Henry Charles WOOD

[NedK]

Hi,
I am very new to this forum, and seeking advice/direction in trying to positively identify my Great Grandfather's origins.

According to my Grandmother's Birth Certificate (who was born in 1903, in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia), Henry Charles Wood was a Wheelwright, born in Exeter, England, and was 46 at the time of her birth, suggesting that his birth was circa 1857. His wife, Ferdinandine Siedσfsky, was buried in the Coulson cemetery in the Scenic Rim, Qld,  in 1963, where Henry Charles Wood was buried in Jan 1903.
Death registration: Henry Charles Wood
Death date: 05/01/1903
Mother's name: Elizabeth -
Father/parent's name: Joseph Wood
Registration details: 1903/C/1824

Thus far, I have not been able to find any birth records of Henry Charles Wood, in Exeter, Devon, England around 1857.

I have found a Henry C Wood, born 1853 in Dawlish, Devon, to Elizabeth & Nicholas Wood, in the 1861 Census. Nicholas was a wheelwright, in Devon.
Henry Wood was still in the household of Elizabeth & Nicholas in 1871, now listed as a wheelwright himself, and still in Devon.
In 1881, wheelwright Henry Wood was a lodger in the household of James Couch, in Devon.
I have not found him in the 1891 census records thus far.

In 1895, 96, 98, Henry was listed in the Trades & Qld Towns Directories in the town of Englesburg, in the Scenic Rim, Queensland, as a wheelwright.

I have also not managed to identify his method of travel to Australia, or it's timing, other than the 1881-1895 information gap.

Are there any Guild, Indenture, Emigration, or any other records that might help here ?

Thanks for your time in reading this far.
Any suggestions gratefully received.
Cheers

[Neale1961]

Hello NedK. Welcome to RootsChat

I think it would be important to get the marriage certificate (18 Aug 1898) for Henry Charles Wood and Deaner Sidofski.  It will give you information about his father that comes directly from Henry.

The death certificate and the birth certificate for Violet (born after her father's death) may not contain the most accurate information possible. It was supplied by others who may not have remembered or known much. Death certs quite often contain errors or part-errors.
The birth certificates for his 2 sons born in 1899 and 1900 would also add to your knowledge about Henry.

[NedK]

Regrettably, there is no detail in the marriage records.
I will have a dig at the children's birth records, to see if I can glean something further there.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Cheers

[ColC]

Welcome to Rootschat. This might be worth following up.

WOOD, HENRY  CHARLES  
Mother BROWN  
GRO Reference: 1853  M Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT  Volume 05B  Page 109

1861 Browses Buildings (Could that be Browns) Ashburton
WOOD Nicholas 35 Wheelwright Chudleigh Devon
WOOD Elizabeth Wife 37 Dawlish Devon
WOOD William J Son 11 Errand Boy Dawlish Devon
WOOD Henry C Son 8 Scholar Dawlish
WOOD Albert Son 5 Dawlish

Colin


Marriages Dec 1847   (>99%)

Wood
 Nicholas
 
 Newton Abbot
 10
230
Elizabeth Brown

[NedK]

Thanks Colin.
This is my conundrum.

My Henry Charles Wood has Joseph Wood & Elizabeth listed as his parents on both his Marriage Certificate, and his Death certificate.
Henry C Wood was listed as aged 42 when married on 18/08/1898, so born circa 1856, while Henry C Wood, son of Nicholas & Elizabeth, was born circa 1853, according to the 1861 census.
Joseph Wood was listed as a Blacksmith on the marriage certificate.
Henry Charles Wood was listed as a Wheelwright.

There is a Joseph Wood, who was Nicholas Wood's elder brother, who was also married to an Elizabeth, who had 3 children in the 1851 census: Joseph aged 8,William aged 2 & Elizabeth aged 0. He was a Wheelwright, or a Blacksmith, depending on the Census year under review from 1851-91.
In the 1861 census, he is listed as a widower, living with his son William, aged 12, in Chudleigh. No mention of a Henry C Wood in that census. I intend to try to find the wife's cause of death. Possibly childbirth ?  If so, and the child survived ... ?

I am beginning to believe that this may be the correct family unit, but the story is incomplete thus far.

Thanks for your help
Cheers

[Neale1961]

Regrettably, there is no detail in the marriage records.

Then ..... suddenly ……. there is detail in the marriage record. Wow !! 

My Henry Charles Wood has Joseph Wood & Elizabeth listed as his parents on both his Marriage Certificate, and his Death certificate.
Henry C Wood was listed as aged 42 when married on 18/08/1898, so born circa 1856, while Henry C Wood, son of Nicholas & Elizabeth, was born circa 1853, according to the 1861 census.
Joseph Wood was listed as a Blacksmith on the marriage certificate.
Henry Charles Wood was listed as a Wheelwright.

[Neale1961]

There is a Joseph Wood, who was Nicholas Wood's elder brother, who was also married to an Elizabeth, who had 3 children in the 1851 census: Joseph aged 8,William aged 2 & Elizabeth aged 0. He was a Wheelwright, or a Blacksmith, depending on the Census year under review from 1851-91.
In the 1861 census, he is listed as a widower, living with his son William, aged 12, in Chudleigh. No mention of a Henry C Wood in that census. I intend to try to find the wife's cause of death. Possibly childbirth ?  If so, and the child survived ... ?

Yes, this is the family I have been looking at
The family were living in Ideford (13 miles from Exeter) and the mother Eliza was born in Exeter.
Joseph was a wheelwright in 1851, 1861 and 1871,  and a smith in 1881 and 1891

Joseph WOOD married Eliza HOWE in 1841

Children’s births registered –

WOOD, WILLIAM       Mother - HOWE 
GRO Reference: 1841  D Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT  Volume 10  Page 134

WOOD, JOSEPH       Mother - HOWE 
GRO Reference: 1842  D Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT  Volume 10  Page 137

WOOD, ELIZABETH       Mother - HOWE 
GRO Reference: 1844  S Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT  Volume 10  Page 134
(She died 1844)

WOOD, MARY  ANN HOWE    Mother - HOWE 
GRO Reference: 1846  J Quarter in NEWTON-ABBOT  Volume 10  Page 149
(she died 1848)

WOOD, MARY  ELIZABETH     Mother - HOWE 
GRO Reference: 1850  S Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT  Volume 10  Page 136

WOOD, MATILDA       Mother - HOWE 
GRO Reference: 1852  D Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT  Volume 05B  Page 127


Eliza WOOD age 34, died 1855. Death registered in Newton Abbot
(death cert available for quick digital download for £3.00)


When Eliza, the mother died in 1855, little Matilda was sent to live with her "uncle and aunt" James and Susan Harris. They don't seem to be relations of the Wood family (perhaps Howe?), but appear to have taken in / adopted Matilda. Daughter Mary Elizabeth was sent to visit in Somerset with the Hardings.
     If Henry was born a year before, or at the time of his mother’s death, it might explain why there was no birth registration, and also explains how he ended up being “adopted” by Nicholas Wood, brother to Joseph. Joseph does not seem to have been able to care for his youngest children.


Joseph WOOD probable death in 1899, age 82. Death registered in Newton Abbot

[Neale1961]

1841 census Chudleigh, Devon (all born in county)
John Wood 55 wheelwright
Mary Wood 54
Joseph Wood 20 wheelwright
Nicholas Wood 15
Mary Ann Wood 17

1851 census Chudleigh, Devon
John Wood 67 wheelwright, born Kenton
Mary Wood wife 63, born Hitchleigh? Hittisleigh? or Chudleigh?


John WOOD and Mary CUTHBERTSON married 7 Mar 1818 Exeter.
Children Baptisms in Chudleigh, Devon
•   Joseph 1820
•   Charlotte 1822
•   Mary Ann 1824
•   Nicholas 1826


DEATH REGO
WOOD, JOHN       age 68 
GRO Reference: 1857  M Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT  Volume 05B  Page 113


Christening - 27 Dec 1785 in Kenton Devon - John WOOD, son of John and Ann.

[NedK]

Thanks for your invaluable assistance, Neale & Colin.

Neale - apologies my for poorly phrased response previously.
I should have said no NEW detail in the Marriage Certificate.
It did, however, confirm previously known information, and as you observed - directly from the horse's mouth :-) Your further data on the family is new, interesting & very welcome ...

Colin - I did wonder if Joseph was not in a position to care for a newborn, and if Henry may have been fostered by his uncle & aunt.
The 3/4 year age discrepancy indicated by Henry Charles recorded age at Marriage and Death vs the Census age(s) in the Nicholas Wood household remains problematic however. He may have changed his reported age at Marriage in order to reduce the age discrepancy between groom & bride in 1898 perhaps ?
I will go back to look at Joseph's recorded children, as 1851 Census indicates that his William Wood was born circa 1859 & Elizabeth circa 1861, so not sure of the story there ... As with all in relation to this relative of mine - an interesting challenge :-)

Once again, thanks for all your help.
Cheers