I have been searching for years to find the English family of my 2nd Great-grandfather. With the help of this forum in a previous post and recent DNA findings I believe I have found the answer. I started with his name Harry Welch and born in England (from family) and a birthdate of Dec. 10, 1851 from the Canadian census.
I believe he was born Henry Davis Welch, Dec. 10, 1851 in Shinfield, Berkshire to Henry Davis, a soldier, and Jane Welch. (I have a copy of this birth certificate.) A Jane Welch, daughter of George and Lydia Welch, married George Simmonds in 1854. Through Ancestry DNA matches, I am related to two descendants of Jane Simmonds. I have reached out to one of them through the Ancestry message service but have not had a reply.
I am looking for help on a couple of fronts.
First I cannot find Henry / Harry Welch in the 1861 census he was born too late for the 1851 census and was likely in Canada by the 1871 census. I am guessing he was fostered / adopted by relatives or neighbours. Are there any other records in Shinfield that might prove useful?
Second can anyone suggest where I might get information on Henry Davis to start a search? Far too many with that name if I can't find any further information.
Thanks in advance for any help,
Linda from Canada