Hi,
I'm trying to trace a William Axe who was born in about 1794.
What I do know
He had children with a women called Dinah.
He lived in Epworth at least between 1820 and 1841, and had at least 4 children there, George 1820, John 1821, Harriot 1824 and William 1835.
He probably died in Epworth in 1847.
He appears on the 1841 census, occupation Blacksmith.
What I don't know
Whether or not he and Dinah were married. I cannot find a marriage record for them.
Where he was born.
Who his parents were.
What his wife's maiden name was.
Why I am confused about his birth place
On the 1841 census it says that William was not born in Lincolnshire. The column 'Scotland, Ireland or Foreign Parts' is ticked, indicating he was not born in England. It is also ticked for his wife Dinah, suggesting she was not born in England either.
However Dinah outlives him by some length and makes it to another 3 census records. On each census she gives her birth location as being Yorkshire, although the precise location changes from Little Smeaton (twice) to Wormsley (once). This is easily explained as these places are only 2 miles apart according to Google maps.
So that has made me question the accuracy of the information about their births on the 1841 census. It was correct that Dinah was not born in Lincolnshire, but she was born in England contrary to the tick by her name. So could it be that William's was wrong too?
I can't find him anywhere on Scottish or Irish records. The surname Axe barely even appears in these records, so it seems unlikely he was really from there. He could be from 'foreign parts' as they called it in those days I suppose.
I'd be grateful for any insight anyone could provide.