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Author Topic: Choosing which root  (Read 3905 times)

Offline baldangel

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Choosing which root
« on: Friday 18 August 17 22:27 BST (UK) »
How do you best decide which root to follow?

I am researching Harry Simmonds. I have his marriage certificate and his death certificate both suggest he was born in 1881.

His marriage certificate carries the name of George Simmonds as a witness. There are two census entries for 1891 which show a Harry Simmonds born to George in 1881 when he was 42. One is married to Eliza and was born in Old Ford, London; the other is married to Elizabeth and born in Lewisham, London when the father was 29.

There are different family members which "confirms" they a different families.

I'm cannot work out how getting the birth certificates for either/both is actually going to eliminate one or the other.

Advice please.

Offline Manchester Rambler

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Re: Choosing which root
« Reply #1 on: Friday 18 August 17 22:38 BST (UK) »
A couple of basic questions before going further:

Does the marriage certificate give Harry's father as George?

If so, what is George's occupation?  Does this correspond with either of the census entries you have found?
ANT: Nesbit, Potts; CHS: Gosling (Hazel Grove/Lymm), Hinton (Lymm), Johnson (Hazel Grove), Marsland (Hazel Grove), Massey (Daresbury), Sorton (Warmingham); LAN: Jackson, James, Potts (Manchester/Salford); MAY: Caulfield, Griffin (Leveelick); SAL: Goodwin, Johnson (Bridgnorth), Gregory (Wellington); STS: Goodwin, Gregory, Johnson (Wolverhampton); Hallett (Trysull); SOM: Dowding, James, Jones (Bath)

Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline baldangel

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Re: Choosing which root
« Reply #2 on: Friday 18 August 17 22:42 BST (UK) »
Quote from: Manchester Rambler on Friday 18 August 17 22:38 BST (UK)
A couple of basic questions before going further:

Does the marriage certificate give Harry's father as George?

If so, what is George's occupation?  Does this correspond with either of the census entries you have found?

No, just as a witness, with no occupation given.

Offline avm228

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Re: Choosing which root
« Reply #3 on: Friday 18 August 17 22:43 BST (UK) »
Who was Harry's father, according to the marriage certificate?

Is this the same Harry Simmonds mentioned by you in an old thread?

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=512648.0

Marriage to Eliza Tomkinson in Macclesfield, Jun qtr 1925; death in Macclesfield in 1946 aged 65?
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)

Offline iluleah

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Re: Choosing which root
« Reply #4 on: Friday 18 August 17 22:44 BST (UK) »
Before you try to go back further I would do some more research on Harry, so each and every census so where he says he was born, what his wife was called in each census and the occupations he had.

If you have his marriage cert it shows who is father is and what his fathers occupations is, then check census for him and see if the occupations match.
While you are checking census also check siblings, their given names and see if those names start to repeat across the generations.

I tend to research sideways when I need more information and have found some very interesting and useful details that way
Leicestershire:Chamberlain, Dakin, Wilkinson, Moss, Cook, Welland, Dobson, Roper,Palfreman, Squires, Hames, Goddard, Topliss, Twells,Bacon.
Northamps:Sykes, Harris, Rice,Knowles.
Rutland:Clements, Dalby, Osbourne, Durance, Smith,Christian, Royce, Richardson,Oakham, Dewey,Newbold,Cox,Chamberlaine,Brow, Cooper, Bloodworth,Clarke
Durham/Yorks:Woodend, Watson,Parker, Dowser
Suffolk/Norfolk:Groom, Coleman, Kemp, Barnard, Alden,Blomfield,Smith,Howes,Knight,Kett,Fryston
Lincolnshire:Clements, Woodend

Offline avm228

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Re: Choosing which root
« Reply #5 on: Friday 18 August 17 22:49 BST (UK) »
Quote from: baldangel on Friday 18 August 17 22:27 BST (UK)

I am researching Harry Simmonds. I have his marriage certificate and his death certificate both suggest he was born in 1881.

I'm cannot work out how getting the birth certificates for either/both is actually going to eliminate one or the other.


Have you looked for "your" Harry in the 1939 Register on FindMyPast to ascertain his precise birthdate as recorded there?
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)

Offline baldangel

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Re: Choosing which root
« Reply #6 on: Friday 18 August 17 22:57 BST (UK) »
Quote from: baldangel on Friday 18 August 17 22:42 BST (UK)
Quote from: Manchester Rambler on Friday 18 August 17 22:38 BST (UK)
A couple of basic questions before going further:

Does the marriage certificate give Harry's father as George?

If so, what is George's occupation?  Does this correspond with either of the census entries you have found?


No, just as a witness, with no occupation given.

Basic error, George is listed as father and as a labourer, neither of the census appear to show George as a labourer. One a pork butcher, one is difficult to read but it doesn't look like labourer.

Offline baldangel

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Re: Choosing which root
« Reply #7 on: Friday 18 August 17 22:58 BST (UK) »
Quote from: avm228 on Friday 18 August 17 22:43 BST (UK)
Who was Harry's father, according to the marriage certificate?

Is this the same Harry Simmonds mentioned by you in an old thread?

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=512648.0

Marriage to Eliza Tomkinson in Macclesfield, Jun qtr 1925; death in Macclesfield in 1946?

Same one, gave up for a while, but now trying again.

Offline baldangel

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Re: Choosing which root
« Reply #8 on: Friday 18 August 17 23:00 BST (UK) »
Quote from: avm228 on Friday 18 August 17 22:49 BST (UK)
Quote from: baldangel on Friday 18 August 17 22:27 BST (UK)

I am researching Harry Simmonds. I have his marriage certificate and his death certificate both suggest he was born in 1881.

I'm cannot work out how getting the birth certificates for either/both is actually going to eliminate one or the other.


Have you looked for "your" Harry in the 1939 Register on FindMyPast to ascertain his precise birthdate as recorded there?

Can you do that without a subscription? I only have Ancestry.
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