Genealogy Chat

My ancestor was born Joseph. But on some census' he is clearly Thomas, I sent for his daughter's birth cert and that came back with the father's christian name of Thomas. His occupation is not the normal labourer / blacksmith. He was an Argur Maker. I can understand if his name was Joseph and he was known as Thomas, but surely on his daughter's birth cert it should read Joseph?

1841 - 1851 he is Thomas
1861 he is Joseph

Or am I following the wrong line? Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.

Regards, Lou

My Gran's brother was Michael Charles but was 'known as' Charles because his father's name was Michael...

Perhaps the same situation with your Thomas/Joseph?

Hi PigletsPal,

Thanks for your thoughts. Just wanted clarification that I was on the right track really. It does get confusing though when they change their name as you just never really know. I suppose I will just have to accept that I am on the right track. After all the children's names and ages and his occupation are consistent.

Thanks again, Lou

Hi Teresa With Irish Blood in Me Veins,

Sorry tha'ts that not same situation with mine Joseph / Thomas.

Having said that your comments have made me look again at the family as he had sons named Joseph and Thomas.

I have now noticed that in 1841 & 1851 he is named Thomas with both sons living at home. His eldest son was 16 and named Joseph so that could be the reason he called himself Joseph to stop confusion and again in 1851 the son would be 26.

But in 1861 his son Joseph is not living with them and he is back to being called Joseph. So that now makes sence.

Thanks for helping me. I feel so much better that I was on the right track now as I can see a good reason why he changed his christian name and given me another possible clue, maybe his middle name was Thomas!

Thanks again PigletsPal and Teresa.

Good luck to you both, Regards, Lou

Just a word of caution here. It is all too easy to try convince yourself that you are working on the right lines when in fact you are not.

Ask yourself - why would a birth certificate have a different father's name and occupation? Have you considered that you might have the wrong cert and that there are two families involved here?

Personally, I would be wary of accepting that Joseph and Thomas are one of the same untill I can find some additional independent evidence to prove that they are.

Hi InspectorGreenPen,

I appreciate your comments and thoughts and fully understand what you are saying.

But the birth certificate also confirms her mothers christian name and the occupation of her father, which was Argur Maker and birth was in Kates Hill which is in Dudley where they lived.. I also have the baptism record for the same daughter and that of her elder sister. Again this confirms the years of birth for both girls, as they are written on the baptism, the father occupation and christian name of the mother and their address was Kates Hill the same as the birth certificate. Father's name is the same as the birth certificate. It's not a shortened version so it's not a mis print. It should read Joseph but is written Thomas.

How can I obtain additional evidence to prove they are the right family. Their parents married prior to 1820 and any marriage cert I get won't have his father's name on it. If I buy another child's birth cert that wouldn't help either especially if it contain the name Thomas instead of Joseph.

I don't know what else I can do to prove they are the same family. Any ideas?

Regards Lou.