Genealogy Chat

Thanks everyone for your help. I've now obtained a copy of my John Jennings's marriage certificate, which names his father as William Jennings, furniture dealer. This could fit in with the William Jennings who married Rachel Ovens (Mary Ovens was John's grandmother). My problem now is that I can't find any trace of John (born 1828), before the 1851 census - no christening record, nor can I find him on the 1841 census, although William and the rest of his family are there. Also, this family appears to disappear after the 1841 census with the exception of son William, who appears in the 1851 census and then disappears. Any suggestions as to how I can find out more about John and the rest of his family? Paul

Thanks for all your replies - my head is now bursting! I think that going back to the original birth certificate of John Jennings is the only way forward, but I'm sure sure it will throw up even more questions! - thanks for all your help Paul

Had you found the Nephew and Neices in 1841? if not her they are for reference Name Estimated birth year Birthplace Civil parish County/Island Elizabeth Edgell abt 1806 Wiltshire, England Trowbridge Wiltshire Elizabeth Edgell abt 1829 Wiltshire, England Trowbridge Wiltshire James Edgell abt 1837 Wiltshire, England Trowbridge Wiltshire >>Martha Edgell abt 1839 Wiltshire, England Trowbridge Wiltshire >>Sarah Edgell abt 1834 Wiltshire, England Trowbridge Wiltshire William Edgell abt 1801 Wiltshire, England Trowbridge Wiltshire - Clothier >>William Edgell abt 1832 Wiltshire, England Trowbridge Wiltshire Jane Farr abt 1821 Wiltshire, England Trowbridge Wiltshire - FS Ruth Winslow abt 1826 Wiltshire, England Trowbridge Wiltshire - FS (FS frequently = female servent) Source Citation: Class: HO107; Civil Parish: Trowbridge; County: Wiltshire; Enumeration District: 4; Page: 23; Line: 15; Death index has a cluster if Edgell deaths in the Melksham district that covers Trowbridge between 1841 and 1851 censuses Elizabeth Edgell 1843 Apr-May-Jun Melksham Wiltshire Elizabeth Edgell 1845 Jan-Feb-Mar Melksham Wiltshire James Edgell 1849 Apr-May-Jun Melksham Wiltshire Richard Edgell 1844 Apr-May-Jun Melksham Wiltshire William Edgell 1845 Apr-May-Jun Melksham Wiltshire William Jeffries Edgell 1851 Jul-Aug-Sep Melksham Wiltshire Young Martha (edgill) is still with her Aunt Mary Jennings in 1861, while Sarah married in J-A-S 1857 (either William Moody or James Searle) Melksham 5a 196 J-A-S 1838 Birth - Edgell Martha Melksham 8 349

1) look for John's Marriage certificate - that should name his father, 2) Mary's Nephew nd neices could be the children of her husbands sister as well as of her siblings 3) Mary Ovens is Grandmother the Ovens/Avens name could be from a second marriage, Equally th Edgell name could have come from a second marriage. I might be reading too much into it but marriage index Name: John Edgell Jennings Year of Registration: 1859 Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep DISTRICT: Romsey (1837-1932) County: Hampshire, Wiltshire Volume: 2c Page: 119 Also on page Harriett / Henrietta Oates Henry Permain >>Emma Sopper Rice / Emma Saffer Rice 1861 census has the John from above: Name: John E Jennings Age: 31 Estimated birth year: abt 1830 Relation: Head Spouse's name: Emma S Gender: Male Where born: Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England Civil parish: Southampton All Saints Ecclesiastical parish: All Saints Town: Southampton County/Island: Hampshire Country: England Street address: 7 High Street Occupation: Chemist Condition as to marriage: Married Registration district: Southampton Sub-registration district: Southampton ED, institution, or vessel: 39 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 11 Household Members: Name Age Emma S Jennings 29 - wife John E Jennings 31 John W Jennings 11Mo - son Elen Olding 14 - servent Elizebeth J Olding 29 - servent William F Williams 18 - AP (?apprentice?) but I gather this one is yours Name: John Jennings Age: 33 Estimated birth year: abt 1828 Relation: Head Spouse's name: Ann Gender: Male Where born: Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England Civil parish: Melksham Ecclesiastical parish: Salisbury Town: Melksham County/Island: Wiltshire Country: England Name Age Julia Barton 13 Ann Jennings 28 Francis G Jennings 1 Mo John Jennings 33 - Linain Draper John E Jennings 2 William A Jennings 4

I've found one of those conundrums that we all come across in tracing our family trees, and I can't get my head around it so I'm someone can give me some suggestions. My GG grandfather, John Jennings, was born in 1828 in Trowbridge, Wilts. In the 1841 census he was living with mum, Mary, and sister Jane (born 1832, although the census puts both their ages as 11). In the 1851 census, John is a draper's assistant living with grandmother, Mary Ovens, and her son Paul Ovens. Mary and Jane are living together, along with mary's nephew, William Edgell and nieces, Sarah and Martha. Now the plot thickens.... I don't know who John's father was, but I have found a marriage between Mary Edgell and Charles Jennings in 1825, which fits the time frame. So, if John's mother was Mary Edgell, how is his grandmother called Ovens? I've tried Ovens' marriages, and can't find one marrying a Jennings (a Harriet Avens married a John Jennings in 1826 which is the nearest I can get. My earliest thought was that John's mother Mary is indeed an Ovens, and that one of her sister's married an Edgell, but I can't find any evidence for this. Any thoughts anyone? Paul