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I have traced my gt grandfather in 1891 and 1901 censuses (Living at Rugeley, Staffs with his wife Caroline) but can't find him in any of the earlier ones. I managed to get his parents from his baptism cert and they are Henry and Sarah Holland, but I can't find them in any census at all, so have none of George's siblings either.

The problem is that Henry was a travelling brazier, so would be moving around. My great uncle, one of George's grandsons was called Arkless, which seems to be a gipsy name as I have traced others in the Midlands (Archles, Harkless) but cannot link them to my family.

Please can anyone help with a fresh pair of eyes to find George before 1891 or his parents in any census? Many thanks for any efforts to help.

Could this be George's parents,,,

BMD Search result details
Civil Registration event: Marriage


Name:>>>>>>>>>>>> BAMBER, Sarah
Registration District: Help Wolstanton
County: Staffordshire
Year of Registration: 1859
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Spouse's last name: Not available before 1912
Volume No: Help 6B
Page No: Help 172
MarriageFinder™: Sarah Bamber married one of the following people >>>>>>HOLLAND, Henry



MAYLAND, Sarah view record


Also found this marriage on Frrebmd

Many thanks Sue and Janet. I have a copy of the baptism cert.

I did get a copy of the MAYLAND marriage cert and sadly it wasn't the one. I suppose I could try the BAMBER one, but will see if I can find out a bit more about Sarah Bamber first. Travellers usually marry within the community, so if her family is a travelling family it makes her a likely wife.

1891 for ref:-

Name: George H Holland
Age: 30
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1861
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Caroline Holland
Gender: Male
Where born: Bestherby, Leicestershire, England:- (probably Bescaby)

Civil parish: Rugeley
Ecclesiastical parish: Rugeley
Town: Rugeley
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation: Grinder of Cutlery

Registration district: Lichfield
Sub-registration district: Rugeley
ED, institution, or vessel: 11
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
George H Holland 30
Caroline Holland 30 - born: Rugeley, Staffordshire
Alfred Holland 10 - born: Lichfield, Staffordshire
George H Holland 6
James Holland 6/12

his marriage:-
Marriages Dec 1882 (>99%)
HOLLAND George Henry Lichfield 6b 747
Johnson Caroline Lichfield 6b 747

.....................so in 1881 he would be single but probably living in Lichfield as Alfred was born there in abt.1881.


This is the only birth that seems to fit, so if it is him it will give you his father's name and mother's maiden name:-
Births Dec 1862 (>99%)
HOLLAND George Henry Melton M 7a 233
The district Melton M is an alternative name for Melton Mowbray and it spans the boundaries of the counties of Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire

Thanks Catherine, I found George from 1891 too. The Bethersby is really Blackfordby (can be pronounced locally as Blofferby). In 1901c his place of birth is shown as Blothby.

Alfred was living at his mother's address with her and her parents in 1881c and shown as her parents' child. As he is shown in 1891 as George's son it seems he was born before they were married. I agree that it does perhaps indicate George was probably living in Lichfield, or possibly with Caroline and her family, but just not there the night of the 1881 census.

Sadly I don't think the George born 1862 at Melton Mowbray is the one as my George was baptised the year before in June 1861.