« on: Friday 08 December 23 09:21 GMT (UK) »
Hi all
I've hit an incredibly frustrating stumbling block, and I'm hoping somebody out there might already have a missing piece of the puzzle (or have an idea about how to find it!)
My great-great grandfather, William Taylor Smith, was (according to Australian records) born in Kent on 6 Feb 1854.
It's uncertain if his name was William with surname Taylor-Smith, or William with middle name Taylor and surname Smith, though the latter seems to be the most likely. (His wife, children and grandchildren had the surname Smith, though one changed it by deed poll to Taylor-Smith as an adult). I do wonder if he might have been born William Smith but added middle name Taylor retrospectively (e.g. late mother's surname).
His father's name was Robert Smith (mother unknown).
His death certificate shows he was born in Kent (which could also encompass somewhere now considered to be greater London?)
An Australian newspaper article from later in his life mentions that he was "late of Newcastle upon Tyne", suggesting that he likely moved there sometime between 1854 and 1863.
He almost certainly emigrated to South Australia (aboard the Orient) in 1863, as a 9-year-old. The original passenger lists for that ship no longer exist, so his arrival is only known from newspaper lists and anecdotal sources when he was alive. There is no clear indication that he emigrated with a parent, and it's possible (though unconfirmed) that he was accompanied by a Mrs Percy/Perry. His future parents-in-law were also on the same ship (Stephen Stickels/Stickells/Stickles and Sarah Noble Maple). They were from Ruckinge.
I've turned my brain inside out searching every obscure variant of names and data combinations across Ancestry, FindMyPast, FreeReg and GRO. I've chased many family leads that have proven to be dead ends.
If I could find a way to search for Williams by specific date of birth (assuming the source of this info is accurate!) then that would help narrow things down somewhat (e.g. on GRO).
Does anybody happen to have this person in their tree, or can anybody help with some advice to untangle this mystery? Thanks in advance!
Adair, Ager, Anderson, Angel, Ayles, Badenoch, Bampton, Bannister, Bedell/Beadle/Beadel, Beresford, Bird, Blaesing, Brown, Butterworth, Clements, Eaton, Elston, Finn, Frith, Green, Groom, Hales, Hance, Heudebourck, Hollis, Maple, Menzel, Nancarrow, Noble, Oakley, Peed, Porter, Prior, Roberts, Sands, Scarlet(t), Sharples, Smith, Stickles/Stickells, Stokes, Sur(r)idge, Thurston, Tiver, Tulloch, Wade, Weeden, Wood, Young
