that I have traced back to that area (Kingswinford). Very useful!
Paul: I like your idea that it may be Great Barr. But Barlaston definitely seems plausible. I'll report back here once I get the cert.

Thanks once again 

Kevin