Genealogy Chat

I have traced my great grandfather (Edward Hardy, DOB 28 July 1867, Brighton, East Sussex) and his birth certificate says 'Mother - Elizabeth Hardy' with the father details left blank. I also have his wedding certificate which says, under father's name " - Hardy - deceased, Sailor". I can't trace Elizabeth Hardy on any census as I don't have either her DOB, or place of birth, only that she had Edward in Brighton in 1867. I'm not even sure whether Hardy is her surname or that of the unknown father!! Will my trail go cold, or is there some other way of getting information on Edward's father, or a bit more information about Elizabeth? Any advice would be gratefully received.

On the face of it it looks like Edward was illegitimate. Often a fictitious name for a father was put on marriage certs to hide the fact of illegitimacy

For ref, is this who you think is him in 1881?

1881 England Census
about Edw. Hardy
Name: Edw. Hardy
Age: 13
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1868
Relation: Inmate
Gender: Male

Civil parish: Byfleet
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England

Street Address: "Surrey Certified Industrial School Byfleet"
Education:

Employment status: View image
Occupation: Scholar

Registration district: Chertsey
Sub-registration district: Chertsey
ED, institution, or vessel: Surrey Certified Industrial School

Christine

Thanks to everyone for their responses. I suppose I don't know whether the birth certificate for Edward in 1867 is actually him, as he had such a common name. But the year and place suits, so I just assumed - do you think this may not be the case?

As, on this birth certificate, it gives his mother's name, I was hoping to find an Elizabeth Hardy with a son named Edward on earlier censuses but, not knowing where she was living or anything else about her, I couldn't find a thing.

I think I've found Edward on the 1901 census, living in Camberwell with Florence Annie, Albert Edward, Edith Maud, Frederick John, Gladys and Reginald George. My grandfather (Archibald Victor Hardy DOB 1909) did have a sister called Edith Maud (who looked after him as his mum died when he was 5) and another sister Gladys. He also had brothers George, Sid and Albert so it made sense (Sid was born about 1906 so wouldn't be on the 1901 census). Unfortunately, in those days, they rarely called themselves by their proper names, ie he was known as Tom and his sister, Edith was known as Doll! I'm guessing that Reginald George was the George that my mum remembers but who can tell? I've even got photos of all of them - just no-one left who I can ask!). My grandfather was born in Croydon, so maybe I'm barking up completely the wrong tree. My grandad's dad was Edward and his mum was Florence (the name my mum vaguely remembers before I found the 1901 census) but that's all we know.

Thanks to Christine for the 1881 information, Ill look into that and see if everything else ties in.

Dear Somersetgirl - thanks for your messages. Yes, both your entries for 1901 and 1911 are my family. The 1911 census shows the two 'missing' brothers, Sidney and Archibald, so I have definitely got the right family in 1901. I thought the 1911 census wasn't yet available? I'm still not sure where I can go from here with Edward or his mother.

Oh! I've just noticed that the 1911 census states that 'Eduard Hardy' was born in 1867 in Croydon, as were the other members of the family. My grandad was def born in Croydon, but, according to the 1901 census, the others were born elsewhere. It's probably either the wrong info given on the 1911 census (as the mother, florence, was dead by then so Dad was doing it) or the person writing it just being lazy - but it's worth a look in case the 1901 census was wrong. Thanks.

Helen,

Croydon on the 1911 is referring to where they're living, not where they're born.

That's some of the info you get when you pay to view the transcription or image.


Ozi

SNAP! Jonesey.

Helen
The 1911 census you have been given is showing Croydon for all names because that is where the family are living not where they are born
To get places of birth occupations etc you have to pay to see the transcript

cost 6 95 for 60 credits

10 credits to view the transcript which will give you dates etc.Also how long they have been married address.

30 credits to view the census image which is filled in by the householders themselves. It will also tell you how many children they had and how many still living as well as all the other details.

Its nice to see the handwriting but I mainly purchase those immediate family while the price is so expensive. There is going to be a cheaper sub very soon

SNAP again.

Just to add I have a census image which was definitely filled in by each adult. The writing is all different

Just a thought. I have a GR grandfather whose birth cert has no father named. However his father died 3 months before his birth. This was in 1858 so perhaps the same thing happened to your ancestor and maybe his mother did marry someone called Hardy.