Genealogy Chat

Hi - I have a copy of my ggfathers( Alfred Robert Wheeler )marriage certificate which names his father as Robert Wheeler, but I can find no trace of him prior to this. I thought that if he had died before this date the entry would have read 'deceased' . Can anyone clear this point for me. Many thanks Sue

Susan, It seems to vary. Probably depended how the question was put: 'Your father's name? And his job?' 'What is your father called? What does he do?' could produce 2 different responses, if father is deceased. Jay Perhaps if you could post when the marriage took place and about when the groom was born, somone may be able to help.

I have many copies of marriage certs where the father's name and occuption is shown even though he is deceased. I do have some that say father deceased and no occuption is given. Good luck. Irene

Thanks Jay Alfred Robert Wheeler married Eliza Bown 12/11/1882 at Bethnal Green His father - Robert Wheeler Her father - William Bown One of the witnesses is Emily Wheeler, possibly a sister but not confirmed. Alfred born approx 1864 in Bethnal Green area I have found an Alfred living with mother (Caroline) and siblings in 1881 census but cannot trace Caroline or Alfred back to Robert. It would be great if someone could throw some light on this! Many thanks Sue

Think this is Robert and Caroline with the rest of the children mistranscribed in 1861. Image says Weeler. 1861 Name: Esther E Weeter Age: 4 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1857 Relation: Daughter Father's name: Robert Mother's name: Caroline E Gender: Female Where born: Stepney, Middlesex, England Civil Parish: Stepney St Dunstan County/Island: Middlesex Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: View Image Registration district: Whitechapel Sub-registration district: Mile End New Town ED, institution, or vessel: 12 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 32 Household Members: Name Age Amelia M Weeter 6 Caroline Weeter 10 Caroline E Weeter 34 Esther E Weeter 4 Mary Ann J Weeter 3 Mo Robert Weeter 36 Robert H Weeter 9 William S Weeter 14 Address 21 Underwood St. Robert is a Dock Labourer. Amelia M Weeter abt 1855 Bethnal Gn, Middlesex, England Daughter Stepney St Dunstan Middlesex Caroline Weeter abt 1851 Bethnal Gn, Middlesex, England Daughter Stepney St Dunstan Middlesex Caroline E Weeter abt 1827 St Lukes, Middlesex, England Wife Stepney St Dunstan Middlesex Esther E Weeter abt 1857 Stepney, Middlesex, England Daughter Stepney St Dunstan Middlesex Mary Ann J Weeter abt 1861 Stepney, Middlesex, England Daughter Stepney St Dunstan Middlesex Robert Weeter abt 1825 Bethnal Gn, Middlesex, England Head Stepney St Dunstan Middlesex Robert H Weeter abt 1852 Bethnal Gn, Middlesex, England Son Stepney St Dunstan Middlesex William S Weeter abt 1847 Stepney, Middlesex, England Son Stepney St Dunstan Middlesex

Thats Brilliant Fiona - I've spent ages trying various spellings of wheeler - but didn't come up with Weeter! How did you do it so quickly? Thanks again sue

1851. Image says Wheeler not Miller!! Not sure what Step sons name should be but doubt it's Mede. Name: Caroline E Wheeler Age: 11 Mo Estimated Birth Year: abt 1850 Relation: Daughter Father's name: Robert Mother's name: Caroline E Gender: Female Where born: Bethnal Green Civil Parish: Bethnal Green Ecclesiastical parish: St Matthias County/Island: Middlesex Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Disability: View Image Registration district: Bethnal Green Sub-registration district: Town ED, institution, or vessel: 1 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 79 Household Members: Name Age William S Mede 4 Caroline E Miller 24 Robert Miller 24 Caroline E Wheeler 11 Mo William S Mede abt 1847 St Georges East Stepson Bethnal Green Middlesex Caroline E Miller abt 1827 St Lukes Wife Bethnal Green Middlesex Robert Miller abt 1827 Bethnal Green, Middlesex, England Head Bethnal Green Middlesex Caroline E Wheeler abt 1850 Bethnal Green Daughter Bethnal Green Middlesex

I think the step-son's surname in the 1851 census might be Slade, or something ending in 'ade'. The enumerator's writing is terrible!!! Kath. x

I confess that I had found the 'Miller' connection earlier today but as I couldn't trace it on I 'shoeboxed' it! In 1871 the family is listed as Wheeler (no Robert) but they've transcribed the Caroline as as 'Carlonie'! what are the chances of three 'spelliing' errors on consecutive census for the same family?! Many many thanks Sue

Re spelling mistakes, Loads of chances. The enumerator went round the district and made entries in a book, each enumerator was given an area (district) that he should be able to complete in a single day. Several enumerators would be needed to cover a large parish,so you could have several books for an entire parish. The separate books would then be copied by a chief enumerator (these are the images we view today). The chief enumerator had to try and reproduce everything but with so many entries to copy it is easy to see why mistakes were made.

Census searches are sometimes better with a 'less is more' approach. If you put the entire name, date and place of birth you have to have an exact match for a result. At times try just the christian name and year then see if a likely match occurs with a horrible mistranscribed surname. It helps with an unusual name but can work for some common ones if you persevere. I have the name Chambers transcribed as Gresham in 1891, (found by trying a christian name and place only, after all would you consider Gresham a variant of Chambers?)

Thats great tip Glen - does anyone know if putting a * or a ? in place of a letter or letters works? I'll probably answer that myself right now by trying! So thanks again to everyone for all the help and tips Sue