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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Yorkshire (West Riding) => Topic started by: Jonesey2 on Wednesday 11 November 20 08:11 GMT (UK)
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I have an 1851 census which shows my 3x G Grandfather, John Gibson’s, birthplace as ‘Hoxaybridge, Yorkshire’, but there's no such place. I’ve been wracking my brain and searching through lists of Yorkshire towns that might sound like this, and coming up blank until I suddenly wondered if there might be a place called Hawksbridge, as this seems to me the most likely error a census taker might make. It's not a transcription error - the original says the same, quite clearly. At the time he was living in Kirkwall, Orkney, where he died in 1866.
His birth year seems to be 1776-1778, from the censuses and his death certificate where his age is shown as 88. Based on this certificate his father’s name was also John Gibson, farmer, but his mother is shown as ‘unknown’.
I know he lived in Peebles where he’s named on ‘heads of families’ lists for 3 years 1834-1836 working as a ‘steward’ on two farms there. His children were born at Manor, Peebles, between 1826 and 1836.
I have no marriage record either, which I know might help. His wife was Ann Kerr, born at Muirkirk, Ayrshire.
So, I discovered a Hawksbridge Lane (apparently the only one in the UK), near the village of Oxenhope, Bradford District, in West Yorkshire, and a Hawksbridge Cottage. I’m thinking this might have been a farm once and maybe this is my ancestor’s birthplace.
I’d appreciate any tips or local knowledge that could help me in my search for some documentary evidence of his birth or anything else, as otherwise I’m at a brick wall. And I’m not in the UK so I’m limited to online material.
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There is a birth of a John Gibson in 1777, Sutton in Holderness, Hull, father's name John
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J9QF-7J9
Also several others in Yorkshire
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This has been posted previously
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=820932.0
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I was nosey, looked at the original and wondered whether it might be Thornybridge or similar. Attaching an extract in case anyone has any better thoughts :-\ Looks as though the person who wrote it changed there mind part the way through
Kay
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Did he just put England on the 1861 census?
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Thank you Kloumann - Yes, I did ask about John Gibson in a previous post when I was trying to find a town with a similar name, and I had no success - thought I may as well give up on him because I just don't have enough to go on and his name is such a common one. But when I found Hawksbridge Lane/cottage I thought it might be worth pursuing this - hence this new question.
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Yes, Chempat, his birthplace on the 1861 census is just 'England'.
Kay99 - Thornybridge is an interesting idea. Can you point out where the census writer changed his mind? I can't see it. Thanks for posting the extract - great idea.
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Yes, Chempat, his birthplace on the 1861 census is just 'England'.
Kay99 - Thornybridge is an interesting idea. Can you point out where the census writer changed his mind? I can't see it. Thanks for posting the extract - great idea.
I thought that the 2 letters after the H or Th might have been overwritten
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Is there an 'H' or 'Th' on the page for comparison?
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The T in Tweedale looks similar
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There's a good example of Th and H. These letters look very similar. Trying to attach an extract but not having any luck. There are also errors - Tweedle, Mariner should be Peebles, Manor.
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Is there an 'H' or 'Th' on the page for comparison?
The only H or T on the page are in Tweedale and just realised that there are more :-\