Genealogy Forum UK

I am trying to trace my Great Grandfather James Smith
Data so far

Marriage cert 29/May/1882 St John’s Wolverhampton
SMITH James 22 b Furnace man Temple Street father William farmer
HAYWARD Sarah 24 s Temple Street father Thomas Locksmith

1891 Census 77 Alma Street Wolverhampton
SMITH James Head married 30 Furnace man Staffordshire Bloxwich
SMITH Sarah Wife 33 Staffordshire Willenhall
SMITH Thomas Son 6 Staffordshire Wolverhampton
SMITH Joseph J Son 4 Staffordshire Wolverhampton
SMITH John Son 2 Staffordshire Wolverhampton
SMITH David G Son 1 month Staffordshire Wolverhampton


He does not appear on the 1901 or 1911 census living with his family.
When I applied to Walsall registry office for his Birth cert they informed me that no James Smith was born in Bloxwich with a father William who was a Farmer / Ag Labourer between 1858 and 1862.
I have NOT been able to find a baptism record for him at any church in Bloxwich and the surrounding areas.

From the 1911 census
SMITH Sarah Head 53 married 30 years 13 children born 4 living.
Two are with Sarah, 1 is living in Bilston as a live in servant and the other as a boarder in Newport South Wales.

Any suggestion / pointers as to where to go next?

Thanks in advance

Si

Have you got him on any earlier census with a family?

and have you got the wits at marriage info?

Sorry missed that bit of data

He is not on any earlier censuses that I can find, and the witnesses are the couple that Sarah was boarding with an year earlier

Long Shot

1881 35, Miner St, Wolverhampton
SMITH, Ann Head Widow F 48 1833 Milford, Staffordshire
SMITH, James Son Single M 20 1861 Lab In Iron Works Pelsall, Staffordshire
SMITH, Kate Daughter Single F 18 1863 Lab In Iron Works Willenhall, Staffordshire
SMITH, Mary Daughter Single F 16 1865 Lab In Iron Works Willenhall, Staffordshire
OWEN, George Lodger Single M 48 1833 Lab In Iron Works Lightmore, Shropshire

Thank you Maths Girl

How the heck have I missed that entry for the last 3 years!

Maybe not such a long shot having looked at an old map Miner street is just round the corner from where Sarah was living in 1881

spes123 wrote:Thank you Maths Girl

How the heck have I missed that entry for the last 3 years!

Maybe not such a long shot having looked at an old map Miner street is just round the corner from where Sarah was living in 1881

hope it helps-- I can't find the family in 1871 with or without William but maybe someone else can

I have found Ann etc in the same house ten years later

1891 35, Miner St, Wolverhampton
SMITH, Ann Head Widow F 58 1833 Milford, Staffordshire
YATES, Kate Daughter Single F 27 1864 Lab In Iron Works Pelsall, Staffordshire
SMITH, Mary Daughter Single F 22 1869 Lab In Iron Works Pelsall, Staffordshire
YATES, Timothy Grandson Single M 7 1884 Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
BODWELL, Arthur Lodger Single M 48 1833 Lab In Iron Works Lightmore, Shropshire

I have found Ann etc in the same house ten years later

1891 35, Miner St, Wolverhampton
SMITH, Ann Head Widow F 58 1833 Milford, Staffordshire
YATES, Kate Daughter Single F 27 1864 Lab In Iron Works Pelsall, Staffordshire
SMITH, Mary Daughter Single F 22 1869 Lab In Iron Works Pelsall, Staffordshire
YATES, Timothy Grandson Single M 7 1884 Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
BODWELL, Arthur Lodger Single M 21 1870 Lab In Iron Works Bilston, Staffordshire

Interesting that Kate and Mary are now born in Pelsall not Willenhall and that Mary has only aged 6 years.

Will be interesting to find Kate's marriage and see the name of her father.

Si

Marriages Dec 1881
PUGH William Wolverhampton 6b 900
SMITH Kate Wolverhampton 6b 900
Wood Jane Wolverhampton 6b 900
Yates William Henry Wolverhampton 6b 900

cant see it on the W'ton indexes

Thank you NL, looks as though it is another marriage on the border of Wolves and Walsall.

From marriage locator

Sorry, we cannot locate the church for this marriage. The entry is located between entries for Wednesfield (RD: Wolverhampton) and Rushall (RD: Walsall).

spes123 wrote:Thank you NL, looks as though it is another marriage on the border of Wolves and Walsall.

From marriage locator

Sorry, we cannot locate the church for this marriage. The entry is located between entries for Wednesfield (RD: Wolverhampton) and Rushall (RD: Walsall).

Why dont you phone up W'ton regis office say you only want the marriage certif if father is a William
and ask them is it
and is he a farmer

worth an ask dontch think

so is it further back on James you are trying to go
or to find what happened to James Smith in 1901 and 1911 and onwards
you dont have his death certif?

Hi NL

I am going into town today so was going to pop into registry office about the marriage.

I am trying to find out where he was in 1901 & 1911 when and where he died etc. I would also like to go back from him to trace his parents etc.

Si

ps hope you have recovered from Sat

Northern Lass wrote:Marriages Dec 1881
PUGH William Wolverhampton 6b 900
SMITH Kate Wolverhampton 6b 900
Wood Jane Wolverhampton 6b 900
Yates William Henry Wolverhampton 6b 900

cant see it on the W'ton indexes

Just got the marriage cert

Nov 7 1881 Parish church of St John's Wolverhampton
William Henry Yates, 24, B, Iron Worke,r Dudley Road, Timothy Yates, Coke maker
Kate Smith, 19, S, Dudley Road, William Smith, labourer

Also Kate's sister Mary gives her father as William a labourer

Not sure whether to make the link to my James Smith or not

1891 Census 77 Alma Street Wolverhampton
SMITH James Head married 30 Furnace man Staffordshire Bloxwich
SMITH Sarah Wife 33 Staffordshire Willenhall
SMITH Thomas Son 6 Staffordshire Wolverhampton
SMITH Joseph J Son 4 Staffordshire Wolverhampton
SMITH John Son 2 Staffordshire Wolverhampton
SMITH David G Son 1 month Staffordshire Wolverhampton

I know it costs....but why not try for a birth cert for David G. it may show
fathers name as William James or James William????
David George SMITH b.Apr/June 1891 Wolverhampton.
Vol. 6B. page 62.

Hello sparkstopper

Thank you for your suggestion, I have several of the birth certs and, unfortunately, they all state the father's name as just James