Dudley .......

[Welsh Girl]

According to census years 1861-1901, my GG GF's POB was shown as Dudley (although mistranscribed).

The difficulty being is the spelling of his Surname changes depending what record you look at.  Thompson, Thomlinson, Tomson Thomson ......  His MC says TOMSON, his DC says Thompson, his childrens BC's show Thomlinson .. so I am STUCK !!!

I have his MC for 1856, but I can not for the life of me trace him prior to this.

The only other bit of information I have is that his Father was called RICHARD, and his occupation was a Farmer.  William's occupations stays as a Collier throughout.

In 1861 he was living in Brynmawr, and then moved to Monmouthshire (I have all those addresses)

Driving me INSANE !!!  HELP ??!?!?!  (please)

[Gardener]

A bit tricky, to say the least. And it doesn't help that Dudley is in Worcestershire - although Staffordshire for some census.

Perhaps you could post each census entry for him as written? Is his year of birth consistent? There is a baptism for William Thompson at Brierley Hill in 1838, that is near Dudley.

Are the marriage witnesses from the Welsh side?
Any standout names for his children?

[Welsh Girl]

witnesses .... they must be the Welsh side ... Jenkins & Jones ....

No, the childrens names are really run of the mill .... Eliza, Ann, William etc.. the only one that is different is Richard - and William's Father is Richard ... there aren't any other Richard's in the family either (if you were wondering why I thought this one stood out)

1861 - THOMSON POB "Midley" (Dudley) and YOB 1836

1871 - THOMASON  POB  Dudley .. YOB  1835

1881 - THOMPSON POB  Dudley ... YOB  1834

1891 - THOMPSON POB:  NK, Staffordshire .. YOB  1833 (he was living with his Son George - 13, and Daughter Jane - 16)

1901 - THOMPSON POB  Brynmawr .. YOB  1830

He was living with his Daughter, Jane & Son in Law on the 1901, so it's possible the SIL didn't know where he was actually born, but he knew where his Wife was born/grew up, so ... guessed? (and got it wrong)

This man is a real-life Benjamin Button too - he gets a year younger every ten years

His Daughter Eliza (my Great Grandmother) is shown as Thomlinson on her MC, but on her childrens BC's she is Thompson.

If I could link him in with some other siblings it might help .. maybe there's another Richard hiding there somewhere??