Genealogy Chat

Hi everyone - I am loving Ancestry and the new records, however I have now managed to confuse myself really badly.

This is what I know regarding my grandad - his name is Charles French and was born 1853 and profession was Wood Cutter, he married my nan whose name was Emily - this is where the confusion is, we thought that her name was Emily Gay - and on the 1901 census they have Robert Gay, brother in law to head of house living with them - HOWEVER I was looking for their marriage certificate as could never find before, looked on Ancestry and found one, however the spouse's name is Emily Ricketts - every on the cert for Charles is correct even the signature matches (as we have the original 1911 census where his signature is on that document aswell), I am now stumped with regards to the Gay element - was she called Ricketts because her mum wasn't married??? Wld anyone mind trying to help or guide me in a direction

MANY MANY THANKS

xxx

Have you tried looking for a Robert Gay / Emily Gay / Emily Rickets on the 1881 census? (going by their ages and places of birth on the census where you have seen them).

Hi

Robert Gay is on the 1901 census and living with Charles and Emily French, cannot find Emily Gay on any census - if she was indeed Emily Ricketts cannot get the Gay connection at all as to how he is Charles brother in law??

I am really stuck!!

Thanks
x

Yes, I am looking at 1901, 1891 and 1881.

It is possible that Robert is a husband of a sister of Charles, I suppose, or of a first wife of Charles if he was married previously. Interesting differing ages between the censuses.
How long does it say, from the 1911, that Charles and Emily were married?

In 1891, Charles is 36 and Emily is 22, 1901, he is 40 and she is 33.

Hi Joy

On the 1911 census it confirms that Emily and Charles have been married for 23 years, it does appear on the 1881 census that Charles was married to someone called Pheolis (this from the original census) doesn't say how long for and again cannot find a marriage for them.

I have had a look for a marriage between Robert Gay and one of the sisters for Charles that I know about, but again cannot find anything

Many thanks for helping me

xxx

I'll have another think.

Thanks Joy, I do appreciate you looking

Thanks
x

Just from curiosity, I searched for a marriage between anyone with the surname Gay and the surname Ricketts, and there is a Mary Ann Gay and a James Ricketts married in Somerset, December qr 1868 - which may or may not have any relevance :-)

Why did you originally think Emily's surname was Gay? Do you have the birth cert of your parent who was the child of Charles and Emily? This should give you Emily's maiden name and any previous married names to confirm that you have the correct marriage cert.

Also, the term "in law" on the census can sometimes have a different meaning to the one we assume. It can also mean step.

Do you think this may be Charles' marriage to 'Pheolis'?

Marriages Jun 1872 (>99%)
FRENCH Charles William Kensington 1a 248 Scan available - click to view >>>>
HIGGINS Joseph Kensington 1a 248 Scan available - click to view
MALSTER Maria Kensington 1a 248
Malster Maris Kensington 1a 248 Scan available - click to view >>>>>
Robinson Eleanor Annie Kensington 1a 248 Scan available - click to view

Hi Joy, that is interesting as Charles did have a sister Mary Ann - looks as though she was born approx 1861 - will have a look

Hi Potty, thanks for looking also - it weird but the name Gay was mentioned by my brother and when I found a Gay living with my relatives on the census I thought that it all fit, I didn't think of it before but might be worth getting my mum's B/C - she died when I was nine and obviously I have only found out bits and pieces from relatives over the years.

Hi Blossom, to be honest not sure, I did think that perhaps the name of Pheolis has been transcribed wrong on the census but I have printed the original page and definitely looks like it is her name, you would think it would be easy to find.

BIG thanks to everyone xx

Ooops no can't be Mary Jane as she would be a French, sorry my mistake

Midddy - it's best to work backwards from what you know. So the first thing to do is get your mother's birth cert if this is her family. That will give her father and her mother (with maiden name) then you can work back from there.

You may find that it all ties in with what you have, on the other hand it might not!

Never trust what other family members tell you - their memory may not be as good as they think it is!

I spent ages looking for my grandmother's first born child who later died. My great aunt (who is now 91) informed me very importantly that his name was Peter. Well Peter was not to be found. I have finally found him on the new Ancestry births and baptisms - his name was Charles Alfred!

Lol! Blossom I think you are right - when I found the marriage certificate on Ancestry I got so excited thinking that it was the right one, to be honest I do think that it is and that somewhere along the way there is a connection with the Gay family, I agree that the only thing for it is to get my mum's B/C - I am off to order now - only way I will know for sure

Thanks everyone for your help and advice

Thanks
xxxxxx

When you've got it, if there is still a problem, put the details on here and we'll give it a go!

Aaahh thanks Blossom - you are very kind, I may take you up on it xxx

When you have obtained your mother's birth certificate, post on this thread again, please, and add to the title something like updated page two; I'll look for it.

Thanks Joy, you're very kind xx

Hi

Just wanted to update those that helped me look with regards to the 'Gay' link with Charles and Emily, I have received the Birth Cert for my mum and has confirmed that her mother was 'Emily Ricketts' - so the marriage cert between Charles and Emily that I found on Ancestry is the right one

Thanks again for everyone's help

Hazel
xx