Genealogy Chat

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Not asking for help, just want to scream, rant, rave and then hopefully feel better!!! It is the return of the international man of mystery William Henry Reed He doesn’t appear on any of the census collections apart from maybe 1871 where he is with a Mary Reed whom he did marry, but her year of birth and place of birth are different to other census’ she appears on, so cant be sure it is him. On the 1881 Mary Reed is a widow. Reason I am having problems locating him is the fact that I don’t know where or even when he was born, on the marriage cert to Mary, William Reeds father is named as William Reed occupation…….deceased!! Great!! William also seems to change professions at a regular rate, on the birth cert of their child he is a brush maker, but on the marriage cert he is a timekeeper (birth cert was first in 1873 followed by the marriage in 1876) Oooh on the 1871 census that I think it maybe him he is a coachman and she is a coachman’s wife!! At least that made me smile Anyway sorry to have a rant, but I do indeed feel better now!!

Well, the brush maker turned timekeeper is reasonable - if he worked in a factory he may have been promoted to the guy who checked everyone was in and out on time. Check out the area they lived in to see if there were any brush manufacturers. Just out of interest and a bit of background info.

Trouble is Heather, by the time I have an area (southwark) for Mary and their daughter Mary dear William has already popped his clogs!! I cant find the damn man on the census, apart from maybe 1871, but Mary is down as 1843 not 1845 and says born in London, when I know she was born in southwark, surrey!! Why oh why do rellies die before we know where they came from??

Hi Fuzzy, I have Southwark rellies and I also live near there. I would quite happily describe Southwark as part of London so the two are not inconsistent. Janice

Hi Fuz, I know exactly what you mean. If my granddad was alive now I would kill him for the enormous puzzle he has left me. If only one could 'get through' to the other side and ask those questions. To enable my decendents to remain sane I am putting names and dates on ALL photo`s and little notes on every material thing I have kept, like my granddads glasses, my grandma`s tiny bible. I will try and leave a 'forwarding address' when I leave this mortal coil just incase there is something I have missed. Kathlyn

Hi Janice, thanks for that, my family originated from the Lambeth area also known as Surrey back then, but so obviously now London. I wonder why she would put London though and Surrey on every other census? I so want it to be them though as as least I would have a year for william, doesn't really help me alot though as I still dont know what his father did for a living, inconsiderate sod dying like that, I wish they would put the previous profession of the father on the marriage cert instead of deceased..

Hi kathlyn, Thanks for that, nice to know I am not alone, and you gave me a giggle too Fuzz xx

Have you considered these people? 1851: Isabel Reed abt 1812 Scotland Wife Southwark St George Surrey William Reed abt 1807 St George Southk, Surrey, England Head Southwark St George Surrey William Reed abt 1832 St George Southk, Surrey, England Son Southwark St George Surrey Father and son are both brushmakers. In 1861 father is still a brushmaker, but son is no longer at home. Haven't tried to look for son, in case you have done this already! Merry