Hello, and I do hope someone can help me with my search. I live in South Africa and am researching my husband's family. Way back they were from Cumberland, mainly Bothel/Hensingham area. I have a world sub to Ancestry and have gleaned all I can get from there and from Familysearch. I have a bit of difficulty trying to figure out parishes etc on the census and tie them up with registration areas on BMD.
My main aim here below is to trace the births of William GRAHAM b. about 1841, George GRAHAM b. about 1878 and of William George GRAHAM b. 8 April 1906 in Cumberland (or could it possibly be in SA)? and send for their birth certificates.
First a few facts to set the scene...
THOMAS GRAHAM born. Isle of Man abt 1809 d. abt 1883/1887 (can't find birth - why not?)
m. possibly to Sarah BRACELIN/BRACELINE b. 1809 d 1891 on 9 July 1831, Aspartia, Cumberland (my supposition as the only close fit )
John - b.approx 1831, Bothel, Cumberland.
Thomas - b.approx 1835 Bothel, Cumberland
Sarah - bapt. 13 Aug 1837, Bothel, Cumberland
WILLIAM - b. abt 1841. Bapt. 7 March 1841 (Prob St Michael & All Angels) Parish
Torpenhow, Cumberland. (SEE below)
Jane - b. abt 1843. Bapt. 13 August 1843 Parish Torpenhow, Cumberland.
Mary - b. abt 1846, Bothel, Cumberland.
George - b.abt 1848, Bothel Cumberland. Bapt. 25 Dec 1848 Parish Torpenhow,
Cumberland.
Margaret - b.? 2 Nov 1852 Bothel, Wigton Registration . Bapt. 3 Sept 1854 Parish
Torpenhow, Cumberland.
WILLIAM b.1841
Born abt 1841 (1841 census 4 months old)
Bapt. 7 March 1841 (Familysearch) (Prob St Michael & All Angels) Parish Torpenhow, Cumberland. Father: Thomas, Mother: Sarah (Familysearch). Seems to be correct record
I will send for his birth certificate, the only birth that seems likely - Cockermouth reg. district birth hopefully Mar Q 1841 Vol 25 P.111.
m. Ann FOX Dec Q 1867 Whitehaven Reg District, Cumberland
William bapt 13 Feb 1870, Hensingham
Thomas b. abt 1873, Hensingham. (went to Canada)
John b. abt 1875, Hensingham.
GEORGE b. abt Jul Aug 1878. Died 6 April 1935 South Africa. (SEE BELOW)
Mary Ann b.abt 1885, Frizington.
+ 3 others died prob before registered? (1911 census of mother says 8 children)
GEORGE (I need his birth certificate but must find better proof of birth area and date)
b. abt Jul Aug 1878 acc to my calcs from his death certificate. (Where? 1881/91/1901 census says Cleator Moor which is 2 miles from Frizington.) His death certificate says born in Frizington, Cumberland. There are loads of George GRAHAMs on freeBMD for 1877 and 1878.
married Mary Barr (TAIT) Sep q 1902 Cockermouth, Cumberland. Death certificate says married in Workington.
Emigrated to SA really guessing abt 1909??? (can only find a passage for his wife and children in 1909)
Died 6 April 1935 South Africa. I have his death certificate where it gives age 56y 8m.
Wife Mary Barr (TAIT) Graham left from London, England, 20 Jul 1909 for S Africa on SS Geelong as per passenger list.
She is Married aged 36, With 3 Children on passenger list as follows:
Mary Ann aged 4, (prob. born abt 1904/5? )
WILLIAM GEORGE aged 3 born 8 April 1906 in S Africa according to his death cert.
Gertrude Sutton aged 1, (prob. b about 1907/8?)
I am looking for evidence of birth in UK parish registers for the following Father, Son and Grandson described more detailed above.
WILLIAM - b. abt 1841 (I want to order his birth certificate)
GEORGE b.abt Jul Aug 1878. (I want to order his birth certificate)
WILLIAM GEORGE, b 8 April 1906. (I want to order his birth certificate)
I can't find any of the 3 children, Mary Ann, William George, and Gertrude Sutton on Free BMD or Familysearch. Does this mean they were born in South Africa where records are usually difficult to find and I have found no records on NAAIRS or Familysearch, and that Mary must have returned to UK for a visit with those 3 small children and they were not in fact born in UK?
For WILLIAM GEORGE to be 3 years old on 20 July 1909 passenger record to SA he must be born between 20 July 1905 and 19 Jul 1906. (His death certificate says born in South Africa so am I clutching at straws here?) There is NO birth registration on Free BMD for a William George, or a George for the year 1906 in Cumberland. There are 6 George Graham registered in 1906 but none in June Q 1906.
One more thing: On the passenger list there is a summing up of the nationalities of the people on board. Out of 200 passengers on way to Australia and South Africa, only 1 adult single male is written as being born in British Colonies or possessions. I am not sure if this has a bearing on the above, because maybe some born in SA (possibly these 3 children) and termed English.
I really would appreciate a second knowledgeable eye on the above facts as I seem to be getting nowhere with these GRAHAMS :-) and if someone has access to parish records that would be great.
Regards
Caroline (Willsmer) Graham