Genealogy Chat

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Hope someone can help point me in the right direction!! I have a Henrietta in my tree. On the census (1871 and 1881) her surname and her parents are Douglas/s. Couldn't find a birth for her anywhere. Her marriage was Henriette Douglas to Robert Weatherall mar/qtr 1883. But when I actually managed to find her birth cert 1864 (with the help of the local reg office) she was registered as Henrietta Douglass CONQUER, fathers name John Douglass CONQUER and mothers name Mary CONQUER formerly Hardwick. I have found her fathers marrriage John Douglass Conquer mar 1861 to Mary Hardwick. But on 1881 and 1891 Mary is a widow and her surname is Douglas. If their surname is Conquer why does it show Douglas on census - anyone any ideas?? Elaine

Also can anyone see John Douglas/s/Conquer on 1851 and 1841 census - he was born abt 1837 - 1839 in Scotland according to census info. Any advice on how to find a birth cert for him would be really appreciated. Elaine

When people change their surnames it does make them harder to find - and not just for us researching now. Perhaps they felt a need not to be found, or had a falling-out with his father, bad enough to lose the surname. Or maybe the Douglass bit of the family was willing to leave/give them an inheritance if they opted to drop ''Conquer''. Christine

There is this one in 1841: Robert Conquer abt 1816 Scotland Newbattle Midlothian Jean Conquer abt 1816 Scotland Charles Conquer abt 1834 Scotland Barbra Conquer abt 1836 Scotland **John Conquer abt 1837 Scotland Mary Conquer abt 1839 Midlothian, Scotland William Wight abt 1826 Midlothian, Scotland NK abt 1841 Midlothian, Scotland NK abt 1841 Midlothian, Scotland Civil parish: Newbattle County: Midlothian Address: Coats Parish Number: 695 ED: 3 Page: 7 can't get the image to check the apparent twin babes. Christine

You'd have to try Scotland's People for the early records of the family - apart from 1841, which is on Ancestry. Christine

Chris Do you think it is him? Do you know if Conquer is a common name in Scotland? Wonder if anyone can find anything on 1851? Regards Elaine

Since I can't find a Henrietta Douglas(s) on 1871 or 1881, b 1864 and with John as a father, in the English censuses, do we assume that this family stayed in Scotland? I was going to list, say, the 1871 version of the family for comparison with any other ''hits''. Christine

If you put CONQUER into the free surname search on SP, you get: Search ~ Count Census 1841 ~ 24 Census 1851 ~ 23 Census 1861 ~ 15 Census 1871 ~ 39 Census 1881 ~ 31 Census 1891 ~ 41 Census 1901 ~ 36 Old Parish Records Births & Christenings 1553 - 1854 ~ 57 Old Parish Records Banns & Marriages 1553 - 1854 ~ 31 Statutory Register Births 1855 - 1905 ~ 57 Statutory Register Marriages / Banns 1855 - 1930 ~ 58 Statutory Register Deaths 1855 - 1955 ~ 97 Wills & Testaments 1513 - 1901 ~ 2 which suggests it's not a common name in Scotland. Christine

Sorry Chris They are in Middlesbrough. 1871 has been mistranscribed as Dangler instead of Douglas. John died between 1871 and 1881 (probably 1876 but need to get the cert to be sure). On 1881 Mary Douglas is the head of the family and Henrietta is there as Henritta. On 1861 John Douglas is with Mary Hardwick (wife) in Middlesbrough (they married in 1861). So I expect John to be with his parents either in England or Scotland - not sure. Regards Elaine

That would certainly explain why I couldn't find them! When you said you'd found them, I hadn't thought that you'd have had to work so hard, as you must have done, to pick them out! (Congratulations on finding them at all!) Perhaps i'll have another go! Christine

Thanks Chris Any help at all is really appreciated. My fathers side is a nightmare - I'm sure they don't want to be found lol!! Regards Elaine PS I have to go out soon so will check back later.

How about this couple in 1861: Source information: RG9/3685 Registration district: Stockton Sub-registration district: Yarm ED, institution, or vessel: 4 Folio: 90 Page: 8 Household schedule number: 41 GSU Number: 543172 John Duglass abt 1837 Scotland Head Middlesbrough Yorkshire May Hardwick Duglass abt 1837 Lofthouse New Leeds, Yorkshire, England Wife Christine

Thats them, didn't realise it was down as Duglass though lol! Just need to find him on the 1851 now. Thanks again Elaine

I reckon this is her: Source information: HO107/2327 Registration district: Wakefield Sub-registration district: Wakefield ED, institution, or vessel: 1b Folio: 48 Page: 35 Household schedule number: 152 GSU Number: 87565-87566 John Hawcastle Jr abt 1813 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Head Wakefield Yorkshire Charlotte F Hawcastle abt 1821 Glasgow, Lanarkshire (Glasgow), Scotland Wife John W Hawcastle abt 1848 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Son Emlyn Hawcastle abt 1849 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Daughter Cecil A Hawcastle abt 1850 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Son Mary A Preston abt 1834 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Servant ***Mary Harawick abt 1837 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Servant (It's really HARDWICK, but the upstroke on the d is very short.) (Similarly, the family's name is HARDCASTLE) Christine PS - Any chance of a connection between Charlotte and John Douglas Conquer? A bit unlikely as he was a tradesman, and the Hardcastles are gentlefolk and never the twain shall meet, but worth a passing thought.

Thanks for your help Christine. It may be her. I have her father as Stephen Hardwick b. 1800 and mother Henrietta b. 1806 both Rothwell. So unless she is not with her parents on the 1851 then this is probably the one. Wonder where John Conquer (or Douglas) has got to on 1851? Will try a post on records later to see if anyone else has any ideas. Thanks again Elaine

If someone has some spare credits on Scotlands People, perhaps they could look for you on the 1851. He wouldn't have been all that old at that stage, so may have been at/nearer home. Christine