Genealogy Chat

I've several ancestors on my tree that have smacked into a brick wall because there is little or no sign of them pre 1841. I've done the obvious and looked for clues on IGI and even invested in BIVRI in the hope of finding a lead but nothing. Most of them live in Middx/London so thats an awful lot of parish records to trawl through and thats assuming that they hadn't recently moved into London from the countryside around! So any bright ideas where I might look next for them? Sue

Well I guess that any of them who married or were born after 1837 reg you have bought the certs for which would give you a further generation back to track down?

Yes Heather, I've bought certificates and taken that information as far as I can but the trail just goes cold. For example - I have the marriage certificate of William Bown to Caroline Moss in 1856. His father John, her father Justinian. I know from subsequent census that William was born in Chalford, Gloucestershire and I think I've found his family in 1841 (parents John and Sarah )but no sign on IGI or BIVRI of his birth or their marriage. Likewise with Justinian Moss. The baptisms of Caroline and her siblings are on IGI and his marriage to Elizabeth Bennett but no sign of his birth any where in the country let alone in Surrey as stated in 1841 (he died in 1846) I have other examples too! it's so frustrating! Any ideas? Sue

Have you got the death certificate, is it definately him? this isnt him then on the 1881 Justinian MOSS Household Male -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Information: Birth Year <1827> Birthplace Mitcham, Surrey, England Age 54 Occupation Railway Clerk Marital Status M <Married> Head of Household Justinian MOSS Relation Head Disability -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source Information: Dwelling 19 Garden St Census Place Derby St Alkmund, Derby, England Family History Library Film 1341814 Public Records Office Reference RG11 Piece / Folio 3405 / 132 Page Number 32

Hi Willow - thanks but that's his son. Justinian senior would have been born around 1785 according to 1841 census Sue

dur I clicked on the 1841 and never looked the household, so didnt see the other Justinian (snr)

Does Justinian snr marriage hold any further clue? witness names etc possible siblings?

I've only got the IGI record so far - 27 Dec 1823 to Elizabeth Bennett at St Mary, Newington, Surrey. Will check the parish record on my next trip to LMA but I can't get there as often as I'd like! There's a Justinian Moss on NBI, buried 1821 in Gloucstershire but I can't as yet trace a connection to my one! In 1841 he says he's born in Surrey not Gloucs although I know that can't be taken as gospel! Sue

I recently obtained a copy of a marriage entry from St. Mary's Newington by completing the request on the form on the Southwark Local Studies website and sending a cheque for £2.00 The Parish records are in a bad state though and the archivist sent me about 5 copies. The link is http://www.southwark.gov(.)uk/DiscoverSouthwark/LocalStudiesLibrary/localstudiessearches.html Take out the brackets. Jeannie

Thanks for that Jeannie, I may well do that, I've several ancestors hatched, matched, dispatched via St Mary's - it could save me a lot of time and at that price is cheaper than the train fare to LMA! Sue

Have you tried the Family History Society for the county in question. Some produce indexes for sale on fiche or cd or in book form