Genealogy Chat

Sometimes you get lucky with Smiths! I didn't think I would ever find my Warwickshire Smiths so didn't even try. Then by chance I came into contact with someone who knew of someone who was researching my Smiths...... and he had the lot back to the 1650's. The same names came down the generations and they often had twins. I have three different lots of Smiths; one lot from Churchover, an Ann Smith from Wenhaston(no chance of ever finding her line) and a Lydia Smith from Chobham in Surrey. So never give up! Genealogy is full of surprises. M

I have been looking for birth record of my grandfather William Smith for nearly a year. His father was called John Smith. I know the problems you are having.

Just when thought my Smiths were a Bedfordshire lot I find they start in Gt.Harrowden Northants in 1705 - That's James m to Jane Gray son Morris b 1731 Irthlingborough Northants m Mary Northfield at Risely Beds. Children: John b 1760 Mary b 1760 Morris b 1761 Sarah n 1765 John m Dorothy Headland(b.1776) from Souldrop Beds) Children: Charles b1801, George b 1793, Sara 1810 William b 177 Joseph 1803 John b 1805........all at Risely. Charles m Lucy ? Children John b 1823 Sara b 1828 Harriett b 1836 Esther n 1843 Sara Elizabeth b 1867.......all born in Knotting Beds. John m Ann ? Riseley Beds. Children: Charles b 1851 Samuel b 1868 Clark b 1860 Henry b 1856 all born Knotting Charles m Mary Ann Hale Children: Florence b 1875,Arthur Herbert n 1877, Eliza Ellen b 1879, Gertrude Minny b 1881, Frederick Jesse 1884, Charles Edward b 1890..................my Grandad. So if anyones got any of these please let me know.

I don't know whether to be peeved or relieved... one of my lines of Smiths are probably not Smiths at all! On this line I've got a John Smith born about 1848, and have been having problems finding his parents. I have been unable to find a possible birth registration matching the parents (who married after he was born ) as per the 1851/1861 census. I was relating my problems about not finding the birth registration to MIL... I then got told an old family tale that gt gt grandfather John was actually adopted. My best guess now is that he might be an illegitimate child of his mothers, so he's possibly not a Smith at all! The downside - mum's maiden name, Taylor, is almost as common in that neck of the woods LOL

hi i have smiths in my tree from worcester, all 4 children were illegitemate and their dad`s surname was brown!! he had a family living in the black country 1851,1861 dont know why he moved to worcester and left them, but hes with my grt grt grandmother in 1871 but he then left my grt grt grandmother and was living in london in 1881. the childrens name were Abiather Amos brown smith 1868 (amos brown is the fathers name) Albina Brown smith 1871 - 1886 Edgar brown smith 1873 ( my grt grandad) Adeline brown smith 1875

adding my Smiths just incase any recognises them Sophia Smith c1805 married Richard Meeson in 1828 inWalsall staffs Her Father Was Benjamin c1779 Married Ann Hodgkins in 1803 in Walsall Staffs Phebe Smith c1773 married Samuel Proud in Walsall Staffs Linda x

Ben, if it was a more unusual first name I'd suggest looking for sons named after the father, but I think you're on a non-starter with a name like James LOL my Johns are all 20th century so weren't too difficult - but thank goodness for the Lukes, Isaacs and Lawrences during the 19th Century!

I actually feel quite privelleged to be part of the Smith clan. Even though it is one huge clan. There were nearly half a million Smiths on the 1901 census. Vicky, you are right about the generations. Eliza Smith's dad James was on the 1841 census , and his birthplace given as Out Of County, and guess what? he had the nerve to die before the 1851 census, as I found his wife Sarah Smith, a widow, and the children on 1851, so me finding James's baptism is about as big a chance as me winning the Lottery. Ben

Ben you are lucky - but try going back another 2 or 3 generations! I'll swap you a family with lots of Lukes (OH mother's tree) and a separate family with lots of Lawrences (OH father's tree) who grew up about 10 miles apart. We are talking Lancashire coalfields south of Wigan, where there must be hundreds of them... and they seemed to move about to different pits, its not as though they stayed in the same place for decades. Pre 1841 I have no way of knowing where they were. At least they are not Jones in the Welsh coalfields, now THAT would be a challenge LOL

I have just got the birth cert of my gg grandfather James Edgington and his mum's maiden name was Smith. Eliza Smith. Luckily I think I have found her on 1841 with her parents as the Smith's were living next door to the Edgington's in Oxford. I think researching a Smith can be straightforward if you know the exact location, and other info. Ben

My in laws are Robert Smith from Co .Durham He married Elizabeth Brown from Co.Durham So you can imagine I keep passing over my husbands side of the family Iseem to have hit a brick wall with my rellies so alas!!!!!!! i will have to make a start on the Smith and Brown,s but I must say I,m not looking forward to it. I,m glad I,m not on my own Maureen

well, l certainly thought l was alone. Thought my Smiths would be easier as they came from Heigham....until l found that it was part of Norwich....and that there were loads of them!! My grandfather was born in London....and never said anything about his dad coming from Norfolk. The only good thing was that all 3 of them had the first name Theodore......which made it a little bit easier!! But not much!!! Maureen

There's only one thing worse than researching a Smith and that is an illegitimate Smith!!!!! My sympathies.

This is all so familiar but also reassuring as I know I am not the only one!! My gt grandfather was George Prentice Smith, b.1854 in Pulham Market Norfolk. I sent for his marriage cert. but it came back with no father (an illegitimate Smith - aaargh!) I have found him living with the Prentice family on 1861/71, but no sign of his mother so have sent off for his birth cert. and am waiting impatiently!! Frances

I have a Birth Certificate for a Frederick Charles Smith born 2nd August 1884 father : William George Smith - Occupation - Gunsmith Mother: Kate Emily Smith (formerly Fletcher) they lived at 20 Fairford rove Lower Kensington Lane - Lambeth got the wrong one when looking for Frederick Charles Smith Father Henry Smith - Hackney Carriage Driver Mother : Fanny ? address - 17 Brockley terrace any links to Henry and Fanny? cheers Sally

My Sarah Ann Jackson married a Frederick Smith, a fishmonger, in Peterborough in 1872, I then completely lose her. The number of Frderick Smiths and Sarah Ann Smiths is enormous. I sympathise with any one who has Smiths in their trees. Rosemary(Essex)

Hi, I have a smith in the family, and am having bother trying to find out where and when is doing my head in Helen

My Dad was Smith and he was born in a very small Bedfordshire village....loads of Smiths there all seem to be called Charles or John. I did get some info from family search site but then got stuck when suddenly I came across Morris in Northamptonshire ! Don;t know where to go from there so I'm afraid poor Dad's side of the family keep getting left to one side.

My Smith's weren't too bad to follow on the whole, as they tended to stay put in one village... but it must be a nightmare to follow them in a larger community ! You're all very brave for trying (I use the word brave - I was told I was daft when I started lol)

Hi Any SMITHS in London linking to Tredgett - Billings - Johnson please contact me cheers Sally