Genealogy Chat

Does anyone have any hints about how to find one line of Smiths among millions when I don't have a lot of info? Any suggestions would be helpful - I've come to a full stop. Thanks. Thank you to everyone for your replies. Further info William Elphick Smith b 11/04/1864 at Hollington/Hillington?? Married Ellen Mercy Mercer b c1865 Father: Thomas Stephen Smith b c1834 married 26/03/1864 at Hollington/Hillington?? to Sarah Elphick b 1/12/1834 Cheers, Sue

Hi Sue I too find it hard and I am a SMITH who married a SMITH so researching to lines one in London and the other in the Isle of White both very difficult when and where has your brick wall set in? Sally

Perhaps we should have a thread for everyone looking for Smiths! maybe we might connect (I did say maybe lol!) Teri Also looking for Smiths (Gypsys in Kent)

hi i have smiths from southampton 1890 and smiths that started in guilford in surrey and moved to the new forest 1890 both totally unrelated. karen

my husbands grandmother was beatrice smith born southampton in 1892. and the other is my greatgrandmother matilda smith born 1862 guilford surrey and moved to cadnam were she married harry spratt about 1890. thx karen

I really sympathise with all of you who are looking for Smiths. My maiden name is Smith and it appears that even those who were born Matthews or Long or anything else eventually married a Smith so I am having an incredibly hard time of it. Really the only way is to order certificates which is incredibly irritating but you just don't get the luxury of making assumptions and best guesses with this name like you can with more unusual names, you have to go on solid fact. I found once I got my great grandfather it all fell into place from there and i managed to get on the census's in a big way. I am dreading parish records though and would appreciate any hints anyone can give me on finding the right branch of Smiths on those.

A longshot and desperate measures, but I will add some of the Smiths that I have just in case!!!! they were born Newington London and Reading Berkshire 1897-1918, Castle Bytham Lincs,c 1875, St Ives Huntingdonshire c1845, Baldock,and Norton Hertfordshire 1816. Their names were mainly George, Thomas, Henry and Maurice and ones from 1845 would have Baxter as middle names. Too many to mention in full. Anyone with any Smiths from those areas, please contact me you never know we may find a link.

In hubby's line (he's a Smith) 4 generations back on his mum's side she's also a Smith - so I've got them coming out of my ears too! From around Tyldesley/Atherton/Leigh area if anyone else has any... Don't suppose its any consolation but it seems in some areas other names are more common - I have Halls in Northumberland that are being a positive nightmare - don't seem to be ANY Smiths at all near there!

Hi Any SMITHS in London linking to Tredgett - Billings - Johnson please contact me cheers Sally

My Smith's weren't too bad to follow on the whole, as they tended to stay put in one village... but it must be a nightmare to follow them in a larger community ! You're all very brave for trying (I use the word brave - I was told I was daft when I started lol)

My Dad was Smith and he was born in a very small Bedfordshire village....loads of Smiths there all seem to be called Charles or John. I did get some info from family search site but then got stuck when suddenly I came across Morris in Northamptonshire ! Don;t know where to go from there so I'm afraid poor Dad's side of the family keep getting left to one side.

Hi, I have a smith in the family, and am having bother trying to find out where and when is doing my head in Helen

My Sarah Ann Jackson married a Frederick Smith, a fishmonger, in Peterborough in 1872, I then completely lose her. The number of Frderick Smiths and Sarah Ann Smiths is enormous. I sympathise with any one who has Smiths in their trees. Rosemary(Essex)

I have a Birth Certificate for a Frederick Charles Smith born 2nd August 1884 father : William George Smith - Occupation - Gunsmith Mother: Kate Emily Smith (formerly Fletcher) they lived at 20 Fairford rove Lower Kensington Lane - Lambeth got the wrong one when looking for Frederick Charles Smith Father Henry Smith - Hackney Carriage Driver Mother : Fanny ? address - 17 Brockley terrace any links to Henry and Fanny? cheers Sally

This is all so familiar but also reassuring as I know I am not the only one!! My gt grandfather was George Prentice Smith, b.1854 in Pulham Market Norfolk. I sent for his marriage cert. but it came back with no father (an illegitimate Smith - aaargh!) I have found him living with the Prentice family on 1861/71, but no sign of his mother so have sent off for his birth cert. and am waiting impatiently!! Frances

There's only one thing worse than researching a Smith and that is an illegitimate Smith!!!!! My sympathies.

well, l certainly thought l was alone. Thought my Smiths would be easier as they came from Heigham....until l found that it was part of Norwich....and that there were loads of them!! My grandfather was born in London....and never said anything about his dad coming from Norfolk. The only good thing was that all 3 of them had the first name Theodore......which made it a little bit easier!! But not much!!! Maureen

My in laws are Robert Smith from Co .Durham He married Elizabeth Brown from Co.Durham So you can imagine I keep passing over my husbands side of the family Iseem to have hit a brick wall with my rellies so alas!!!!!!! i will have to make a start on the Smith and Brown,s but I must say I,m not looking forward to it. I,m glad I,m not on my own Maureen

I have just got the birth cert of my gg grandfather James Edgington and his mum's maiden name was Smith. Eliza Smith. Luckily I think I have found her on 1841 with her parents as the Smith's were living next door to the Edgington's in Oxford. I think researching a Smith can be straightforward if you know the exact location, and other info. Ben

Ben you are lucky - but try going back another 2 or 3 generations! I'll swap you a family with lots of Lukes (OH mother's tree) and a separate family with lots of Lawrences (OH father's tree) who grew up about 10 miles apart. We are talking Lancashire coalfields south of Wigan, where there must be hundreds of them... and they seemed to move about to different pits, its not as though they stayed in the same place for decades. Pre 1841 I have no way of knowing where they were. At least they are not Jones in the Welsh coalfields, now THAT would be a challenge LOL