Genealogy Chat

My great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Watkins (nee Jaques) born 1819 lived in Castor, Peterborough (Northants at the time). I can find no record of her death in the GRO indexes. She gave birth to my great-grandfather in 1853, and her husband re-married in 1868, so she must have died between those years. Does anybody have access to burial records, or have any idea how I can find out what happened to her? Thank you for any help.

Have you looked through the GRO images, or just run a search against them. Some of the years between 1853 and 1868 have not been fully transcribed, so names in them are not in the index and do not show on searches. If you have only run a search, you need to look at the images to see if you can spot her. Jim

You have not given her husband's or son's name. Have you found them in 1861 - if husband shows as widower, it narrows down the dates. Jim

Hi Jim Thanks for replying. Husbands name was John Watkins. He married Fanny Green in 1868 who already had a son, also John. Elizabeth & John's son was Edward (my g-grandfather). Have done an internet search for them in 1861 but no matches altho' I'm sure they were in Castor at the time. I need to get to the library to see copies of record on film but poor health prevents this at the mo. Have checked Death indexes on Family History online, Familysearch and Free BMD but no matches. Again another library job. Name is sometimes mis-spelt as Watkin but been checking that as well. Thanks Julie

You seem not to have checked the FULL bmd records........freebmd is not the same. Register (free) with Ancestry, and then you can search the records, viewing the images, quarter by quarter. Reg

Is this the family in 1861? Name: Edward Watkins Age: 8 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1853 Relation: Son Father's name: John Mother's name: Elizabeth Gender: Male Where born: Ailesworth, Northamptonshire, England Civil Parish: Ailsworth County/Island: Northamptonshire Country: England Registration district: Peterborough Sub-registration district: Peterborough ED, institution, or vessel: 30 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 35 Household Members: Name Age Betsy Watkins 12 Edward Watkins 8 Elizabeth Watkins 41 b. Ailsworth James J Watkins 1 Jane Watkins 10 John Watkins 41 Thomas Watkins 14 William Watkins 16 Reg

There is a death registered in 1865 September quarter for Elizabeth Watkins in Peterborough district ref 3b 146 (?) Could be the one you seek. Jim

Thank you so much!! Yes, Reg, that is the right family. Castor & Ailsworth are twin villages which run into one another. I had no idea if Edward had any siblings, so now I know! Thanks also for your input Jim. The death in 1865 sounds likely so I'll obtain the certificate. Thank you so much for your help Julie