Genealogy Chat

I have been trying to find the birth of my Great Grandfather, Abraham Hodges, born in 1857. Earlier census info states he was born in Yarmouth, Norfolk but I could not find the birth record. The 1911 census says for his birthplace, that he was born at sea. Does anyone know how this birth would have been recorded and where, so that I can track down the record and find his parents' names.

Barbara Jarvis

Father is stated to be John Hodges



London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921
Name: Abraham Hodges
Age: 23
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1857
Spouse Name: Sarah Amelia Lawrence
Spouse Age: 20
Record Type: Marriage
Marriage Date: 27 Sep 1880
Parish: St Mary, Balham
County: Surrey
Borough: Wandsworth
Father Name: John Hodges - occupation Cook
Spouse Father Name: Jas Amos Lawrence

Thanks Choccy. I got this information from the marriage certificate of 1880 but can't find mothers' names without the birth. I also can't find Abraham on any census as a child so cannot even research a sibling to try and move on. Strangely I am also having trouble finding Sarah Amelia's birth - even with father's name. Maybe she was born on water too.

There is a birth at sea to a Mr and Mrs Mary Hodges in 1856 but just says male

jax

London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
Name: Sarah Amelia Lawrence
Record Type: Baptism
Estimated Birth Date: abt 1861
Baptism Date: 11 Aug 1861
Father's Name: James Amos Lawrence (Labourer)
Mother's Name: Sarah Ann Lawrence
Parish or Poor Law Union: Streatham St Leonard
Borough: Lambeth


(actual birth date said to be 27th August 1860)

1861

LAWRANCE, James Head Married M 56 1805 Labourer General
Sussex VIEW
LAWRANCE, Sarah Wife Married F 42 1819
Uxbridge
Middlesex VIEW
LAWRANCE, Susanna Daughter F 11 1850 Scholar
Streatham
Surrey VIEW
LAWRANCE, William Son M 8 1853 Scholar
Streatham
Surrey VIEW
LAWRANCE, Martha Daughter F 2 1859
Streatham
Surrey VIEW
LAWRANCE, Sarah Daughter F 0 (8M) 1861
Streatham
Surrey VIEW

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RG number:
RG09 Piece:
376 Folio:
36 Page:
21

Registration District:
Wandsworth Sub District:
5 Streatham Enumeration District:
10 Ecclesiastical Parish:
Emmanuel

Civil Parish:
Streatham Municipal Borough:
Address:
..., Histeds Square, Streatham County:
London, Surrey

??? -

http://www.freebmd.org.uk


Births Sep 1860

LAWRENCE Sarah __rrelia Wandsworth 1d _33

You can order b.certs for births at sea from 1837 on. You say you want an overseas record, and give the appropriate GRO ref as per usual.

Ancestry doesn't have the index for these records, but FMP does. Ask for a lookup from someone with FMP.

Thats what I gave above from FMP 1856 birth for a male Hodges unless there is something else I was missing?

jax

He's listed as being born earlier than 1857 on some censuses.

Is this his death because there's a middle initial?

Deaths Mar 1913 Hodges Abraham J 54 Wandsworth 1d 690

Rose

I have a rellie, that according the family was born"on a boat", would the place of birth be taken from the town/port where the boat was registered?
ie Antwerp?


Bob

This might muddy the waters but for others seeking proof of birth 'born at sea' is sometimes used as a coverup for an illegitimate birth. Was in my tree and then discovered that this was quite common or so I was told.

jax - one would also like the ref info from FMP for placing an order.

Register of BMDs at sea details
Registration event: birth


Name: HODGES,
Sex: Male
Date of birth: 28 April 1856
Father's name: mr Hodges
Father's occupation:
Mother's name: mrs mary hodger
Ship's name: phoebe dunbar
Notes: not christened on board

At the top of the page it could say 163 in one corner and 23 in the other

For interest...

NA Podcast 'Tracing births and deaths at sea'

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/podcasts/bmd-at-sea.htm

Chris