Genealogy Forum UK

Here is my brickwall which I have been stuck on for a long time. I wonder if anyone can help.

My wifes great grandfather Charles Roberts, born circa 1855 , can been seen on the 1891 Census in Spring Hill Halesowen living with his wife Sarah, their children and two children from Sarahs previous marriage. In 1881 , Charles was lodging with his future wife, Sarah Holloway in Hill Street Halesowen.
In 1871, I think I may have located Charles at the Wordsley Workhouse in 1871. Also an inmate there is Henry Holloway aged 14.
IN 1861 living in Chapel Street Stourbridge with her children that include a Charles and Henry of the right age was Charlotte Roberts aged 31 who was , I have discovered, the wife of a shoemaker Thomas Roberts from Frome Somerset. Charlotte appears to have died in 1865. On Charles Roberts's marriage certificate to Sarah Holloway, his father is given as Thomas Roberts Shoemaker. Charles Roberts died in 1923. On all census returns , Charles place of birth is given as Stourbridge.
My problem is that my wifes family including her mother who was born in 1912 and knew her grandfather well, insist that he spoke with a very strong Welsh accent and told them he came from Ruabon. Other aquaintainces say that their parents/grandparents told them that when Charles Roberts first appeared in Halesowen he could not speak a word of English.What has also been passed down through the family is that when Charles's mother died, his father could not cope and put him in a workhouse
Is there someone who could offer any advice bearing in mind that I have already searched the records for Ruabon?

Regards
waltonman

Ruabon in wrexham north wales

http://www.ruabon.com/

plenty of possibles ?

Births Jun 1854

ROBERTS Charles Wrexham 11b 333
ROBERTS Charles Wrexham 11b 342


Births Jun 1856
ROBERTS Charles Wrexham 11b 330


Births Sep 1856
Roberts Charles Wrexham 11b 304


Births Dec 1856
Roberts Charles Wrexham 11b 304

here the page for the local church you could always phone or email the vicar and ask him to check the records for you i know a few people who have done this with other parishes and been sucessfull ?

http://www.stmarysruabon.org.uk/

there were roberts living in ruabon as this shows but no charles in 1855 registered (but not complete)

ROBERTS Elizabeth Catharine Ruabon Wrexham County Borough (Wrexham) RBN/014/82

link to bmd

http://www.northwalesbmd.org.uk/

Hi Waltonman, I know you say you have searched the Ruabon records, just wondered if you had searched for any Apprentice or Sunday School records, Charles must have spent a lot of time there as a boy, to have such a strong accent. What was Charlotte's maiden name? In theory her parents should be in Ruabon in 1841/51 Best Wishes from Linell.

Have you checked the 1911 census?
1851 census has
Rowley Yard, Stourbridge
Thomas Roberts, head, 21, Shoe maker, Frome, Somersett
Charlotte, wife, 22, Leominster, Hereford
William, son, 2, Stourbridge

Seems consistent for the family.
May be the wrong family or family lore wrong again!
Jo

Have you seen the 1861 Census??
3, Albert Place, Wrexham Regis
Thomas Roberts, head, 44, Boot Maker,
Eliza, wife, 42,
Charles, son, 7,
Eliz, duar, 4,
All born Wrexham

grangers14 wrote:Have you seen the 1861 Census??
3, Albert Place, Wrexham Regis
Thomas Roberts, head, 44, Boot Maker,
Eliza, wife, 42,
Charles, son, 7,
Eliz, duar, 4,
All born Wrexham

Yes grangers14, I have seen this entry and am not sure whether it is a good thing or not that I cannot find them in the 1871 census

Waltonman

grangers14 wrote:Have you checked the 1911 census?
1851 census has
Rowley Yard, Stourbridge
Thomas Roberts, head, 21, Shoe maker, Frome, Somersett
Charlotte, wife, 22, Leominster, Hereford
William, son, 2, Stourbridge

Seems consistent for the family.
May be the wrong family or family lore wrong again!
Jo

That is the family that I mentioned in my original message. No indication of any welsh connection there though, except of course for the surname Roberts

Waltonman

linell wrote:Hi Waltonman, I know you say you have searched the Ruabon records, just wondered if you had searched for any Apprentice or Sunday School records, Charles must have spent a lot of time there as a boy, to have such a strong accent. What was Charlotte's maiden name? In theory her parents should be in Ruabon in 1841/51 Best Wishes from Linell.

Unfortunatley Linell, I don't know Charlottes maiden name and I have wondered if she or Thomas were born of Welsh stock and just happened to be born in Leominister or Frome.
I have not searched Apprentice or Sunday School records. Any idea where I may find them

Waltonman

[quote="peterd"]plenty of possibles ?

Births Jun 1854

ROBERTS Charles Wrexham 11b 333
ROBERTS Charles Wrexham 11b 342


Births Jun 1856
ROBERTS Charles Wrexham 11b 330


Births Sep 1856
Roberts Charles Wrexham 11b 304

Thanks Peterd for taking the time to look up the above births and for the other information you have posted. I'll be working my way through the names to try and eliminate some

Regards

Waltonman

]

waltonman wrote:

peterd wrote:plenty of possibles ?

Births Jun 1854

ROBERTS Charles Wrexham 11b 333
ROBERTS Charles Wrexham 11b 342


Births Jun 1856
ROBERTS Charles Wrexham 11b 330


Births Sep 1856
Roberts Charles Wrexham 11b 304

Thanks Peterd for taking the time to look up the above births and for the other information you have posted. I'll be working my way through the names to try and eliminate some

Regards

Waltonman

]

if you send for birth cert sent to the local wrexham one and tell them you only want it if the parents are thomas and eliza this should save you money as they should return your check if wrong parents ?

Great Idea Peterd. I'll sort it out tomorrow

Waltonman

Hi Waltonman, did you visit Wrexham Archives Any surviving Sunday School Records or Apprentice Indentures would be held there, there must be some trace of this family in Ruabon Best Wishes from Linell.