Genealogy Chat

Off to work, but thought I would ask for advice, which I will check later. Am having a problem finding a rellie, details below. A researcher has now offered to look for this rellie for £300 is this the going rate? Am tempted as would love to find this elusive lady. Matilda Latham brn Birmingham 1824 to Joseph and Mary nee Baldwin. Believe Mary dies not long after Matildas birth as by the 1841 Census Joseph, a gun maker, is remarried with a 10 yr old son. Cannot find Matilda on the 1841 or 1851 census, have tried different names, she pops up again in 1852 with her marriage to Joseph Lacey then appears on every census up to her death. I don’t believe she left brum, but where was she in 41 and 51?

Did she have an older brother, James? Could this be her in 1851? Nelson St., West, Birmingham James Latham, head, 28, engineer, born Great Bridge, Staffordshire Sarah, wife, 27, born Bewdly?, Worcestershire Esther, dau, 5, born Birmingham Henry, son, 3, born Birmingham George, son, 11 months, born Birmingham Joseph, brother, 21, born Great Bridge, Staffordshire Matilda, sister, 16, born Birmingham (Sorry, just realized I'm 10 years out!)

May be she married previously and thats why you cant spot her under her maiden name.

Have you thought that maybe she was married before? Marriages Mar 1841 (>99%) Allen Jane W Bromwich 18 497 Denham Mary Ann West Bromwich 18 497 Hitch Mary W Bromwich 18 497 Knowles William West Bromwich 18 497 >>>Latham Matilda W Bromwich 18 497 MALLABONE John W Bromwich 18 497 MILLINGTON John W Bromwich 18 497 Shipley John W Bromwich 18 497 West Bromwich is part/near of Birmingham isn't it? Sorry my geography of the north is rubbish :( Hubby could have then died/run off and she chose to remarry in her maiden name?........New husband wouldn't know her past?? Just an idea :) Chris

You need to search for a Matilda born 1824 with each of those possible surnames and see if she turns up 1851 - then check for a death of the husband between the marriage and her remarriage.

I certainly wouldnt pay £300 for someone just to go over old ground - professional researchers only have access to the same records as we all do, so if you have looked everywhere and can't find her then neither will they! If the sleuths on here can't find her, then no one will! OC

Using Freebmd there are some deaths for a John Millington and William Knowles in Birmingham and West Bromwich between 1841 and 1852. I would be very tempted to buy the 1841 marriage cert :) Chris

As OC has said, if no one on here can find what you're after, then no one can. Professional researchers have the same access to census records that we have. Please do not part with a penny of your hard earned cash!! Anyone charging £300.00 for such research should be ashamed of themselves, in my opinion!! Shirley-ann

Many thanks for all of the replies. These are the details I have, as far as I can be sure. Joseph and Mary, matildas parents, only had her. On her marriage cert. she is down as spinster, even so I have checked the 1841 west brom marriage, it is’nt her. I have looked for her under the name Latham and Baldwin, her Mothers maiden name but had no luck. Added to this, I can only assume Mary died and that’s why Joseph remarried, but I cannot find any trace of her death, so I am at a real loss as what to do next

Georgina, Although I was born and bred in Brum, I now live in Devon and rarely get back there. Serves me right, should have done the research while I was there!!

Lynda are you able to get to Birmingham Central Library they will hold all the records for the churches where Matilda was christened & where her parents married, there may be a clue to her mothers death. Georgina.

Lynda I am in Birmingham & will be going to the library within the next 2 weeks if you can hang on that long, I cant promise anything but you never know. I have been looking at the IGI at Matilda's birth and I assume you are taking this as Joseph & Mary's marriage? JOSEPH LATHAM Male Family Event(s): Birth: Christening: Death: Burial: Marriages: Spouse: MARY BALDWIN Family Marriage: 18 MAY 1823 Saint Martin, Birmingham, Warwick, England But have you considered that Matilda was the youngest child born to Joseph & Mary and that the Joseph you found on the 1841 census married to Elizabeth could be her brother & not her father???? There are also these marriage's on the IGI....... JOSEPH LATHAM Male Family Event(s): Birth: Christening: Death: Burial: Marriages: Spouse: MARY WRIGHT Family Marriage: 25 OCT 1781 Saint Phillips, Birmingham, Warwick, England ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOSEPH LATHAM Male Family Event(s): Birth: Christening: Death: Burial: Marriages: Spouse: MARY ANN JINCKS Family Marriage: 03 SEP 1798 Saint Martin, Birmingham, Warwick, England Georgina.

Georgina, Apologises for late reply, daughter has finally gone in for her gall stone op and I am running around everywhere. I have thought that the Joseph on the 1841 census may be a brother, but have found on concrete evidence on that. The only real evidence I have is: Matildas marriage cert, her Father is down as Joseph Latham. Family evidence that Matildas father worked in the gun trade, that why I though the Joseph on the 1841 census may be her Dad. If you do go to brum library, anything you find I would truly be grateful for. Have been trying to track this lady for some time