Genealogy Chat

Hi, Lorraine, Kate and Sheila have all helped me piece together some information about my G Grandfather, George Yardley, b abt 1865 - 1869, Rowley Regis, Staffordshire. I know for a fact that he married Louisa Bird in 1886 at St John the Baptist in Halesowen. In 1891 the is living in Hackett St in Rowley Regis with Louisa and Samuel (son b 1889). In 1891 there is another George Yardley (b 1887) who is living in the same street, but with different parents Jospeh and Louisa Walters. My mother is sure that there was a George Yardley brother who was the eldest, so this makes sense. 1870 - US census, There is a George Yardley who is in New Jersey with parents, Joseph and Fannie (Fanny). These are on the IGI But there is another George Yardley in 1871 living with Adopted parents (back in Rowley Regis) and again it is Joseph and Louisa Walters. How can I work out which is my George Yardley? If his parents didn't go to America, then where are they? Why was he adopted? Can anyone help me please, because this is doing my head in? Thanks.

Graham, Who was George's father on his marriage cert? What was his occupation? Rose

Good point Rose. I don't know! I guess I will have to dip into my pockets and buy the birth and marriage certs. Is this the best way forward?

Graham, Knowing the father will help and his occupation will help. Rose

Graham, I get it now. Just read this message again. The George in 1891 is 4. I thought there were 2 the same age. Could that be George senior's first child seeing as he married in 1886 and Samuel wasn't born until 1889? In 1901 he is listed as grandson along with Samuel. Births: Births Jun 1868 YARDLEY George Dudley 6c 12 Births Dec 1886 Yardley George Dudley 6c 15 I think this birth cert will reveal all. Rose

1891 Rowley Regis Family 1:all born Rowley regis Joseph Walters 51 horse driver Louisa Walters47 George 4 adopted son Louisa Tromans 10 adopted daughter Family 2: all born Rowley Regis George Yardley 22 rivet maker Louisa Yardley wife 24 Samuel Yardley son 1 wife 1881 Joseph Walters 41 coal miner bn Blackheath Louisa Walters wife 37 bn West Bromwich George Walters son 12 bn Cradley Heath Staffs 1871 Joseph Walters 31 miner Louisa 27 West Bromwich George Yardley boarder 3 1861 Joseph Walters 21 miner born Blackheath Rowley Regis Louisa Walters wife Joseph Walters and Louisa Mason 1860 q4 Dudley 6c 147 George Yardley b Dudley q2 1868 6c 12 George Yardley b Dudley q4 1886 6c 15 Looks likely that George Walters aged 12 in 1881 was actually George Yardley. Joseph and Louisa Walters, perhaps unable to have children themselves, took in the older George Yardley as a boarder- perhaps he was orphaned or perhaps his parents had a large family and were happy to board out one of their brood! Probably the Walters and Yardley's were related in some way. Then when he was grown they took in more youngsters, the younger George, and the girl Louisa Tromans Maybe the younger George was son of the older one but the only way to find out for sure is to buy those certificates. I think the US entry you found is likely to be a red herring, unless he also was born in Rowley Regis?

The Joseph and Fanny Yardley in the US 1870 census have a child called Charles born c1868 in New Jersey so they can't be the parents of your George. However, they were in Rowley Regis in 1861. Their George is this one: Births Jun 1865 Yardley George Dudley 6c 9 Rose

In 1871 there was a 30 year old widower Samuel Yardley living with his mother and brother in Rowley Regis. Especially in view of the fact your George gave his son the name Samuel I wonder if this chap is your man's father, unable to cope with an infant son when he was widowed so boarded him out?

This is from the IGI but is a submitted entry by a member of the LDS church..... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- George Yardley Male -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Event(s): Birth: About 1865 Rowley Regis, Stafford, England Christening: Death: Burial: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parents: Father: Joseph Yardley Family Mother: Fannie Kendrick

Thanks to all. I think Judith has made it more clear to me. The US George Yardley is a Red herring. So it seems that both George the elder (1868) and younger (1887) lived with the Walters family. I guess we will never know the real reason why, but I like the theory of a Samuel walters (1841) widowed by 1871. George the elder would only have been 3 and so maybe a single man couldn't cope and so adopted his son out to friends / relatives. Then as George got older, he married at the age of 18 and had George the younger when he was only 19. So, he went to live with his grandparents (the Walters). I will get the birth certs to confirm parentage. Are adoption certs available too? Thanks all for your help.