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Has anybody any ideas how I can find details about my G Grandfather cant find a birth cert (born Bow London) or any trace of him before he had children his marriage cert is dated 1919 Southampton (His father is Albert deceased) after the children all born I just dont know what to try any suggestions would be great :-S

Hello Julie, who did he marry in 1919? What was his occupation and address at time of marriage? Although his father was dead, did it give a former occupation?

You say he married 1919 - he would have been 57 if born 1862. What was his marital status on the certificate, e.g. bachelor, widower?

Who were the witnesses - do any of them look like they could be family members?

How do you know he was born in Bow?

Whereabouts did he die (there were quite a few of that name died the same year, but none with birth year of 1862).

Sorry for barrage of questions, but it's not an unusual name so need to narrow it down as far as possible.

Is this the correct marriage:

Surname First name(s) Spouse District Vol Page
Marriages Dec 1919
Batchelor Eliza E Harrison Southampton 2c 92
HARRISON William H Batchelor Southampton 2c 92

Hi MarieCeleste On Marriage Cert he was a General Dealer and the address for both he and Eliza is Victoria Hotel Town Quay, His fathers occupation is Bricklayer, Age on cert is 56 Batchelor, witnesses Elizabeth Guy and Daisy Guy dont know if related, only know he was born Bow because he keeps putting that on census not totally sure its true because on census he says married 30yrs which wasnt true, he died 15/2/1936 @ 124 Heath Road,Twickenham. Yes thats the correct marriage details. Julie..

Ooh, Julie - there were a lot of fibbers back then!

One or other of them may have been already married so they weren't legally free until 1919 (perhaps when they found a first spouse had died).

What did it give for Eliza's status on the marriage cert?

Elizas status at marriage was Spinster and her age is 55 but that doesnt match as her records have her birth 9/5/1862 christened 29/6/1862 St Mary, Dover. I did think that about a first spouse dying but not sure how I would try and work that one out. Also a comment my mum said years ago was that one of her family was a foundling/illegitamate my mums dead so cant ask about that but Ive been increasingly thinking this may be the problem. Julie

To get my request back to top of the page Im adding 'HELP'

Hi Julie

You mention that on the Census he keeps putting Bow - is that consistent across all years? Where was he living in Bow - and who was with him?

What about Eliza - where was she,do you know? Also her age only seems to be a couple of years different from his - perhaps she knocked a couple of years off, or didn't know for sure!

Hi JannieAnnie He only appears on census records when he has children and is with Eliza living in Twickenham. He puts Bow as place of birth Eliza either puts Dover or Maidstone I have her family in Kent but William Henry is a right puzzle and his father Albert. I dont have any record of him in Bow so its a case of taking his word for it. Julie

So this is them. He's had a fair variety of jobs!


1911 census transcription details for: 9 Lion Road Twickenham


National Archive Reference:

RG14PN6851 RG78PN341 RD128 SD2 ED18 SN313
Reg. District: Brentford
Sub District: Twickenham
Parish: Twickenham
Enum. District: 18
Address: 9 Lion Road Twickenham
County: Middlesex
Name Relation Condition/
Yrs married Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born
HARRISON, Williams Henry Head Married M 48 1863 Furniture Dealer London Bow
HARRISON, Eliza Wife Married F 46 1865 Dover Kent
HARRISON, Nellie Daughter Single F 18 1893 Laundry Receiving Clark Richmond Surrey
HARRISON, Mabel Daughter Single F 16 1895 Laundry Receiving Clarke Twickenham Midx
HARRISON, Rosa Daughter Single F 13 1898 Feltham
HARRISON, George Son Single M 8 1903 Twickenham



1901 census transcription details for: 98, Colne Road, Twickenham


National Archive Reference:
RG number: RG13
Piece: 1189
Folio: 7
Page: 6
Reg. District: Brentford
Sub District: Twickenham
Parish: Twickenham
Enum. District: 12
Ecclesiastical District: Holy Trinity
City/Municipal Borough:
Address: 98, Colne Road, Twickenham
County: Middlesex
Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation , Disability Where Born
HARRISON, Eliza Wife Married F 38 1863 News Agent
Maidstone, Kent
HARRISON, Flora Daughter F 14 1887
Petersham, Surrey
HARRISON, Harry Son M 12 1889
Richmond, Surrey
HARRISON, Nellie Daughter F 8 1893
Richmond, Surrey
HARRISON, Mabel Daughter F 6 1895
Twickenham, Middlesex
HARRISON, Rose Daughter F 2 1899
Feltham, Middlesex
HARRISON, George Son M 0 (9 MOS) 1901
Twickenham, Middlesex


William H Harrison, 39, a newsagent b Bow, London has been missed out. He suffered from eye atrophy.


1891 census transcription details for: 3, Kew Road, Richmond
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National Archive Reference:
RG number: RG12
Piece: 620
Folio: 55
Page: 18
Reg. District: Richmond
Sub District: Richmond
Parish: Richmond
Enum. District: 12
Ecclesiastical District: St Johns
City/Municipal Borough: Richmond
Address: 3, Kew Road, Richmond
County: Surrey
Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation , Disability Where Born
HAMSON, William Head Married M 27 1864 Baker
Bow, Middlesex
HAMSON, Eliza Wife Married F 26 1865
Dover, Kent
HAMSON, Flora Daughter F 4 1887
Petersham, Surrey
HAMSON, Harry Son M 1 1890
Richmond, Surrey

Hi Alviegal Thanks for that any chance you can find 1881,1871 census for William Henry. How did you find it ? The different last name ? On Harrys birth certificate William Henrys job was Baker/Journeyman. His fathers name on the marriage cert is Albert Bricklayer. Julie

Unfortunately, I'm guessing that, by this stage, we're not going to find a straight-forward William Harrison being born in Bow with the father, Albert Harrison - a bricklayer.

This could mean that William was born with his mother's name, and was later brought up by an Albert. But there is no William, fitting his description, who was brought up by an Albert (Harrison or otherwise).

So, maybe William's father really was Albert Harrison, but his parent's weren't married, so William was brought up by someone entirely different.

The only Albert Harrison I can find, who is a bricklayer, was born around 1842 in Maidstone.

He's on the 1861 census in Maidstone, then he marries a Lois Moor, and they move to Camberwell. They have at least six children together there.

Hi ChristinaS Thanks for your help and everyone else that had had suggestions I think this is going to be one of those that goes no further. Looking back at my notes a William Harrison is in Maidstone 1881 census living with his Grandmother Mary Woollett but this William has place of birth Maidstone I must admit I did get a bit excited when I read you found an Albert in Maidstone but soon came down when I double checked. But many thanks everyone :-D

Just had to check on google maps if the addresses where near each other Oh my God they are so close. Ive got to forget this its so hard to give up lol

Its been nearly a year and I still havent found any info on this one maybe someone new might have some ideas.....

Before 1874 there was no penalty on parents if they didn't register children's births so many didn't bother. There are, however,a couple of possibles if you were feeling extravagant and wanted to see if any of these had a father called Albert who was a bricklayer:

Births Mar 1862
HARRISON William Henry St Luke 1b 661

Births Sep 1862
HARRISON William Henry Mile End 1c 504

EDIT: Just out of curiosity, what does it give for Eliza's former name(s) on Harry's birth cert?

I know William's middle name was Henry, but I'm ignoring that for the moment. And I know he was born in Bow (but his mother could have been sent away to give birth), so I'm also ignoring that.

Going back to the William Harrison who is living with his grandmother, Mary Woollett, in Maidstone on the 1881 census. Mary Woollett had a daughter, Emma, who was born c.1845. If we assume that Emma was William's mother, and that she wasn't married to the father, there's this:

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
about William Albert Woollett
Name: William Albert Woollett
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1864
Registration District: Maidstone
Inferred County: Kent
Volume: 2a
Page: 516

Then this:

Baptism Day:18
Baptism Month:Jun
Baptism Year:1865
Forename(s):William Albert
Surname:Harrison
Relationship:
Father's Forename:Albert
Mother's Forename:Emma
Mother's Surname:
Birth Day:1
Birth Month:Jun
Birth Year:1863
Abode:Ashford Road
Parents's Occupation:Bricklayer
Notes:
Dedication:All Saints
Place:Maidstone
County:Kent
Record Source:Maidstone All Saints baptisms 1558-1912
Kent FHS Ref:55241
Record source:Kent Baptisms

Just a possibility. But of course it doesn't tie in with everything.



Edit: Emma Woollett was living in Ashford Road in 1861

Julie, I am a bit confused - you say William married in 1919 yet he is on the 1911, etc, with Eliza. How do you know that the William who married in 1919 is the same as the one in the census?

Because i have the marriage cert and Eliza Ellen Batchelor is the Spinster and she is also on my grandads birth certificate

Julie, If this was my family I would splash out on the birth certificate for William Albert Harrison. (It's possible he dropped the name Albert as he didn't think much of his father).

The certificate MAY say that he was born in Bow. Though it's possible that it wouldn't be mentioned.

Edit: I meant to put - the birth certificate for William Albert Woollett

Another edit: On second thoughts, this William Albert Woollett could be a nephew of Emma. But I still think the William Albert Harrison is the right one.