I've hit a brick wall and I know there are people here who have a much better ability with lateral thinking than me. Could I ask for help please?
I'm looking for a birth for William Badham born in Monmouth around 1835 (or a year or two either way). What is supposedly this William Badham has entries all over Ancestry.co.uk but I'm not sure they are right, for instance they all show a later dob and his name is Alfred William Badham at birth and on 1841 & 1851 census forms. The one I'm looking at married Elizabeth Teague in 1864 and died in Shropshire in 1916 and I'm pretty sure this is a different person to the one they are assuming is right.
I believe "mine" is the William Badham showing on the 1841 census, living with John (born in Walford) and Esther (born in Tidenham) Brown living in Walford Herefordshire. On the 1851 census he is again living with Esther and is shown as an "adopted son". I'm assuming Badham is his birth name as adoption was unofficial in those days and a child would keep their own surname. Unfortunately I can't find any William Badhams or Baddams being born around 1835. I know it's before official registration but I want to explore every avenue. I haven't sent for a copy of his marriage certificate yet but I'm thinking he will have entered Unknown for his father, unless he just used John Brown's name. I've realised that people were in fact quite inventive when giving fathers' names in those days! I'm not sure I have John and Esther's marriage right but her maiden name may have been Rickards. I did wonder, as they seem otherwise childless, whether she took in a relative's child but I don't see the link.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this one please? Do you think I'm right I'm assuming some researchers have two people combined on Ancestry?
