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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Staffordshire => Topic started by: Smudge.Smith on Monday 11 December 17 22:28 GMT (UK)
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Hello
Probably a long shot being a Smith but I need some help making sure I have the right Smith in my family
It seems like Joseph appeared out of nowhere and disappeared just as easily. The first record I can find of him is his christening 14 June 1812 at St. Giles, Willenhall, Stafford, England with reference to his Mother Mary and father listed as G Smith.
I've traced what I think to be him through the various census (1851 was almost indecipherable and poorly transcripted but pretty confidant that the family is his based on later census transcription. Married to Catharine (Tarbuck) also known as Caroline down the family line Henry, Uriah, Harry, Anthony and me.
The only Joseph Smith I can find in 1841 Census was in Shorth Heath (near New Invention) but was married to Emma and had two kids (different names that don't appear in later New Invention census).
How do I know which is 'my' Joseph Smith? How can I find out when / where he was born (assuming 1812 as christenings seemed to be performed shortly after the birth? Assuming was born in Willenhall as christened there. Also no death details although 1861 census show Catharine / Caroline as head of the family so he's either dead by the time of 1861 census or moved on and abandoned the family.
Any info around Joseph and his Mother / Father greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
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Hi, where did you find the baptism record? I looked on the Wolverhampton Archives website and it shows Joseph as illegitimate son of Mary, no mention of the father. :-\
Willenhall St Giles's Baptisms 1642-1812 A-Y
SMITH Joseph son of Mary - illegitimate 14 Jun 1812
http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/resources/indexes
Added: FreeREG also shows the same information - illegitimate son of Mary
https://www.freereg.org.uk/
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How can you be so sure the 1812 baptism you found is your Joseph. The 1851 census has his age as 39 (about 1812) but ages are not always reliable on the census.
There is also this baptism at St. Giles Willenhall 17 Feb 1811, Joseph, son of Benjamin and Ann Smith.
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Welcome to rootschat :)
Are these your Smith family in 1911/1901/1891
1911
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW71-2YC
1901
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XS71-M33
Henry age 57 - Sarah 59 - Rose Hannah 21 - Uriah 15
1891
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WS5L-5MM
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Thought we were looking for Joseph not Henry :D
Willow x
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Thought we were looking for Joseph not Henry :D
Willow x
Just making sure we are looking at the right family by tracking backwards. Mistakes are so easily made especially with Smith's ;D
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and don't forget the Jones lol
Willow x
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Uriah & Rosanna's Birth reg give mmn Butler
Marriage to Sarah Butler gives Henry's occ as Engine Tenter age 31 -father Joseph (Dead)
Joseph's marriage to Catherine Tarbuck gives father as G. Smith (decd). Is this where you got the information about his father and not the baptism as you have mentioned :-\
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right
Joseph buried 31.1.1854 Union Street Wesleyan Methodist Chapel Willenhall aged 52 of Lane Head Engineer
marriage certificate lists his father as G Smith which I think is fictitious so it looks like the illegitimate baptism fits
Willow x
(Snap ;D)
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I agree with you about the probable fictitious birth for Joseph ;D
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How can you be so sure the 1812 baptism you found is your Joseph. The 1851 census has his age as 39 (about 1812) but ages are not always reliable on the census.
There is also this baptism at St. Giles Willenhall 17 Feb 1811, Joseph, son of Benjamin and Ann Smith.
I’m not sure.. that’s why I’m asking. :)
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Thanks for taking the time to look at this.
Yes the census details are correct. Uriah was my GGrandfather, Henry was his father and the elusive Joseph was his.
I got G Smith off Joseph and Catharines marriage record so I suspect the trail ends there unless I can find Mary Smith Joseph’s Mother assuming that’s her maiden name and he’s illegitimate.
Thanks for looking.
Typing on phone at the moment so have limited access to records until I get home tonight if you need more info.
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I am wondering if this is Joseph in 1841 living Willenhall.
H0107/985 Bk9 folio 9 p11
Ann Smith 70
Joseph Smith 25
Both born Staffordshire
Copy is very light but Joseph's occupation could be Engineer or similar
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I am wondering if this is Joseph in 1841 living Willenhall.
H0107/985 Bk9 folio 9 p11
Ann Smith 70
Joseph Smith 25
Both born Staffordshire
Copy is very light but Joseph's occupation could be Engineer or similar
It could well be. I wonder if his mothers name was Mary Anne (given the propensity for going by any name that they chose to use at the time). It might explain Mary at the Christening and Ann on the census.
The occupation certainly looks like "Engineer" and fits in with the death record that was kindly provided by Willow.
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I doubt that is his mother with him, perhaps grandmother :-\
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I am wondering if this is Joseph in 1841 living Willenhall.
H0107/985 Bk9 folio 9 p11
Ann Smith 70
Joseph Smith 25
Both born Staffordshire
Copy is very light but Joseph's occupation could be Engineer or similar
I think you could be right Rosie, and I agree his occupation does look like Engineer. Just to add a bit more weight to your find, on the same census page there are 2 families of Tarbucks, one household transcribed as Sumlscok on Anc***** but the original image looks like Tarbuck.
Added: 4 pages back there is Catherine Tarbuck b. 1816 with what appears to be her parents William and Mary. :)
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OK I'm confused now.
Hi, where did you find the baptism record? I looked on the Wolverhampton Archives website and it shows Joseph as illegitimate son of Mary, no mention of the father. :-\
Willenhall St Giles's Baptisms 1642-1812 A-Y
SMITH Joseph son of Mary - illegitimate 14 Jun 1812
http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/resources/indexes
Added: FreeREG also shows the same information - illegitimate son of Mary
https://www.freereg.org.uk/
but the alleged reference to his death:
Joseph buried 31.1.1854 Union Street Wesleyan Methodist Chapel Willenhall aged 52 of Lane Head Engineer puts his age at 52, which means he would have been born around 1802 - some ten years before his christening mentioned above and out of sync with ages given in the the census.