Genealogy Chat

How do I get around this brick wall. On the 29th May Thomas Firkins married Elizabeth at All Saints Church West Bromwich, they went on to have all their children christened there. I have looked for the births of Thomas and Elizabeth in Staffs, but can't find them. Where do I go from here?

What year are you talking about Glen

HI Lynda whats the year they were born and the year they were married. Nicola

Sorry, they got married in the yr 1760

When you say you have looked for them in Staffs, what do you mean? Have you checked the parish records for the baptisms? They may not have been baptised at the same church they were married in, have you checked anywhere else? Sam x

Yes, my sis, who live nearer to west brom then has checked the regs

If you got the information from a transcription, such as the IGI your first step is to look at the actual marriage register entry, and also banns entry if it survives, to see if a kind vicar has helped you by stating the parish they were from (though if they were both living locally at the time it will just say 'of this parish' Then check the parish baptism register in case they WERE baptised there but just left off transcription. If no luck then get a map of parishes, start checking parishes around All Saints West Bromwich in ever increasing circles, look especially for parishes on main routes in and out of West Brom. This needs to be done at a county record office or looking at microfilm of registers held elsewhere as again, the IGI may not have covered all the parishes fully.

Without knowing which time period you are talking its dificult to advise anything. Are we talking of a period between say 1820 and 1900? If so you are likely to find one or both in the 1841 and subsequent census records - from 1851 these will give a place of birth. Are you looking at a certificate or an entry in the register? Where they married by banns - if they were the reading of the banns may be documented and identify a parish. If its post June 1837 you probably have parents names. You may have the names of witnesses that could be related. The surnames will also tell you (if its not too popular) where the family originated. Specialist occupations may also give clues as to migration. There may have been local censuses in the area, other entries in registers, tithe records, settlement records etc at the local records office. Records may be missing, names mispelt, boundaries changed, new churches built.

Many thanks for the replies, and judith many thanks for the info to look for, which I had'nt though of.