Genealogy Forum UK

One of the people on my family tree is John Billington born abt 1808. I've located him on the Census returns from 1841 to 1881, and I have his death certificate from 1885 in the smethwick area. He starts on the records as an Agricultural labourer and ends up as an Iron Worker. I also know/believe he was married at St. Martins in Birmingham in 1832.

Many of the census returns have his birth place as Langley or Langley Green, and one of them has Worley Bark (as transcribed by a well known subscription service). All have Worcestershire as the birth county.

The questions that I have are as follows:

(i) Is Worley Bark a place that is known to anybody, and where is it in relation to Langley Green. I've got an old map of Langley, and a place called Warley seems to be just to the south.

(ii) Does anybody have a good idea which Parish Registers are most likely to be candidates to record his birth. And where are these records held.

Please bear in mind that I don't know that much about the area, and asking is more interesting than trawling the internet.

Its Worley Bank and used to be the home/estate of John Nuttal, one of the local Upper Class Snobs.

Many people put their place of birth as the estate or farm their parents were working on.

Later on, the name of the estate may change and no longer be found on Google Maps.

There' s a christening in Halesowen 1812 son of Charles and Sally also one at St Martin's Bull Ring B'ham 1809 to Joseph and Jane, found on IGI. Do any of these names come up in later generations? Linell.

One of the people on my family tree is John Billington born abt 1808. I've located him on the Census returns from 1841 to 1881, and I have his death certificate from 1885 in the smethwick area. He starts on the records as an Agricultural labourer and ends up as an Iron Worker. I also know/believe he was married at St. Martins in Birmingham in 1832.
There is an entry For wedding of John Billingham 248 1835 in register of St Martins in the Bull ring Birmingham From CD BMSGH

Thanks for all those replies.

MarkCDodd wrote:Its Worley Bank and used to be the home/estate of John Nuttal, one of the local Upper Class Snobs.

Do you know where the Worley Bank home/estate is located in relation to modern mapping. Is it close to Langley Green or can you maybe put it into context with any areas from the present day.

linell wrote:There' s a christening in Halesowen 1812 son of Charles and Sally also one at St Martin's Bull Ring B'ham 1809 to Joseph and Jane, found on IGI. Do any of these names come up in later generations? Linell.

rockyfowler wrote: There is an entry For wedding of John Billingham 248 1835 in register of St Martins in the Bull ring Birmingham From CD BMSGH

The marriage that I have is from the IGI, but it is from the 5th August 1832, and it is to a Mary Ann Bashford. One of the birth certificates for one of his sons, Emmanuel Billington, shows the maiden name of the mother as Bashford. This marriage date also 'fits' with the birth of their first child (assumed from living children 1841 census). Unfortunately the record for the marriage doesn't shed any light on the parents of the couple who were marrying.

So, unfortunately I cannot determine if the christenings are valid leads. Incidentally the 1851 census has his first two children, Obedience (girl) abt 1833 and Richard abt 1835, as being born in Halesowen. I don't know if I need to start a new thread, but I'd like to find their DOBs/christenings too.

Yes start a new thread for each subject topic you wish to discuss

the wits on marriage no use?
they often help with finding siblings etc

Northern Lass wrote:the wits on marriage no use?
they often help with finding siblings etc

Yes, I've found that useful before.

The witnesses, William and Rebecca Bashford, appear to be from the bride's side. Apparently John Billington and Mary Ann were given as Bachelor and Spinster of the Parish. Both signed with a cross. No other information available.

That's why I'm interested in trying to find a christening in a Parish register, but I don't really know where to look. Apart from starting at Langley Green and working outwards.

I think that most of the Langley/Warley christenings were at Halesowen. I found these, St John the Baptist Halesowen:-

6.10.1835 Charles Billington illegitimate son of Rebecca Billington of Langley Green Nailer.
15.3.1829 William Billington son of Charles and Sarah Billington of Langley Green Labourer.
17.9.1826 Edward son of Charles and Sarah Billington of Langley Green Labourer.

Your Obedience and Richard are not in the Halesowen Register, they may have been baptised at a Non Conformist Chapel, or not at all? Warley did come under Halesowen until 1844, so the Census would say born Halesowen, even if it was Langley.

HTH from Linell.

Here is a link with a map:-

http://www.laws.sandwell.gov.uk/ccm/nav ... KdHVY48IN8

There are some Billington's on our Black Country Tree:-

http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/tr ... =489410533

A link to the History of Warley Langley and Oldbury:-

http://www.historyofoldbury.co.uk/

Puddled wrote:Thanks for all those replies.

MarkCDodd wrote:Its Worley Bank and used to be the home/estate of John Nuttal, one of the local Upper Class Snobs.

Do you know where the Worley Bank home/estate is located in relation to modern mapping. Is it close to Langley Green or can you maybe put it into context with any areas from the present day.

I've just found Warley Bank whilst looking on a one-inch map of The Black Country from 1872. It just seems to be to the east of Langley Green, and so his birth places more or less seem to fit now. Thanks again.

linell wrote:I think that most of the Langley/Warley christenings were at Halesowen. I found these, St John the Baptist Halesowen:-

6.10.1835 Charles Billington illegitimate son of Rebecca Billington of Langley Green Nailer.
15.3.1829 William Billington son of Charles and Sarah Billington of Langley Green Labourer.
17.9.1826 Edward son of Charles and Sarah Billington of Langley Green Labourer.

Your Obedience and Richard are not in the Halesowen Register, they may have been baptised at a Non Conformist Chapel, or not at all? Warley did come under Halesowen until 1844, so the Census would say born Halesowen, even if it was Langley.

HTH from Linell.

Thanks for that, and all the other information Linell. I had noticed the Billingtons in the BCC thingy. I don't know if the ones I'm looking at were Non-Conformist. Richard married somebody from Ireland, and so I know he was married in a RC church. Their (John and Mary Ann's) last child was Charles born 1852, and he seems to be on the IGI which says he was baptised at Smethwick. But I don't know which church.

Hi Puddled, yes anyone living Langley would have been spoilt for choice as far as Churches went. Langley is not that far from B'ham Warks, Smethwick Staffs or Halesowen Worcs. Edgbaston and Harborne were also very near. If the baptism's are not on the IGI I don't think you will find them. I would trace all of the Billington's from Langley, they must have all been connected. Go through the 1841 Census page by page for Warley Bank and see who is living where. Good luck from Linell.

Here is a link to Smethwick Archives

Smethwick archives
Church of England list
http://www.laws.sandwell.gov.uk/ccm/con ... gisters.en

they do non conformist too but cant see the list/link there for those at mo

Dudley Archives
Church of England
http://www.dudley.gov.uk/leisure-and-cu ... sh-records

Non Conformist
http://www.dudley.gov.uk/index.asp?pgid=59675