Genealogy Chat

Hi all

Just wondered if anybody could give me some ideas where to look next for the marriage of my gg grandad. He is my brick wall in my tree and taking alot of detective work to knock down.

His name is Henry William Burnett, born in Woolwich around 1864. (Have not found his birth yet., but according to census and death cert this is the date and place I have)

He is supposed to of married an Elizabeth Harriet Ely sometime between 1882 and 1887. I assume this because Elizabeth had an illegitimate child in 1882 in the Lambeth workhouse. Address for Elizabeth at this time is Paradise Road, Clapham. In the 1891 census Henry is with his wife and children and Walter is down as Walter Ely a nephew but in 1901 Walter is down as the son.

I have looked on ancestry for the marriage between 1880 and 1887. Have been to Greenwich Heritage museum and looked on their micro filche of births and marraiges and looked at the parish church fiche of St Marys in the area.

I have also looked at the kentish times from when he died, as he died in an explosion at the arsenal and an inquest was held. I was hoping the inquest or obituary which I found would hold some clues as to who his parents were as I have found a Henry William Burnett born around same time on the census in woolwich, but without marriage cert cannot confirm this is my Henry.

Hope you all understand what I have said, it can get a bit confusing. So any ideas where to look next?, I am planning to phone the cemetary where Henry is buried to see if they have a book of rememberance as I now have the date of his buriel so fingers crossed that might shed some light on it.


thanks in advance for any advice

Tracie.

Hi Tracie try the records office in Woolwich they are very helpful as my one englisg line came from woolwich and i phoned them and they where only too pleased to help. also try familysearch. web site if you have no luck on all recourcrs go inot each of the catagories seperately sometimes it comes up when you do that dont ask whay i havent a clue but give it a go good luck
Fi

I would go for a birth cert of one of the younger children

Name: Alice Frances Burnett
Year of Registration: 1890
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Woolwich
County: Greater London, Kent, London
Volume: 1d
Page: 1177

I think you have given yourself a clue here - he was supposed to have married Elizabeth - there is every chance he didn't.
Walter being described as 'nephew' on the 1891 census and 'son' on the 1901 census doesn't necessarily indicate that Elizabeth and Henry married.

Was Elizabeth older than him? If so there is every chance she was married to someone else. Divorce was expensive - many people just lived together calling themselves 'Mr' and 'Mrs' - the woman taking the man's name.
You need to get his birth certificate. If you have worked out his birth date from the census, you have to remember he may have given an 'alternative' age.

maggie

Hi all

Thanks for your replies. I have purchased all the childrens birth certs and apart from Walters which has his mothers name only on it (Elizabeth Ely) the others all have father down as Henry William Burnett and Elizabeth Burnett formerly Ely.

According to her death cert she was born about 1862 and is down as being the wife of Henry even though she died 24 years after him.

I have not yet found her on any of the censuses nor have I found her birth. I have found other Ely's living in the same area but they all seem to be visiting someone. I have most of the childrens marriages too and it gives the same info, mother and father the same and addresses all the same.

I am going bald from pulling my hair out. lol

Tracie.

I have tried but I think you need to concentrate on one person only.
1901
Elizabeth Burnett Henry W abt 1862 Pimlico, London, England Wife Woolwich London
1891
Elizabeth Burnett Henry W abt 1866 Pimlico Wife Woolwich London

Both census agree that she was born in Pimlico either 1862 or 1866 so Pimlico is the place to look.

1881???????
Elizabeth Brandon abt 1862 Pimlico, Middlesex, England Servant Clapham London

She does not appear in any other census.
CORRECTION
1871
Elizabeth Branden Francis,
Elizabeth abt 1862 Pimlico, Middlesex, England Daughter St George Hanover Square London

thanks Jim, will take another look and see what I find. :-0)