Genealogy Chat

I'm trying to search for my great grand-father. I know his name, his rough date of birth from his marriage certificate and the place he was born from the 1901 Census. I have searched through all the on-line birth records for him 5 years either side of the year I think he was born in the place he was born (according to the Census) to no avail! I'm quite new to all this so does anyone have any tips about how I can go about locating him. If I can't verify him, then I can't verify who my great-great-grandparents are. Are the on-line records in full or do I need to visit a records office? Any help very much appreciated! Thanks Janine

Janine The census shows the place of birth but the birth register index shows the registration district. If you tell us where he was born according to the census, hopefully someone can match it to the registration district. Names are often more reliable than places. If you post what you know, someone may be able to find him for you. Did you look at the census image or just the transcription? Sometimes they can be different depending on the enumerator's writing. If he was born prior to 1875 his birth may not have been registered (it only became compulsory then). It's also possible that the register never got sent to the General Register Office so it may only exist at the local register office.

When you say you searched through all the online birth records - what do you mean? Freebmd and Ancestry Freebmd aren't complete. You need to search the complete index images. You could also look for a baptism or try to find him on the census immediately after his rough birth date to see if he is with his parents. nell

Hi John & Nell Thanks for the replies - they were really helpful. I've looked on 1837 bmd, ancestry freebmd and genes reunited but didn't realise that the records might not be complete. (I have a lot to learn!) I also did not realise that birth registration only became compulsory in 1875. I only looked at the transcripts and not the actual census images so perhaps I'll give that a go and see what I come up with. I think I will post a message on the 'trying to find' board to see if anyone can help me. Regards Janine

why not give the info on this thread and let us try Jim

Continuation - from Trying to find board WALKER I am trying to find out more details about the parents of my great grandfather William John Walker. He married Emily Boots in 1895 and was apparently born in Henley (Henley-On-Thames I assume). His father's name was James Walker. William and Emily went on to have several children including my grandfather Rodney John (b 05/06/1903) and his siblings Joy, Cyril, Harry, Leslie, Ivy and Dolly. William seems to have lived in Oxfordshire & Gloucestershire and my grandfather lived in Berkshire. If anyone has any details about this branch of the Walker family, I'd be grateful. Thanks Janine RESPONSE This is William in 1901 with Em ily 1901 England Census Record about William J Walker Name: William J Walker Age: 33 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1868 Relation: Head Spouses's Name: Emily Gender: Male Where born: Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, England Civil parish: Charlbury Ecclesiastical parish: Charlbury St Mary the Virgin Town: Charlbury County/Island: Oxfordshire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: View image Registration district: Chipping Norton Sub-registration district: Charlbury ED, institution, or vessel: 1 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 24 Household Members: Name Age Ethel Hollick 14 Cyril Walker 2 Emily Walker 26 Harry Walker 1 Joy Walker 5 William J Walker 33 Source Citation: Class: RG13; Piece: 1398; Folio: 6; Page: 4. Jim

emily in 1891(mother seems a little old!!) 1891 England Census Record about Emily Boots Name: Emily Boots Age: 15 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1876 Relation: Daughter Father's name: Joseph Mother's name: Mary Ann Gender: Female Where Born: Charlbury, Oxfordshire, England Civil parish: Charlbury Ecclesiastical parish: Charlbury St Mary Town: Charlbury County/Island: Oxfordshire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: View image Registration district: Chipping Norton Sub registration district: Charlbury ED, institution, or vessel: 1 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Emily Boots 15 Joseph Boots 62 Mary Ann Boots 60 Source Citation: Class: RG12; Piece: 1178; Folio 10; Page 13; GSU roll: 6096288.

Thanks to everyone who replied to my message. I did have the census record from 1901 for William & Emily but even though it says that William was born in Henley-On-Thames, I still cannot find his birth entry in the register! I'm not that far from Henley so I'll probably pay the Register Office a visit. I've been told that the online bmd records on most sites aren't always complete. Happy hunting with your own family trees! Regards Janine

Janine I see that William J Walker was a actuary. What was his father's occupation at his marriage? I am wondering if his age is wrong. Regards Stan

If you are looking for the birth c1868..........bear in mind that registration wasn't compulsory until 1875. So the birth may not have been registered. But I get the impression from your posting that you haven't actually viewed the births images, quarter by quarter................pardon me if I'm mistaken Reg