Genealogy Chat

I am beside myself this morning! After months and months of searching I have in front of me my great great grandmothers birth certificate. I must thank Max, because if she had not sent me the reference I might not have bothered sending for it. All the census returns and her marriage certificate pointed towards my Alice Selina/Selina Alice Powell being born either in 1869 or 1870. I have paid for searches in both names and orderd certs that were incorrect, not to mention searching 1837 on many occasions going over the same pages using pounds worth of credits! I had all but given up, after discounting the 1868 refernce as being too unlikely. But then Max sent it to me again, and this time I thought I would chuck more money into the great GRO coffers and see what came out. And here she is, correct, father, correct location, correct job for her dad! I suppose the moral of this story is - if at first you don't succeed try try and try again! Now the big question is, why did the little minx get her dates so wrong! Her husband was ten years older than her, so no need to lie there! And why were all the census incorrect apart for 1881? Oh well the answer is now lost in the mists of time. But I am very HAPPY!!!!

Hi Barbara, Well done! I know from experience that sometimes you can't see the wood for the trees! I searched and searched for a burial, went all over the place and where was it? Right under my nose!! It's a good feeling when you eventually crack the nut, eh? Lets hope it opens other avenues of research for you. Good Luck, Linda (East Sussex)

Hi Barbara, Thanks for sharing your news with us, bet you're on of the world today?!? I have the same trouble with a few of my ancestors but reading your update is giving me the urge to carry on. 'Congrats' and the best of luck with the rest of your researching. Take Care. Regards, Dawn.

Nice when it works out, isn't it. The census returns for my great grandfather all pointed towards an 1854 birth but I finally tracked him down in 1859. Now the next problem is great great grandad ! I am now uncertain as to whether he was actually a direct ancestor or a step-son through the third marriage of whom I assumed to be great great great grandad to a widow !

It is very satisfying when you finally get that breakthrough. I had been searching for my gt-grandfather's first marriage for some time but was still no nearer to finding it. I had everything else connected with his first marriage, e.g. birth certs for two daughters, death cert for his first wife, plus census details from 1871, but no flippin' marriage cert! Thankfully Max came to the rescue and was able to find them but in a different district to where I expected them to get married. Up until then, nothing I had before me could indicate that they would have got married in this particular district. I have a feeling that originally I probably had spotted them in the index, but had skipped over them as the district didn't feel right. However, when I received the cert, the details on it were correct. That's what happens when you get tunnel vision.

Yes chaps - our Twinkle Max has done it again!!!!! She also made the breakthrough for my dads side of the family and that allowed me to find all the information I needed! She is truly a star that gorl!

What a nice success story! I do hope that Twinkle Max comes back from her holiday soon - as I'm having exactly the same problem with my ggrandmother and my ggrandfather!!!

Never be surprised at what you find re dates of birth. My g grandmother was born in 1838. By 1881, widowed and remarried to a man 9 years her junior, she appears on the census as 30. My grandad, still at living at home, is recorded as 18, although as he was born in 1861, that should be 20. This would make her 10 when she gave birth, rather stretching it a bit!! Of course, don't forget too that some of our ancestors were ill educated and poor too, so that birthdays may not have been remembered with cards, birthday cake and presents, but just passed over as just another day, and age not paid much attention. It would be easy to forget exactly how old you were and if they couldn't read, they couldn't refer to their birth certificates. Di.

Hi yes its a great feeling, and I can't wait to tell my cousin as it was he who started me off on this side of the family. I am certain now my Alice is the Selina found on the 1881 census at a convalescent home aged 13. She was not working in 1891 even though her sisters were, and I wonder if she had always been sickly. Maybe the mistake in the age came because she stayed back a year in school or something daft like that? She was born 4th march yet she is down as being 22 in 1891. Perhaps after they made that mistake they just got lost! Anyway, its all good fun, and I am just thrilled to have finally found her! I hope others will take heart!

Well done Barbara, it's a fantastic feeling and in the end well worth the search. A friend once likened it to scoring a goal in football. John

Hi barbara I know how you feel as you know i found my grandmothers grave about two weeks ago.Still waiting for the certificats.to come but it feels great when it all comes together. I know becauseyou gave me encouragement to carry on. Best Wishes Bernie