Genealogy Chat

Hi In the 1881 census, my great,great grandmother was Mary AK Roberts, the AK for Ann Katherine, and was living in Holborn aged 17, and 10 years before, she was living as a 7 year old in Bow, London. She had a sister born 1 year after in Bow and I found her birth record in 1865, and the even younger siblings but cant find any Mary Ann Katherine's born in 1863/1864. Now, the 1871 census her birthplace was accidentally recorded as Sussex, as her mum was born there, but if that was right, she'd of been in London by the age of 1, so maybe she was born in Sussex, then her parents moved to London a few months after and she just assumed that she was born in London. In the 1891 and 1901 census, by then she was married, she gave her birthplace as Stoke Newington, London. Maybe her parents moved there for a few months then to Bow. Any reason why her younger siblings births were registered and not hers Thanks Ben

nudge

Is it 1837online that you have looked for this birth? Sam

I checked 1837 in 1863 & 1864, there are no Mary Ann/e Katherine Roberts Sam

Is there a baptism record for the child born in Bow? There is just a chance that the children were baptised together as they were close in age and so that they weren't mistaken for twins, birthdates may have been recorded in the register. Otherwise check for a baptism in the Sussex parish as women sometimes went back home for the birth of their first baby.

Ben There are only about 7 Mary Ann Katherine's born at all anytime anyplace on ancestry civil reg. Perhaps she was registered just as Mary or Mary Ann and got other names later on? Maybe she was registered as Ann Katherine or Katherine Mary Ann? Or just as "female". Have you explored these possibiliies? nell

Christine I think you have saved my life. That might be possible, I had never thought of that. Gwyneth and Helen, I will look into your suggestions. Thanks for your help.

Hi There's another possibility. I picked it up from the Staffs BMD site (findable with lots of other useful links via UKBMD). The GRO records are quarterly transcriptions from the local registers. They were no more immune to human error than any other transcriptions (the 1901 census being a catastrophically prime example!) so some records were either garbled or simply got missed. If you look on UKBMD(.)org(.)uk, more & more counties are getting their BMD records accessible online - sometimes searchably so. If you know or can guess which county, and they've got the relevant years online (or if you contact them direct) you should be able to get copy cert(s) direct. They still cost the same (i.e. £7) but it's at least as fast as the e-ordering from GRO. If you are able to use an online search, then, because you send the partially pre-completed form, the critical reference info is accurate. In any case, because it's by post, it's easier to add corroborative info to ensure get either the correct cert or none. If it's not on UKBMD, then in the info section of FreeBMD, they have the addresses of the regional offices and other contact info. good hunting Christine

Well, Mary AK Roberts would of been living in London by the time she was a year old, if she was born in Sussex, because her sister was born in Bow the year after her as I just said, so there could be a chance her birth was either garbled or missed, or registered under her mothers maiden name. I will continue. I have found her husbands, who is my gg grandfathers ancestors back many generations in London, so I am starting on her now. Thanks for all your advice anyway.