Genealogy Chat

Hi again.....I have yet to still crumble my brickwall...I think I am almost there but my searches are failing me...I have a small lead.....can anyone help?? John Collins( POPULAR i kNOW) born in 1839 In Gornal staffs...which i am told is in sedgley( have looked at 1841 census) Trying to find his birth parents.....I keep finding loads of new leads but none are correct....its doing me head in....xxxxx John Married Agnes(date unknown)...had four children 2 in kirkleatham york and 2 in wittingham derbs

Heidi Collins is a fairly popular name, ditto John. You can't assume this is the right child/parents. How did you get back to the parents anyway, unless through their child? nell

Hi It appears that Gornal would now be in the West Midlands area. There's a local BMD site: http://www.bmsgh.org It's just about the least updated of all of them: last updated 9 Dec 2003, where there are some which were last updated 2/3 Nov 2004. In the births which have been transcribed (It's clear that thousands haven't been yet!), there are a few possibilities. Surname Forename(s) Sub-District Registers At Reference 1838 COLLINS John C Oldbury Sandwell OLD/1/215 1841 COLLINS John West Bromwich North East Sandwell WBNE/5/129 1842 COLLINS John Harborne Sandwell HAR/3/254 The other four with the initial J are James x2 & Joseph x2. I've always been very pleased with the local BMD sites: at least as prompt as GRO-online. It's also the source-data for GRO so you're one transcription better off (one less opportunity for error & omission). When you do a search online, the ref acts as a link to a partially-completed form which you can print off, complete and post off with your fee (the same as GRO). It's easier to add checking info that way. good hunting! Christine

Are their many local bmd sites Christine, I wasnt aware of that.

thank you all xxx Helen in answer to your question....I have only been researching for a short while and trying to do it all without purchasing much....juz really paying to do the searches.... John collins was my gg/gf and basically cannot find where he came from....and the searches are causing the brick wall....John was definatly born in 1839 in gornal staffs....mariied agnes(no date) she was born in 1841 in mddlesex....5 children rosamond b 1872 in wittingham......willlie r b 1880 in wittingham derbyshire...john j b1882 and Thomas A b 1885... That is as far as I have got ....pleaze help

Heidi Not sure which searches you mean, but if you are looking on FreeBMD, it doesn't yet have 100% coverage. There are also gaps in the GRO indexes. You can use censuses to link parents with their children, and get their birthplace/birth year approximately. nell

thank you nell....have done all i can....i tend to use ancestry.....more thyan most....have searched all i can that is why i need help.....any suggestions...xx

Hi Heidi, If your rellie came from Gornal, do you know if it was Upper or Lower Gornal, they both come under Sedgley, Staffs. Try this site www(.)sedgleymanor(.)com it covers the nine villages of Sedgley including these two and has samples of 1841 and 1851 census. You may be lucky, but you will need to buy certs to be totally sure. Best wishes Amanda

xxxxxxxxxxx thank you amanda....it was lower gornal but not sure without checking 1st.... will check the site out....could do with the 1841.census...thank you xx will let u know how i gwet on

boo hoo......boo hoo....pass the tissues.......a few collins's but not the blooming ones i need.... Brick wall still standing......grrrrr thank you all xx

Hi Heidi My Hobsons/ Hopson's were not either. Do you have them in 1871? Best wishes Amanda

No I havnt found them in 1871......they didnt have children then

Hi, Unless you buy the certs you cannot be sure you are chasing the right family. John's marriage cert will have his father's name which will help you track down his birth. People often gave incorrect info on census which is why you need the certs. It can be expensive but worth it to know you have the right people. Gwynne