Genealogy Chat

I wonder if anyone can help me shed some light on this please. I cannot find any trace of my g/grandfather Frederick Ainsworth and his parents in any census or birth records. The first I can find of him is as a visitor in the 1861 census and in subsequent census records with his wife. From his marriage certificate I can see that his father is Charles Ainsworth, and from later census records I know he (Frederick) was born in Hammersmith. I've hit the proverbial brick wall with this and wonder if there's something I'm totally missing? Many thanks.

Just checking.....is this him in 1861?: Frederick Ainsworth abt 1842 Hammersmith, Middlesex, England Visitor Hammersmith Middlesex Catherine Radley abt 1818 Ealing, Middlesex, England Wife Hammersmith Middlesex Charles Radley abt 1815 Great Dunlow, Essex, England Head Hammersmith Middlesex Eliza Radley abt 1848 Hammersmith, Middlesex, England Daughter Hammersmith Middlesex James Charles Radley abt 1852 Hammersmith, Middlesex, England Son Hammersmith Middlesex Matilda Radley abt 1846 Hammersmith, Middlesex, England Daughter Hammersmith Middlesex Merry

Was Charles given an occupation on the marriage cert? (did it say if he was dec'd??) Merry

what is father´s occupation?

Sorry, I actually had to do some work after I posted the question! Answers to queries, and thanks to everyone who replied: Q1, Yes, I believe that is him. Q2, Charles was deceased when his son married in 1866 Q3, I don't know fathers occupation, because the first time I can locate him is on Frederick's marriage certificate, when he is deceased! This is the only way I even know his name! As I cannot find any trace of Frederick's birth, I don't even know his Mum's name!

Have you looked to see when Charles got married, and who to? It is possible that Frederick was illegitimate and took his step dad's forename when asked for details at marriage.

This isn't going to help at all, but it's a possible scenario that I've seen happen time and time again............ Child is born to (in this case) Charles and Mrs Ainsworth Charles Ainsworth dies Mrs A remarries soon after. Child is brought up as Master Bloggs, apparently son of the second husband, Mr Bloggs Child grows up Child is told that Mr Bloggs is not his bio father when he is leaving home. Child decides to revert to birth name.... Voila, they appear in a puff of smoke on the following census! Of course, if this happens at a time when everyone was registering their babies, you would have a birth cert to tie things up, but not so many of those in the early 1840's. Merry

My scenario is the opposite of Phoenix's.......! Either quite possible. Merry

Scrub that idea. It looks as if they married in 1841.

Yes, I can see the possiblity of the step-father's name, I've got a similar thing on the other side of the family. Phoenix: what did you mean by 'they got married in 1841'? Does this all mean I'm unlikely to ever be able to trace Frederick's family?

I would have thought this could be the parents marriage: Pallot's Marriage Index for England: 1780 - 1837 Record about Chas Ainsworth Name: Chas Ainsworth Spouse: Ann Collings Marriage Date: 1833 Parish: St. Pancras Merry

Thank you for that, at least with a wife's name, I can possibly trace them. Where can I gain access to Pallot's Index please? If I don't reply any more this evening, it's because I'm off to celebrate 31 years of married bliss at my favourite Greek restaurant!! :-) Thanks to everyone who's replied to my query.