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I am trying to find the birth records for Evan Halstead 1855abt in Burnley Lancashire, I can find him in the 1881, 1891 and 1901 cencus records but nothing previous to that. He married Sarah Crissey Catterall in 1881 in Bury Lancs, found this on Lancs BMD site. but cannot find any records of his birth, was wanting to find his parents, many thanks stella

Hello, hello, this is interesting!

The only Evan born at that time:


England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
about Evan Smith
Name: Evan Smith
Year of Registration: 1855
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Burnley
County: Lancashire, Yorkshire - West Riding
Volume: 8e
Page: 156

Now here he is in 1871. Check out the married daughter's name!


1871 England Census
about Evan Smith
Name: Evan Smith
Age: 16
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1855
Relation: Son
Father's Name: George
Gender: Male
Where born: Burnley, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Reedley Hollows
Ecclesiastical parish: [Extra Parochial]
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Registration district: Burnley
Sub registration district: Burnley
ED, institution, or vessel: 56
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 93
Household Members:
Name Age
George Smith 67
Evan Smith 16
Lettice Smith 11
George Smith 1 (grandson of George)
Sarah Halstead 23 (daughter of George)

He could have had a falling out with the family and changed his name to Halstead

1861 England Census
about Evan Smith
Name: Evan Smith
Age: 6
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1855
Relation: Son
Father's Name: George
Mother's Name: Mary
Gender: Male
Where born: Burnley, Lancashire, England

Civil Parish: Burnley
Ecclesiastical parish: St Peter
Town: Burnley
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Registration district: Burnley
Sub registration district: Burnley
ED, institution, or vessel: 6
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 102
Household Members:
Name Age
George Smith 55
Mary Smith 46
Edward Smith 20
Elizabeth Smith 16
Sarah Smith 14
Martha Smith 12
Evan Smith 6
Lettice Smith 1

Thanks Lewella, that doesnt make sense to me, I know that Sarah's parents were Thomas Catterall 1826 Rochdale and Emma Patterson 1836 Bolton, married 1854 at St. Johns, Bolton, Lancs. Found Evan on 1881 cencus in Bury Listed as a boarder and occupation Policeman. He is a mystery to me, he is my husbands great-grandfather. Thanks for your efforts, kind regards Stella

Stella

What I'm saying is, Evan's sister was Sarah Smith and she married a Halstead. I think that Evan Halstead was born Evan Smith, but for some reason changed his name.

Interestingly, here is Evan's sister and her husband in 1881. Check out the husband's occupation:


1881 England Census
about Thomas Halstead
Name: Thomas Halstead
Age: 27
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1854
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Sarah
Gender: Male
Where born: Burnley, Lancashire, England

Civil Parish: Ince in Makerfield
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Street address: 5 Welding Street
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status:

View Image
Occupation: County Police Constable

Registration district: Wigan
Sub registration district: Hindley
ED, institution, or vessel: 26
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Halstead 27
Sarah Halstead 27
John Halstead 5
Martha Alice Halstead 4
Alfred Halstead 2
Sarah Halstead

Hi could it be that Evan took his mothers name as his parents were unmarried and later took his fathers name, could this happen thanks for help stella

I think he actually took his married sister's name of Halstead

This is what i have got so far.
1881 cencus Bury - boarder - policeman
1891 cencus Bury - Weights and measures inspector
1901 cencus Bolton ditto
1913 death in Bolton sub district Tonge with Haulgh. age 58.

stella

Have you purchased the marriage certificate to ascertain Evan's father's details?

I'm sticking to what I think. Nothing else fits. Evan Halstead was probably born Evan Smith. For some reason, he changed his name from Smith to Halstead and he chose his sister's married name.

And check out Lettice Smith!


1881 England Census
about Lettice Smith
Name: Lettice Smith
Age: 21
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1860
Relation: Sister
Gender: Female
Where born: Burnley, Lancashire, England

Civil Parish: Burnley
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Street address: 48 Oxford Rd
Education:

Employment status:

View Image
Occupation: Cotton Spinner

Registration district: Burnley
Sub registration district: Burnley
ED, institution, or vessel: 9a
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Ellen Halstead 41
Ellen J. Halstead 24
Ruth Halstead 22
Albert Halstead 21
John Halstead 19
Nathaniel Halstead 16
Charles Halstead 11
Mary E. Rushton 20 (nee Halstead)
Lettice Smith 21

Ellen Smith married John Halstead in 1866. The children in the 1881 census are noted as her step children. Only Charles is a product of the marriage

Well, Lew, since you asked ... ;)

I think, first off, that's him, little question about it.

As to the name change, hmm. Maybe there was something in the Smith family history that wasn't good news for being a bobby?

Interesting. Need that Evan Smith birth cert before going too much farther -- just to be sure his parents really were George and Mary.

It's always possible he was actually their grandchild, maybe the result of a different Smith gir's dalliance with a Halstead ...

Thanks EB. As you can see, there appears to be a big link between the Smith and Halstead families!

The household in 1851:


George Smith 65
Mary Smith 37
Ellen Smith 12
Edmund Smith 11
Elizabeth Smith 6
Sarah Smith 3
Martha Smith 1


Ellen was old enough to have had Evan with Halstead in 1855 ... a liaison while Halstead was still married ...

What Halstead did Sarah marry then?

Marriages Mar 1871
Halstead Thomas Burnley 8e 302
Smith Sarah Burnley 8e 302


It's in a census somewhere in the thread, isn't it ...


Er ... what Halstead did Ellen marry?

As reg was not compulsory his birth may never have been registered. Try looking for a baptism record.
I don't know if this will give you any ectra details but if you go on the Lancs CRO site (use this http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/education/record_office/records/police_detail.asp?id=31278)

you can look what police records are held and if found a form for enquiries comes up along with

Police
We hold records for the person named below, for the years shown:

First names: Evan
Surname: Halstead
Location: Lancashire

Records are held for Lancashire Constabulary, for period of 1878-1880 (REF: PLA 11/22)

Thank you Lewella, EvieBeavie and lancashireann for all you help, I am still trying to get my head around all the info, I couldnt apply for the marriage certificate of Evans parents as I did not know their names but will now apply for the one where the name is Smith, also the contact for the police records could be helpful. I had hit a brick wall with the Halstead line until recieving your help, only been doing this for 6 months but have so far found over 550 members of our families, kind regards stella

Hi lancashireann, have been on Lancs CRO and applied for any info on Evan Halstead and Thomas Halstead in the police records.
Have found a marriage for George Smith and Mary Howarth in 1838 at St. Peters Burnley, maybe these are Evans parents, kind regards stella

Been in touch with Bury Registry Office and got the marriage certificate for Evan Halstead and Sarah Chrissey Catterall (in the post to me tonight) very kindly they filled in a few details for me, Evan's father is given as JOHN HALSTEAD-DECEASED., ALSO Evan is listed as a policeman living in Bury.
I have found a marriage for a John Halstead and Mary Ann Whitehead at Burnley in 1851, there is also one for John Halstead and Mary Hartley in 1852 at Briercliffe, St.James.
Any comments greatly appreciated, stella

Aren't we kind of doubting that Evan's parents were married?

He was Smith in the censuses and Halstead when he married. There's no birth registered in either name. I'm sensing an unmarried mother. ;)

I know nothing about how to do it, but I'd go with lancashireann's suggestion of looking for a baptism record.