Genealogy method for comparing several birth entries to find correct ancestor

[d_j_m]

Hi - I'm trying to find the birth record for my x1 great grandfather, Thomas Edward? Perry, age 25, Catcher of Rolls at Ironworks (source death certificate Feb. 1898, Pontypool, Monmouthshire), notified by his wife Sarah Ann Perry formerly Treadwell, married and originally resident in Tipton, Staffordshire. His given age when he married Sarah Ann, in April 1896, was 22yrs. He gives his father's name as Thomas Perry, Ironworker, on his marriage certificate.

I recently came across a Militia record for a Thomas Perry, Ironworker, of Tipton, Nr Dudley, Worcestershire on FindMyPast. This places his age on attestation in May 1893 as 18 yr. 7 mths. Thomas's signature on the attestation form and marriage certificate are identical so I think they are one and the same person.

The problem is I've bought several birth certificates for Thomas Perrys', registered in Dudley, Staffs, between 1873 and 1875, but I'm not having any success at finding the right birth registration for 'my' Thomas Perry because the age given in the attestation record/marriage record/death record is not consistant.

Has anyone any advice about how to set out a record of multiple searches on similarly named people  from the registration district of Dudley, Staffordshire around 1874, so I can build up a comparison of these individuals, to try and eliminate them from my ancestral search. PS Not even sure if his middle name was Edward!

[Girl Guide]

Not sure if this will be helpful but there is an 1881 census record of a Thomas Perry Iron Worker living at 15, Chell Street, Sedgley, Dudley, Staffordshire.

Wife is Caroline and four children listed one of whom is Thomas although this one has a birth year of 1877

Registration district   Dudley
Piece number   2872
Folio   18
Page   30

There is a possible marriage for Thomas and Caroline in

Dec 1866   
Briggs    Caroline        Dudley    6c   24   
PERRY    Thomas        Dudley    6c   24

The GRO now has births from 1837 which show the mother's maiden name and you can check for any Perry births with the name Briggs.

As a matter of interest who were the witnesses on Thomas and Sarah's marriage certificate?  Could they have been family members?

[d_j_m]

Thanks GG - I wouldn't rule anything out at this stage so I shall follow your suggestion about the Sedgley Perry's in the 1881 Census and I'll look into that family. The 1896 marriage witnesses for Thomas and Sarah Ann don't appear to be family members.

I feel the militia attestation age is the most accurate. 18 yrs and 7 mths in mid May 1893. This suggests a birth date of October 1874. I've just ordered a birth certificate for a 'John Thomas Perry', birth reg. Q4 1874, registered Dudley, Staffordshire. Fingers crossed.

[groom]

Welcome to Rootschat

I feel the militia attestation age is the most accurate. 18 yrs and 7 mths in mid May 1893. This suggests a birth date of October 1874

Unless he lied about his age in order to enlist.

[d_j_m]

GG - Found the GRO birth ref. for Thomas Perry M. 1877, mother's surname Briggs. That's a useful search tool, thanks.

Groom - Well I think he was less than truthful about his age on his other certificates so you are right,  I should be cautious. There is a question on the attestation form that asks the recruiting officer to estimate the physical age of the applicant. This is also stated as 18 yrs 7 mths, but then he could have been big for his age, and the Worcestershire Regiment probably had quotas to meet for recruitment so may not have been too discerning about underage applicants. This TP appears to have been served a 'recruitment paper' so I should research how he could have been served such 'paper'. Maybe he picked it up at work?

[Girl Guide]

Have you considered looking for a baptism record?  The father's occupation is usually given on these records.  As you know what that is - iron worker or similar - it could help you in pinning down the correct person.

[d_j_m]

Thanks Girl Guide. I have used the Staffordshire Baptisms records on FindMyPast, but nothing really there rings true. However I have restricted my search to the dates between 1873 - 1875. I do have a contact in Worcestershire who might be able to search for me at the 'Hive' Records Office in Worcester. You probably know that a part of Dudley Registration District falls in Worcestershire.

I've also tried Family search for baptisms.

I feel that I need to write down all my Thomas Perrys' and compare them, backwards and forwards in life, so that I can eliminate some of them. The records that I know are correct (because they record his wife's name) are his marriage and death certificate. I also have his son's ( my grandfather) birth and baptism record (mistranscribed as Parry in Staffordshire Baptisms 1896). In the baptism record for Thomas jnr, he calls himself Edward Thomas and also names his son Edward Thomas. He's still an Iron Worker, like his father, and living in Horton Street, West Bromwich.

[trish1120]

In case this is useful in the future.

Marriage;
16 Dec 1866, St Andrew (Netherton), Dudley Staffs, Staffordshire
Thomas PERRY, Bachelor, Parish Netherton, Occp Shingler, Father JOHN Perry, Occp Roller
Caroline BRIGGS, Spinster, Parish Netherton, Father JOHN Briggs, Occp Chemist and Druggist
Witnesses, Henry Weaver/Eliza Danks
(Source FreeREG)

Trish

[trish1120]

I think we can rule that Thomas out.

1881 we have;
Thomas Perry, 40
Caroline Perry, 33
John Perry, 10
Benjm. Perry, 7
Thomas Perry, 4
Harriet Perry, 2

PERRY, HARRIET Mothers mn  BRIGGS
GRO Reference: 1879  M Quarter in DUDLEY  Volume 06C  Page 108


1900 US Census on Familysearch.Org
Household
Birthplace
Thomas Perry, Head, M, 60, born   England
Caroline Perry, Wife, F, 55, England
John Perry   Son, M, 29, England
Benjamin Perry, Son, M, 26, England
Thomas Perry, Son, M, 23, England
Rebecca Perry, Daughter, F, 16, England

Immigration Year 1888

PERRY, REBECCA, Mothers mn BRIGGS     
GRO Reference: 1883  S Quarter in DUDLEY  Volume 06C  Page 91

Trish