Genealogy Chat

Kate No, didnt mind the joke, I was busy sharpening my axe, thats why I took so long! Thanks everyone for your input. The problem with flogging the Parish Registers is that he married (second wife) in Manchester! Where Holdens are concerned thats nearly as bad as a Smith. I was hoping to avoid that, but I think I will just have to grit my teeth and get on with it. (I have already plodded through every Holden marriage in order to find his SECOND marriage, didnt know until then that he had been married before, so I may have missed him the first time round) Pat Yes, email me if you have anything on Hardman, I still can't make the Holden/Hardman connection. Also, quite possible that your Worcester etc Holdens came from Lancs, there are some very early documents relating to a younger son of Holden Manor being given a chunk of land outside Lancashire which never came back into the Holden Estate. Thanks again everyone. Marjorie.

Marjorie, Those Holdens again, and I have a few James as well, lucky so far they Worcestershire in to Staffordshire, wonder will I get to find them tying in to the Lancashire ones? I agree with Nell check the census and hopefully it will narrow it down. Marjorie must email about that Hardman that went with Holden, do you remember you spoke about them before? Speak soon. Good luck as usual. Pat x

Hello Marjorie Hope you didn't mind my little joke above, no offence was meant :) Is it possible for you to visit the local archives and do a trawl through the parish marriage registers, perhaps starting with the area he was in when he married his second wife. Could take a long time I know but I have found marriages this way before Or you could look for the Parish baptism records for Joseph's birth and see if the mother is listed. Good luck, hope you find it. Kate

Nell Thankyou, yes, you are right! I have a possible find for him on the 1841, but because the ages are rounded on the 1841 and no relationships given, I'm not entirely sure I have the right one - even if he is, he doesnt appear to be married, (but there is a young female in the house!). Right! That's me off to trawl the 1851! Marjorie

Marjorie I think you need to find James in 1841 and 1851 to see who he is living with then. No doubt this is easier said than done, but it might help to show where and when he was born. nell

My 2 x gt grandfather James Holden (born about 1824, somewhere in Lancashire, depending on which source you look at) married twice(that I know of!) His SECOND marriage was to Ellen Grimshaw a spinster, in 1859, in Manchester. He is a widower,his occupation is given as labourer, his father as James Holden a brewer. (This last is almost certainly a lie) In 1861 I find them in Manchester with JOSEPH, their son, born c 1855 and James born c 1860. James has elevated himself to Engine Driver by this time. Obviously, Joseph was born before this marriage and as James was previously married, I am assuming (for now) that he is James son by his previous marriage and therefore not Ellen's child. I have sent for several "Wrong" marriage certs for his FIRST marriage. Bearing in mind that there are HUNDREDS of James Holden marriages between 1845 and 1858, can anyone suggest how to narrow down the search for his first marriage? I have also sent for several Joseph Holden birth certs, but it is getting v expensive (and confusing) because I dont know the name of the first wife! And there is always the remote possibility that Joseph is ELLEN's son and therefore registered under the name Grimshaw. Any thoughts anyone?Am I missing something easy? Marjorie

Marjorie Is it a game: I can't see any wood or trees or thread lol :) Kate

I'm getting nowhere with this, would appreciate your input - see below.