Genealogy Chat

Thanks Mo I am beginning to think that at least the first daughter was not quite born on the right side of the blanket! There were six years till they had another child. I guess this generation did not invent 'living together'!!

Hi Maggie Dont give up...when I was searching for my Sister's family.. I had found them on the Census as man and wife.. She had obtained a Birth Cert for the son and confirmed the parents and we could not find a marriage.. They had children from 1875 until 1898.. 13 in all and they were never married.. all the children baptism's were down as to them as a married couple.. the birth cert stated her as married with nee name... I finally tracked down a marriage for them while looking for their children's marriages...in 1902... WoW... These are all possibilities... Mo

Okay, I think I have to send for Sarah Charlotte's birth cert. to see if she was their daughter. It would be worth it to find out. I will put up the thread tomorrow for the Watchmaker Aprenticeship as it is getting late for you over there and some people might actually be in bed!!!! I also have to drive the kids to dance lessons now. Merry, as always thank you for all your help. You are a gem. Maggie

Well, Sarah Charlotte might be nothing to do with them, but if that's the case then their child wasn't registered, as they said she was born St Lukes (on the 1851) and there's only the one registration I could see. I'm not sure where the apprentice records would be.....Put up a thread asking about Watchmakers Apprenticeship records......(and the rough date and where he lived) Merry

Merry, that is certainly an interesting idea. Quite possible too! I am now looking at that find for Sarah Charlotte. (Sarah goes on and on throughout the generations, no Charlotte that I have found yet but that may not mean anything). Possibly theirs,or was she Sarah's from before her marriage to William? But then why call herself Edwards? That would then be a break till 1847 when their next child was born. Is there anywhere I could check for William's apprenticeship that you know of?

I wonder if William did an apprenticeship for his watchmaking? I don't think you were allowed to marry until the end of the apprenticeship, which might well not be until aged 21. He may not have been that old when Sarah was born. Maybe they couldn't marry......and then they didn't bother? Merry

This Sarah might be their first child: Births Jun 1841 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EDWARDS Sarah Charlotte St Luke 2 278 Merry

It's tempting to wonder if this is Sarah with the eldest child in 1841, though Willliam is MISSING!! Drat.....I was hoping his occupation would tie them down. Sarah Edwards abt 1826 St Luke Middlesex Sarah Edwards abt 1841 St Luke Middlesex Of course, no marital status and her age rounded down to 15. Merry

Hi Merry Thanks for that. Have I been using Ancestry all this time and not taking full advantage of it? I am off to check that now. That is them in 1861, it should be Selina, not Celina, and she is the one I have the cert. for Her father William is shown on it as a Watch Glass Maker. On other censuses he is also called a jeweller. They are living 9 Red Lion St Shoreditch at the time of her birth Dec 11 1860,St. Leonards. Registered 22 Jan. 1861. Yes, that is the ones I found on 1851 too.

and 1851? Catherine Edwards abt 1849 St Lukes, Middlesex, England Daughter Shoreditch Middlesex Sarah Edwards abt 1823 St Lukes, Middlesex, England Wife Shoreditch Middlesex Sarah Edwards abt 1841 St Lukes, Middlesex, England Daughter Shoreditch Middlesex William Edwards abt 1821 St Lukes, Middlesex, England Head Shoreditch Middlesex William Edwards abt 1847 St Lukes, Middlesex, England Son Shoreditch Middlesex Merry

Oops! 1861 lol! Merry

Merry 1861? Gwyn

The GRO index pages are available to view free via Ancestry and also FreeBMD (though they are quicker to find and load via Ancestry!....''England and Wales BMD Index'' on the Search Page on Ancestry, at the bottom under Special Collections). Also you need to be aware of the coverage charts on FreeBMD, so you can see what years have good coverage and what don't (go to FreeBMD Main Page, Information, Coverage Charts and select births, marriages or deaths). Is this your family in 1851? Celina Edward abt 1860 Shoreditch, Middlesex, England Daughter Shoreditch Middlesex Catherine Edwards abt 1849 Shoreditch, Middlesex, England Daughter Shoreditch Middlesex Henry Edwards abt 1859 Shoreditch, Middlesex, England Daughter Shoreditch Middlesex Jane Edwards abt 1853 Shoreditch, Middlesex, England Daughter Shoreditch Middlesex Sarah Edwards abt 1828 St Lukes Old St, Middlesex, England Wife Shoreditch Middlesex Walter Edwards abt 1855 Shoreditch, Middlesex, England Son Shoreditch Middlesex William Edwards abt 1822 St Lukes Old St, Middlesex, England Head Shoreditch Middlesex William Edwards abt 1847 Islington, Middlesex, England Son Shoreditch Middlesex Which child do you have the cert for? Merry

Hi Gwyneth I had another look and I think I was wrong then about that being William with family in 1841 after all. That is definitely him in Shoreditch 1851 with family. I know he had a daughter Catherine, also that he was a watchmaker and was born in St Lukes. This is why it is all so confusing, all these people with the same names etc. Thanks for helping. Maggie

The 1851 family are at that same address . Does that eliminate William Joseph then? Gwyn

No Gwyneth; That is very similar though. The one I found was Elizabeth b.1786 no birthplace shown Joseph b. 1781 no birthplace shown Elizabeth b. 1821 Middlesex William b. 1821 Middlesex all living 19 Vaughn Terrace St. Leonard Shoreditch.

Oh Merry I hate to sound thick, but where do I look up the GRO indexes? Have I been missing something all this time?

Is this the William you found in 1841? This is for 1851, William Joseph Edwards is a 'portrate engraver' ..................................................................... Maria Balding abt 1840 Islington Grandchild Shoreditch Middlesex Elizth Edwards abt 1785 Shropshire, England Wife Shoreditch Middlesex Joseph Edwards abt 1779 Westbury, Wiltshire, England Head Shoreditch Middlesex >> Willm Joseph Edwards abt 1818 Chealsea Son Shoreditch Middlesex

Merry I have them married on the 1851, living in Shoreditch with Catherine, Sarah Jr. William Jr. William Sr is a watchmaker. I have them on the rest of the censuses. I have a possible Sarah Spence on the 1841living at home in St Pancras, but can't prove it is her. Also have a possible William Edwards b. 1821 living Shoreditch with his parents and sister Elizabeth. He is an engraver. Sorry it is taking awhile for me to answer the posts, I have the kids over here today. Thanks. Maggie

Which was the first census where they showed as married? Can you give some details so I can look up the page please? Merry