Genealogy Forum UK

Hi all,

I am trying to identify the parents of Mary Stokes, born 25 October 1861 in Oldbury.

She married Robert Stokes on 4 September 1882 in Rowley Regis. The certificate states that she was a spinster, living in Oldbury and her maiden name was Philpot. No father's name is given so I'm guessing she was illegitimate. Witnesses were Mary Ann Carter and Daniel Edwards.

I am unable to find any census records for the name Mary Philpot prior to 1891 in this area. I have also searched free BMD and FamilySearch with no luck.

I was wondering whether Philpot was her mother's maiden name and maybe she was registered with a different surname. Not sure if the General Register Office could do a search for me with an exact date of birth but no surname?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

I see Robert and Mary are on BCC here
https://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/t ... ver=432532

I wonder if this is her?
1861. Henry Street, West Bromwich
James Philpotts, head, W, 42, Forge labourer
Ann, daur, 18, Warley Wigan
James, son, 16, Boatman, Warley Wigan
William, son, 14, Warley Wigan
Mary, daur, 8, Oldbury
Hannah, daur, 4, West Brom
Mary, g daur, 5 months, Oldbury

1851. Birchyfields Lane, West Bromwich
James Philpots, head, 32, Forge Labourer, Scrawley
Sarah, wife, 32, Tardebigg
John, son, 9,
Ann, daur, 7,
James, son, 5,
William, son, 4,
Sarah, daur, 2,
Emma, daur, 11 m?
All others born Oldbury

1871. Henry Street, West Bromwich
James Philpots, head, 52, Labourer, Scrawley
Phoebe, wife, 52, Walsall Wood
Jane?, daur, 11, ? Green

West Midlands Birth indexes for the years: 1860
PHILPOTS Mary Oldbury Sandwell Register Office OLD/28/372

Freebmd has Dec quarter for birth

This looks like James on BCC
https://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/t ... ver=432532

Marriage Freebmd
29th November 1841. St Thomas, Dudley.
James Philpot, FA, B, Labourer, Tilford, Oldbury, James Philpot, Labourer, (Deceased)
Sarah Stokes, FA, S, Tilford, Oldbury, William Stokes, Boatman,
Witnesses, Joseph Fletcher, Sarah Fletcher

Burial Freereg
25th November 1860. St Peter, West Bromwich.
Sarah Philpotts, 40, Ryders Green

Marriage
25th December 1861. St Martin, Tipton
James Philpotts, 42, W, Labourer, Tipton, Philpotts, Labourer
Phobe Hall, 42, W, Tipton, William Birch, Shoemaker
Witnesses, William Ingram, Mary Ingram

Marriage
15th April 1861. St Martin, Tipton.
Thomas Edwards, 21, B, Wheelwright, Tipton, Thomas Edwards, Wheelwright
Ann Philpot, 19, S, Tipton, James Philpots, Labourer
Witnesses, Daniel McCormick, Sarah Skeldon

1871. 5 Steel Row,Oldbury
Thomas Edwards 30 Wheelright Tipton
Ann Edwards 26 Rowley
Mary Edwards 10 Dau Nurse (Could this be Mary Philpott??????)
David Edwards 8 Son
Emily? Edwards 4 Dau
Thomas Edwards 2 Son
(others born Oldbury)

Possibly here

https://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/t ... ver=432535

Looks as though you are right Jo.

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/cert ... efault.asp

PHILPOTS, MARY Mother's Maiden Name -
GRO Reference: 1860 D Quarter in WEST BROMWICH Volume 06B Page 561

There are a couple of family tree's on Ancestry that as Daughter Ann as mother.

grangers14 wrote:Marriage
25th December 1861. St Martin, Tipton
James Philpotts, 42, W, Labourer, Tipton, Philpotts, Labourer
Phobe Hall, 42, W, Tipton, William Birch, Shoemaker
Witnesses, William Ingram, Mary Ingram

Familysearch,

Enoch Hall. father Thomas Hall.
Phebe Birch. father. William Birch.
marriage 15 Nov 1847.
Event Place Walsall-Wood, Stafford.

England Marriages, 1538–1973.

Indexing Project (Batch) Number I01510-0.
System Origin England-ODM.
GS Film number 1040887.

Thank you all very much. I have ordered the birth certificate you suggested and will let you know what is on it.

That is good! Always best to have confirmation
Can we move this and add more if we can to BCC please?
Jo

moved and stickied for you Jo

Jimmy wrote:

grangers14 wrote:Marriage
25th December 1861. St Martin, Tipton
James Philpotts, 42, W, Labourer, Tipton, Philpotts, Labourer
Phobe Hall, 42, W, Tipton, William Birch, Shoemaker
Witnesses, William Ingram, Mary Ingram

Familysearch,

Enoch Hall. father Thomas Hall.
Phebe Birch. father. William Birch.
marriage 15 Nov 1847.
Event Place Walsall-Wood, Stafford.

England Marriages, 1538–1973.

Indexing Project (Batch) Number I01510-0.
System Origin England-ODM.
GS Film number 1040887.

1841. Chapel Street, Astbury, Congleton, Cheshire
Enoch Hall, 32, School Master,
Ann, 22,
Arthur, 1
All born in County

1851. Catcheny Corner, Sedgley, Dudley
Enoch Hall, head, 32, National School Teacher, Chester
Phebe, wife, 33, Walsall
Arthur, son, 10, Chester
Sarah, daur, 8, Chester
Sarah Ann Birch, daur in law, 8, Walsall
Matilda Hall, daur, 6, Chester
Amelia Brown, Visitor, U, 26, National School Teacher, Cambridge

Just received birth certificate and this is what it says ...

Name: Mary Philpots
Born: 25th October 1860 in Oldbury
Father's Name and Profession: Blank
Mother's Name: Ann Philpots

It appears that this is the correct record for Mary as the day and month of birth match what was recorded in the 1939 register. She was probably unsure of her year of birth and got it wrong. This means that all of the census records and marriages you have found for me are correct too!

I am assuming that Mary was born illegitimate. Is there anyone who might know of a way of finding out who her father was? Both her birth and marriage certificates do not specify who her father was. Her mother Ann married Thomas Edwards in 1861. Is it likely he was the father? If so, surely Mary would have known and given his name on her wedding day.

So may questions!

Thanks as always