Genealogy Chat

Crista I'll check that out, thanks. Home computer's a bit off colour at the moment, though. Hence the delay in responding. I've done some work on the Elford possible connection, but that looks like a dead end at the moment.

Brian, Do you have an occupation for James? Could she be listed as Maria? 1871: Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish or Township County/Island View Image Aurther Cowley abt 1869 Langley, Worcestershire, England Son Oldbury Staffordshire Emma Cowley abt 1867 Langley, Worcestershire, England Daughter Oldbury Staffordshire James Cowley abt 1826 Stroud, Gloucestershire, England Head Oldbury Staffordshire James Cowley abt 1860 Whiteheath Gate, Worcestershire, England Son Oldbury Staffordshire Maria Cowley abt 1859 Whiteheath Gate, Worcestershire, England Daughter Oldbury Staffordshire Mary Ann Cowley abt 1831 Warley Wigorn, Worcestershire, England Wife Oldbury Staffordshire Thomas Cowley abt 1852 Langley, Worcestershire, England Son Oldbury Staffordshire William Cowley abt 1853 Worley Wigorn, Worcestershire, England Son Oldbury Staffordshire This James is a Boat Man. Crista

I have Cowley from Worcestershire (Upton upon Severn) and they do not appear on the 1901 census. I eventually traced them through an address and found the name spelt wrong. I have contacted 1901 twice in the last year but the entries have not been corrected. Cowley seems to be one of those names that is never heard as it is spelt for some reason!! Jacky

This could be a GRO transcription error, I have a wedding certificate for my William Samuel Crawley in the name of Crowley, I have contacted GRO and I have to submit relevant details and evidence of the error. As your names are similar this could be the case. Regards Christina

Brian I hope this helps: 'Oldbury is at the centre of Sandwell, both geographically and as the site of the borough's Council House. The town dates from the 13th century, and for most of its history it was part of the parish of Halesowen in Worcestershire' From http://www.aboutbritain.*com/towns/Oldbury.asp

Hi Brian I believe that Oldbury was in the Staffordshire census in 1851 and the Shropshire census in 1841. Have you tried Westmidlands bmd? Heather

According to the 1891 and 1901 censuses my great grandmother was born in Oldbury, Worcestershire. There are three Oldburys in the Midlands, none of them in Worcestershire at the moment. Further to complicate things her date of birth could have been anywhere between 1855 and 1865, depending on which census you look at. She is 30 on the 1891 census but 44 on the 1901 census, so her birth date could be anything from 1856 to 1861. And she is Annie Maria Cowley on my grandfather's birth certificate, but Hannah Maria Cawley when she got married, father James Cawley. She is Annie Sherwood on the census for 1891, although it looks as if they didn't marry until 1893. My aunt seems to think that Annie married twice, so the widow bit would fit in, but she would have to be using her maiden name. Children were Annie M Sherwood c 1881, Emily Elford Sherwood 1885 and my grandfather, James Alfred in 1888. I wonder where the Elford came from? Any ideas or other leads?

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