Since I first joined this lovely Site in 2005, I’ve been trying to find my paternal grandfather (anywhere) before he married my grandmother Margaret Rees in Swansea in June 1893.
On his Marriage Certificate, he said he was William James Wilson, aged 32 years, Occupation: Painter, Father William Wilson (deceased) Occupation: Mason.
On the 1901, 1911 and 1921 Censuses he says that he was born in Manchester, Lancashire in 1860. Ages on the Censuses lead me to believe that he was born in February 1860. I have his Death Certificate, he died on the 29th December 1937, aged 77 years.
Over the years I’ve ordered multiple Birth certificates, but none have fitted. There was a William James Wilson born in Kirkby Ireleth, Lancashire in 1860, but the 1911 Census shows him still single and living at home, and so he can be ruled out.
DNA matches show that I have DNA links to the family of Richard Kean and Frances Butler, both born in Hulme, Manchester in 1832/‘33. For many years I thought that my Grandfather must have been their son Richard Kean, born Hulme 1860. However, recently purchased Death Certificates and Army records show that he was still in the military during WW1, and so cannot have been my Grandfather.
I can only assume that my Grandfather must have been using another name before he married my Grandmother in 1893, but I’m running out of ideas as to where to look next 😔
Any thoughts welcomed!
Romilly.
