Genealogy Chat

Please could anyone tell me if a child was born in Bilston in 1854 where would be the most likely place for the birth to be registered?

When I do a search for Bilston I get Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, West Bromwich just to mention a few! Not knowing the area I’m getting more and more confused.

I am trying to find a birth cert for my gg grandfather Samuel Edwards! Aaagghh I hear you all you all sigh. Lol

I have his brothers birth cert, so I believe I know his parents names.

I have the family from 1851- 1901 so I have two possible addresses for Samuels birth.

I have Samuels Marriage and death certs.

But there are so many births to choose from!

I wrote to Wolverhampton reg office and they very kindly did a 5 year search but couldn’t find Samuels birth cert.

So has anyone any ideas of where I should write to next please?

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated :0)

Thanks

www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/REG/districts/bilston.html

This link will tell you the places within the Bilston registration district.
Hope this helps

Julie

If you are absolutly sure on the birth year then these are the only Samuel Edwards within the county of Staffs that are on Freebmd

Births Mar 1854
Edwards Samuel W Bromwich 6b 529

Births Dec 1854
Edwards Samuel Stoke T. 6b 148
Edwards Samuel Stoke T. 6b 151

I would try West Bromwich register office, Stoke on trent is further away.

Sandwell Register Office
Highfields
High Street
West Bromwich
West Midlands
B70 8RJ
Tel: 0121 569 2480
Fax: 0121 569 2473
Email: [email protected]
Opening hours: Monday - Thursday 9.00am - 4.30pm. Fridays 9.00 am - 4.00pm

Wow Julie thanks for the quick response!

I have had a look at that link and it apears to me that the records should be at Wolverhampton!

So I have either given them too much information and maybe not all of it matched, or the birth was registered elswhere.

Samuels brothers birth was registered at Wolverhampton.

I can't be 100% certain on year of birth but 1853/4 seems to be most likely.

Thanks

That's great! Thanks Julie.

I will try writing to Sandwell Registry Office and keep my fingers crossed :)

Hello ....
I live in Bilston and the birth should be registered in Wolverhampton.I wouldn't expect to find a Bilston birth registered at Sandwell/West Bromwich.

Sandra.
xxx

I've just had a look on FreeREG and have found a Samuel Edwards baptism in Bilston at 'High Street Primitive' church....
He was baptised 7th August 1853 and his parents were Thomas and Ann.They were living at Priestfield at the time and his father's occupation was a miner.
Don't know if this is who you are looking for?

Sandra.
xxx

Thankyou Sandra

That baptism is very interesting although I have no idea where Priestfield is. I will google it soon.

I believe Samuels parents were Thomas Edwards who was a miner and Ann Edwards formerly Meredith. ( Information from Samuels brother Josephs birth cert 1850 )

So very promising, Thankyou x

Going to google now :)

Do you know if there is a Reg office in Bilston that I could write to?

Bilston would,(should!), have been registered at Wolverhampton.Bilston didn't,(at that time),have it's own Reg office.
Priestfield is a small area between Bilston and Wolverhampton.
I've had a quick look on Ancestry for a birth for Samuel to tie in with a baptism early august 1853,and the only one I can see is June Quarter 1853,Dudley,vol 6c,page 40....I haven't been very thorough with my searching,but I don't know if this could be your man?
Dudley area is pretty close and I suppose it would depend where the birth actually occurred as to where the birth would be registered..?
For instance,Sedgley neighbours Bilston,but the registration district for Sedgley would be Dudley.

Sandra.
xxx

In 1851 Samuels parents lived at Wolverhampton Street, Bilston (same address on Josephs birth cert )

In 1861 they lived at George Street, Bilston.

So I would have thought that Samuel would have been born at one of these addresses unless they lived somewhere else between census or maybe they were away visiting someone when he was born. I suppose anything is possible.

I think my best bet is to write to Dudley and West Bromwich Reg offices tomorrow.

Many thanks for all your help :)

I will let you know the outcome

Just pasted this for you

THE FOLLOWING ONLY APPLIES TO THE ENGLAND AND WALES BMD INDEX.

For a start, there are three index's, all of which commenced with the introduction of Civil Registration in 1837. Registration did not become compulsory until 1875, so you may be unlucky and find some of your ancestors not registered. It was the job of the local registrar to locate and record all events prior to 1875 when it became the publics responsibility to register births, marriages and deaths under penalty of fine.

The website Aussietrish mentions is excellent for Bilston and Wolverhampton,(also Willenhall and Wednesfield are on there)....Also Bilston and Wolverhampton seem to have good coverage on the FreeREG site I mentioned earlier.

The address 'George Street,Bilston' is the Ettingshall area of Bilston... Ettingshall is a neighbouring area to Priestfield.I'd say the baptism for 7 August 1853 is very probably your man.

Good luck with your searching!

Sandra.
xxx

Thanks Jim, I'm hoping that as they registered their 4th born son that they will have registered Samuel.

Thanks Aussietrish, that website looks very interesting, I have added it to my favourites

Think you could be right Sandra, I have written to Dudley this morning so hopefully I will have a reply in a few days.

Fingers crossed

Thanks for all your help x

Hi folks :)

Just a quick update

I finally got a reply from Dudley RO saying that although they have a few Samuel Edwards none of them have parents Thomas and Ann, so I am going to write to West Bromwich this week and see if they can help.

Thanks again for all your help, I will keep you informed x

Dear Misty
Many of my husband's relatives came from the Bilston/Sedgley/ Bradley area and most of their registrations were in the West Bromwich district.
Wolverhamption archives have been very helpful with searches and Staffordshire Archives in Stafford has lots of
information.
Best wishes,
Caroline

Thanks for that Caroline :)

I have e-mailed West Bromwich today so hopefully they will get back to me soon.

That's disappointing about Dudley not finding the record for you!

Good luck with West Brom.

Sandra.
xxx

West Bromwich e-mailed me today saying that they have 4 entries for Samuel Edwards but none of them have parents Thomas and Ann, although one of them did have a father called Thomas.

I know there is the possibility that his birth wasn't registered! although his older brothers was!! so I have ordered what I hope is his younger brothers birth certificate today. Maybe that will help me.

Received Samuels younger brothers birth cert from Wolverhampton this morning.

Joshua Edwards 1857 Ward Street,Bilston parents Thomas Edwards and Ann Edwards formerly Meredith.

This is driving me mad now!

I have birth certs for Samuels older brother Joseph and younger brother Joshua but still no joy with Samuel !!!

Time for a break me thinks :0(