Genealogy Chat

Wondered if anybody could let me know a cheap if not free way of finding out who lived at 3 Thompson St, Cheetham, North Mcr on the 1901census. I have my grandads birth certificate which says he was born there in 1914 but I cant find his mother and fathers marriage certificate anywhere. Presume they were married within the 10yrs prior to his birth. Mary Morris & Edward Jones. No marriage on BMD but she is called Mary Jones so she must of married... or did she? I think I can go to Manchester Central Library where I can get hold of electoral registers and parish registers but I'm too impatient. Any advice please would be fantastic! Alison Fletcher

Right........slow down.........lol! Firstly, the chances of the same people being at an address in 1901 as were there in 1914 are slim. Secondly, address searches on 1901 census can be done on the official site, but you have to pay 75p per time to view them. Finally, where - exactly - have you looked for the marriage? Have you relied on the freebmd extracts on Ancestry....or have you viewed every image, quarter by quarter? All bmd's are free on Ancestry................. Incidentally, Electoral Rolls won't help as only people entitled to vote are listed...... What was the father's occupation (as per the birth cert)? Reg

Sorry, get too giddy about doing this. :) His father was a railway carter. Not exactly sure what that is. I have looked on freebmd and searched between 1905 & 1915 and I can only see three Edward Jones's. One in Mar 1912 marrying Margaret A Morris, one in Jun 1912 marrying Selina Morris and one in 1913 marrying Ada R Morris. Ancestry is throwing up pretty much the same thing.

Alison I think you are looking only at the freebmd stuff on Ancestry..........you need to access the FULL bmd records, where you can view every image. Correct me if I'm wrong about your searching............ Reg

I will have another check. Am I correct in saying that it is 1912 and beyond that the spouse's maiden name is recorded?

That's correct....... You won't have an easy task with the surnames you are looking for, although, having full names for both parties will mean you can cross-refer with a degree of accuracy. Reg

No kidding Reg! I think my grandads sister was born in 1912 so I suspect they were married before this. I found an Edward Jones who married in Manchester district in Q1 1910 and one in Bury in same quarter but when I searched for Mary Morris in that same quarter there is no link. I'm not even sure that they were married here. I wonder if parish registers would give me any more clues. I know Thompson Street was in the parish of St Albans.

Do not presume anything !!! My grandmother born 1900 - her parents married in 1914. I am lucky in that my gt grandparents lived at the same address for almost 50 years (1900 - 1948) and this I have been able to confirm on birth, marriage and death certificates. Maureen

From what I can make out a railway carter was a railway porter. Would this have meant that he carried bags etc or were other tasks involved?

Can I suggest that you don't assume the marriage was in Manchester....or even in Lancashire? Both names are potentially Welsh in origin, and Railway employees were obliged to go and work where their employers had most need of them. So be flexible when searching............... Good luck Reg

Thanks Reg

I have looked at 1901 ..typed Mary Jones born 1880 +or- 20 and living in Manchester...only 18 and none fit Same with Mary Morris but only two... Looks like that she did not live in Manchester in 1901

Thanks Colin, my nana said grandad was from Abergele which is obviously wrong now I have his birth certificate showing him being born in Prestwich but maybe she meant his father or grandfather even.

Needle and haystack spring to mind when tracing Mary Morris & Edward Jones in North Wales. Aaargh. Could they not have had some obscure middle name?

No. 3 Thompson Street was empty in 1891 but occupied on either side, will have a look and see if I can find 1901 for you Rebecca

It was the Schenker family from Russia who lived there in the 1901 census. Cheethams always been a first port of call for people coming to Manchester, both from this country and abroad, as the first place they stop at or make home at for sometimes a short while, sometimes longer. This is partly because its just up the road from Victoria Train Station.

Thats interesting that it is just up the road from Victoria Station. The fact that my great grandfather was a railway carter means that there is a possibility he worked out of that station. Thanks for looking!

Ive looked on the free bmd and can see Edward Jones marrying Mary Morris in Manchester. Even though my grandad was born 1914 he may have been the youngest of five children ( I know of at least three). I might take a gamble on getting their marriage certificate.