Genealogy Chat

Oh yes. Sorry.

Hi everyone, Thanks for your replies. I thought that when the mothers name is stated as Greatrex formley Tonks that meant they were married. Could you lie and say you were married when registering a birth. Nicky

Nichola My g grandparents married 48 years after their first child was born, they had 7 between 1878 and 1892, and married in 1926! He was 72 and a bachelor and she was shown as 68 and a widow! Hence the reason they didnt get married as she was already married, so maybe worth checking forward, I did and got a result! Happy Hunting. Jayne

Familyrelatives.org is fully transcribed up to 1920. Might be easier to search for Henrietta Tonks marriages there. After 1912 the spouse's surname is listed also. If you can't see anything obvious between 1912 and 1913 then the marriage must have been just before that period. Crista

At the risk of teaching my grandmother to suck eggs, have you looked for this marriage AFTER 1913? My friend's grandfather only married in 1916, when he was about to be called up. There were two children and a third on the way. If Joseph was in WW1, AND his records survive, these might note his date of marriage. B

How about Gretrex? Crista

Hi Christine, Yes I looked at everything starting with Great. Nothing. Nicky

Nicola Hetty can also be for Harriett, my husband grandmother was born Harriet 1891 census she is Hetty, but she never used that name only her 2nd Ethel when she married and after. Irene

Have you looked at the variants of Greatrex, like GREATOREX? Christine

Hi Anne, I didn't think Hetty Tonks sounded French either but that's what info I have been given by the family. Their daughter was registered as Hetty but on her own marriage certificate she put Henrietta. So yes, I believe they are variants of the same name. ************* Hi Esta, I did actually find those records when playing around myself but I can't tie in a Hetty or Henrietta to this family. ***************************** Hi Crista, The family thought Joseph and Hetty met in France during WW1 while he was in service. But that cannot be right as their daughter was born in Birmingham in 1913 which was before WW1. I have checked 1837online but cannot find a Greatrex record with the same registration district and page number. I suppose I will have to request the marriage certificate with just her details to see who she married and if the name was mistranscribed, unless there is another way of cross referencing the records. Thanks everyone Nicky

Nicky, It seems unlikely a bricklayers labourer could afford to get married in France and there are thousands of Tonks listed on FreeBMD. Marriages Sep 1911 Tonks Henrietta Birmingham 6d 131 No other names have been transcribed yet. Try looking on 1837online for this quarter. Could be Greatrex was mistranscribed. Crista

Nichola, I really don't want to confuse you any more..but...I was just having a play with the names and places that you mentioed and thought I'd show you this family.... 1891 Tonks, Elise M 31 Chantilly Oix, France Wife Aston Warwickshire Tonks, George 33 Birmingham, Warwickshire Head Aston Warwickshire Tonks, Lillian E 8 Erdington, Warwickshire Daughter Aston Warwickshire Tonks, Mabel J 2 6/12 Erdington, Warwickshire Daughter Aston Warwickshire 1901 Elise M Tonks 41 Fra French Subject Wife Erdington Warwickshire George Tonks 43 Birmingham Lozell Head Erdington Warwickshire Lillian E Tonks 18 Erdington, Warwickshire, England Daughter Erdington Warwickshire Mabel J Tonks 12 Erdington, Warwickshire, England Daughter Erdington Warwickshire I know none of the children are called Hetty but there is a french / Erdington connection.............. something to think about maybe.... Esta

Hetty Tonks doesn't sound very French. Hetty is sometimes short for Henrietta I think. Sorry - not much help but just a thought. Anne

Hi Sam, I've searched 1837online too. Nicky

If they married shortly before the daughter was born then that's possibly too late for FreeBMD, or have you search 1837 too and still not found it? Sam

I am struggling to find any information about a Hetty Greatrex who probably was born about 1890. I have her first daughters birth certificate who was born on 05/09/1913 in Erdington, Birmingham. Fathers name is Joseph William Greatrex (Bricklayers Labourer) and mothers name is Hetty Greatrex formley Tonks. I have found Joseph Greatrex on the 1901 census and have his family history. It is believed that this childs mother was French. I have searched for a marriage but cannot find one between these people. Therefore it is possible that they were married in France. If this is the case how do I got about finding a record to see who her father was etc. Any help appreciated please Nicky