Genealogy Chat

I have the marriage cert for my gggrandfather, he was Austin Smith, he married Elizabeth Pepper in Liverpool in 1858. It says he was of full age and his father was called johnathan. He was a mariner at that time and later became a master mariner. Here's the problem, I can't find him on any census but I can find Liz and the children, so perhaps he was at sea. I can't find him on the census as a child or a birth record for him, not even a death record. His father was a farmer so he should be there somewhere.
Also several of my ancesters seemed to be residing at the same adress at the time of their marriages. Was that normal?
Thanks for any help
Irene

The only one I can see is this one in 1841 with a father (although the relationship isn't given on this census) called John:-

Name: Austin Smith
Age: 20
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1821
Gender: Male
Where born: Lancashire, England

Civil Parish: Manchester
Hundred: Manchester
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation: View Image

Registration district: Chorlton
Sub-registration district: Chorlton upon Medlock
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age

Austin Smith 20
John Smith 55
John Smith 6
Mary Smith 45

He was probably born before registration began. Have you looked on the IGI for a christening?

Kath. x

Thanks Kath, no I haven't looked for a christening, I will do that. Does it say that Dad was a Farmer?. dad was Jonathan, would he have called himself John with an H?

The father on the family above was a Warehouseman, but could have changed jobs as people often did as this was nearly 20 years before the marriage.

You spelt Jonathan with an "h" in your original post.

Kath. x

This is a difficult one because you don't know from his marriage cert when he was born. Being "of full age" meant literally anything over 21yrs! And you can't really guess at it based on his wife's age on the census because e.g. he may have married a younger woman.

If we assume he was 21 yrs old at time of marriage then that would give us a birth year of c1837ish. So we know he has to be born 1837 or earlier.

Also, there's no certainty of where he was born or where his family were living. The fact that he married in Liverpool might suggest that he came from around that area - but then he may have been living there due to being a mariner.

I had a look on the 1841 census and as well as finding the same entry as above (Austin aged 20yrs), I found these couple:

Studley, Warwickshire

John Smith 29
Eliza 26
Agness 5
Austin 3 b Warwickshire
Martin 1 mo

Prestbury Macclesfield

John Smith 40, gunsmith
Ann, 40
Amelia 17
George 14
Austin 8 b Cheshire
John 5

(I doubt the 2nd one would be right as I shouldn't think a gunsmith would change occ to a farmer) The first one was a bit illegible - looked like "needle ??" but could be wrong.

The census page for Austin aged 20 is so faint that I can't make out the father's occupation. someone else might be able to.

Regards

Athena

Thanks for that both of you. I will try the baptism route. How come I'm not finding these entries?

Irene

The occupation of the first one Athena found in Warwickshire is Needle Maker.

Kath. x

Go to the 1841 census and just type in Austin Smith and nothing else. You should find them.

I've looked on the IGI for a baptism and couldn't find one.

Kath. x

Thanks Kath
I have just looked for a baptism too and failed to find one.
I have lately been using the free census. Is that why I'm not getting anywhere?

Irene

There is this on on 1861 census...
Record

Thomas A Smith abt 1829 Blyth, Northumberland, England Master Vessels Misc Ships At Sea or Abroad .....
I'm going through all censuses looking for Austin Smiths at sea!!
Joan

When you follow Liz through the censuses...when does she become a widow?

Can you tell me Liz date and place of birth so I can find her on the censuses?
Thanks
Joan

Thank you Joan.
Sorry I was off doing domestic stuff. I didn't know how to find people at sea. Liz was born around 1840 in Liverpool. As a child I was told that their daughter Susan was born onboard her Father's ship somewhere between Liverpool and New York. Liz did marry again. In the 1871 census she is the head of the house and an annuitant and the youngest child is 1 year old. In 1881 she is married to a Henry Parry who is also a seaman.
Hope you are still there Joan.

Irene x

Just checking and it seems that Liz married Henry in March 1879. If the youngest daughter was born around 1871, the Austin must have been alive in 1870. Does that sound right??

Irene