Genealogy Chat

There is a name which keeps cropping up in addresses, etc, on family documents. One particular woman that I would like to identify is an Elizabeth Eales, born about 1830 in Brixham and in 1901 she was a widow grocer in Ranscombe. I would like to place her but I have no means of finding out her maiden name, which may have been Collier, Tubb, McLean, or Janes to mention the most likely! Or she may have been a family friend (though this means all the rest of her family must have been family friends too and that is why I think we are related!) How do I post a message on the Trying to Find board before I know how to put her into my family tree (if indeed, she belongs there)? My little girl started school last Monday so I expect to be back into the swing of things shortly but I just cannot work out how to do this at the moment! Thanks Abigail

Hi Abigail What sort of documents do mean, wedding certificates? photo's? letters? How do you know the other surnames? Can you give me information please. Pauline

go to trying find board put in surname click search then click on to any of tabs with your surname next to it then click on trying to find tab. then you will see this click on the blue words click here and you will be in If you wish to add to our Trying To Find Board then click here Phew!!! Jeanette

Hello Pauline, Mostly letter and the 1880 census. We know our McLean relatives lived quite close, ie, the same row of houses, and when my great grandfather and great grandmother got married she lived with Elizabeth Eales as a lodger with their baby boy. This was in 1880. James McLean was away at sea for the census. Later on he skippered a ship called the Ellen Eales, and there were other members of the crew who were Janes boys (my great grandmother's maiden name, they were her brothers). My grandfather was apprenticed to be a grocer but then ran away to sea on a banana boat because he hated the idea. Apparently, James did very well and eventually owned several fishing smacks but there was a storm season around 1902 to 1907 which they lost them in and as they were not insured lost a lot of money. It is very difficult to tell, because the letters are not from the time and are memories of the next but one generation. The only concrete, independent pieces of evidence are the census return for 1880 and the crew lists for the smack. I was hoping to find a way to post on the Eales trying to find board and have a trawl through - maybe someone else is looking for the Janes, McLean, Collier etc connection! Thanks Abigail

You'd stand more chance of finding anyone else looking for them by using the name search on here. Reg

Thanks Jeanette, I tried but it takes me to 'Your names' and wants me to add her to my list before I can post. I don't know if she is related and therefore don't know where to put her so ... I can't! It is six months since I did any serious searching so I am a bit rusty - besides which, when I came on here tonight I got the impression that there has been a bit of argy bargy and a big hoo haa in the last few days. I already have a headache just looking at my tree to find out where I left off! Thanks Abigail

Thanks Reg, I'll give it a go. Abigail

it should look like this Smith History Find Smith's General Topics - Smith Main Boards Welcome to the Smith Trying To Find Message Board If you wish to add to our Trying To Find Board then click here. Return to Your Names click on where it says click here above return to your names I have changed my 1st post slightly Jeanette

Sorry Jeanette, I am being particularly slow tonight. I have successfully posted now - I had to keep flicking back and forwards from your advice! Let's see what it brings Many thanks Abigail

If you could locate the correct death certificate for Elizabeth....... you seem to have quite alot of clues re. age, location etc. to make this possible,...... she would be shown as widow of ( ? EALES) Hopefully, you would then be able to find her marriage to Mr EALES. Have you tried tracking Elizabeth back in the census before 1881? Gwyn

My geography is not very good but I found an Elizabeth Eales on the 1891 census married to James from Woking. He is described as a shop dealer. Elizabeth Eales Age: 60 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831 Relation: Wife Spouses's Name: James Gender: Female Where Born: Acton, Middlesex, England Civil parish: Fulham Ecclesiastical parish: St Andrew and St Albans County/Island: London Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: View image Registration district: Fulham Sub registration district: Fulham ED, institution, or vessel: 12 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Elizabeth Eales 60 James Eales 66 May Eales 8 .

You can search names without having them on your own tree - you can even do a quick search up the top of this board

Thanks All! I have had a little breakthrough on the scottish line so I have been off looking at different sources. Thanks for your advice. I do know that she was in Brixham in 1891 now and I will have a good snoop for her marriage next. Regards Abigail