I have been working on my family tree for a few weeks now, sorting out the family narrative sent to me by a cousin of my mother's. He used to be on the committee of Norfolk Family History Society so the narrative is long (33 sides of A4) and detailed.
It reads like a story though and there aren't any birth certificate index references and very few parish register entry numbers. Adding Grangers onto a spreadsheet uncovered an un-numbered and un-bolded living cousin in Berkshire.
This week, I discovered HENRY GRANGER on the 1881 census, born in Highgate, Norfolk. Aged 44, he was living with wife JANE A GRANGER (34) born in Sunderland with six children (there may have been more). I have birth cert index references for the eldest four. They were living at 7 Zetland Street, Monkswearmouth Shore, Durham. Henry's occupation is listed as a tinship hole driller.
For unknown reasons, my cousin didn't put much info on the parents of HENRY GRANGER, ROBERT GRANGER and wife HANNAH GRANGER nee SEXTON and certainly didn't mention that they had six sons. I will search Norfolk first for Henry's five brothers.
I don't know Co Durham or Sunderland at all, so I'd like to know if there are any local resources which would help me.
Specifically, I'm looking for info on the local shipyards in 1881, in the hope that there might be some good archives. I want to find out where Henry and Jane might be buried and as Jane was a local, where they might have got married. Is there a good local source for parish registers online please ?
I'm looking to find living distant cousins in the area I hope, as there were 6+ children. If you have Henry and Jane Granger in your tree,we're probably related. I've noticed quite a few Grangers in the Durham Light Infantry. on the National Archives website, so I'm hopeful.
I'm the great great great great granddaughter of blacksmith and publican HENRY GRANGER (1775-1837) whom ROBERT GRANGER also traces back to.
Hoping that someone can point me in the right directions. Many thanks !!
