Genealogy Chat

Hello, Sorry if I sound very 'green' but was it very unusual for our ancestors ro move around the country? I have found my Great Great Great Grandma - who in 1876 married in Manchester, on the same census she says she was born in Shropshire. I looked on FreeBMD and she's there but born in Somerset. I've now got details of the 1871 census and the family were all born in Somerset but living in Surrey - her dad was a retired farmer?! I'm confused and wondering if I have the right person! Or was it quite common? Any ideas anyone? I just can't imagine how she met my Great Great Great Grandad in Manchester - he was an omnibus driver though? Thank you, Kate.

mine moved from wakefield, to mancahester and then onto liverpool. Some of them then moved onto london and some went as far as the USA. It makes it a nightmare searching for them, and thats just on my dads gt,gt, granfathers side. Haven't even started on my mums, cos that will be a challenge without even starting i know ill be seaching wales, ireland, dorest, liverpool, and Australia. God why did i start this.

Kate My ggrandfather was born in Derby, married in Westminster and lived all his married life in Manchester. Not worked out yet how or why he ended up where he did! Lou

What a nightmare! My dad's side aren't too bad - they moved from Scotland or Ireland to Liverpool and stayed there really - but this family are popping up everywhere!

Yes, despite popular opinion they moved all over the place. My Ggrandmother was born Southampton. In 1871 she is in Greenwich with her mother (born Preston Lancs) Father (born France) Gfather (born Scotland) and Gmother (born Anglesey,Wales) They moved to wherever they could find work. Don't forget that the railways had made this movement more possible from the 1830's onwards.

It's fascinating isn't it - I'd love to know why they moved about. I'm going to make sure I document my moves well for my future family historians!

There was a general movement from the country to the cities - Lincoln grew like this 1801 7,197 1821 9,995 1841 13,896 1861 20,999 1881 37,313 1901 48,784 You can imagine the pressure that this put on housing and how slums abounded.

It seems to be variable. Some of mine stayed put but quite a few branches in my tree are quite literally all over the shop in the 1800s. Some moves seem to be linked to jobs and where new industries were taking off but others are a complete mystery. It certainly keeps us all on our toes! Louise

One lot of mine were gamekeepers and moved around the country with their masters. They obviously went to stay in other big houses and one married a servant he met on shooting trips to the North York Moors, even though he normally lived in Cheshire. Another line, moved around and I realised that they all worked on the railways and were moving area as they were promoted.

Thanks for all your input everyone - I hadn't thought about things like that.

Often, if they worked for the 'Lord of the Manor', they would travel between houses owned by the boss.

Most of mine never stirred further than the Pub - SO WHY CAN'T I FIND THEM?????? Marjorie

Marjorie My gggrandfather is in the pub on the 1891 census, down as married. Can I find the wife...can I heck! Lou

one of mine went from Alston to Ireland to Northumberland to Birmingham! Another went from Alston-Middleton in Teesdale - Bristol - Portishead - Cardiff - Darlington - London Had a child in each town except Alston, What a journey to make with 5 or 6 youngsters in tow. George

I think my lot had their bums glued to Walsall! I've just started on a new lead and guess what?....one dared to end up in Oxford! Maybe they were selling glue B.O.G.O.F. in Oxford lol Gerri x

The people who don't move are those who own their own property but aren't wealthy: small farmers etc. Everybody else moves. Great Granny was born in Devon, worked in Hampshire, married in Surrey and died in Essex. One uncle died in Calcutta and a cousin was born on a south seas island. If you read the contemporary Devon newspapers, they are full of farmers selling their stock and adverts for ships sailing to the colonies. B

I've just started on hubby's side (anything to stop him moaning about the amount of time I spend on the pooter!) and his are a dream so far. They all stayed in one place, didn't have lots of children with the same name and so far appear to have escaped the nightmare that is mistranscription. There has to be a catch somewhere! Lou

Lou Perhaps she's round the back of the Pub with mine!!!! Mine dont appear on the 1881 census cos the house they lived in before AND after the 1881, is described as 'uninhabited'. Perhaps they were behind the sofa then and not behind the Pub after all! Marjorie

Marjorie Hiding from the rent man, if they were anything like my lot! I come from SUCH a distinguished line, most of them are either in the pub, died in the workhouse or went bankrupt! Lou

Youy all know so much about your families - and their secrets! I need to be digging deeper me thinks...