Help Please - Greastham Stafforshire

[Patsy Beech]

Can anyone with some local knowledge of Staffordshire please decipher what it meant by Greastham?

On the 1851 census I have found a new generation of my Beech family Ref:H.O.107/1466 page 62 Folio 354  - living in Paddington, London they are

Joseph Beech - head - married - 56 - Carpenter - Staffordshire Greastham
Charlotte Beech - wife - married - 54 - wife of Carpenter -

The children are George, Jane, Thomas & Ann, and I can understand they were all born in London, but the parents place of birth has me beaten! Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated as this is the first hint of a connection to Staffordshire.

Patsy

[Patsy Beech]

Hi Folks,

I have had a dig and delve around and found on IGI the birth for a Joseph Beech, 6th February, 1795 Trentham. Although I still think the census entry starts with a letter that goes below the line such as a 'G' do you think I could stretch the imagination and turn Greastham into Trentham!!!!

Your opinions would be appreciated.
Patsy

[Mrs O]

Hi Patsy,
Like you I think it starts with a 'G' - see Gloucester a few entries below.  It might be Greentham, but don't know if there is or was such a place 

I don't think his wife was born in Staffordshire - it might be Buckinghamshire - the town is even less clear - maybe Offinder, Affinder 

Have you been able to find any of them on the 1861 census where it might give a clearer place of birth for them.  I've have a quick dig on Ancestry but couldn't find anything positive. 

Maybe someone else will be able to decipher it for you, it was a poor image.

Good luck

Jeanette

[Tati]

I agree on the G - perhaps something like Greenthorn? (though genuki doesn't seem to know that!)

Tanja 

[Patsy Beech]

Dear Jeanette & Tanja,

Thank you for taking the time to do some searching for me, and we do all think it looks like a 'G' them. I wonder if the London enumerator could not understand their accent!

I have not found a Greenthorn or Greenham yet, but I'll keep looking. The index has been transcribed for Charlotte as Soffinder, Buckinghamshire, but that does not seem to exist either!

I think I have found a death record for Joseph Beech - December 1854 - Kensington 1a 41, but I have not sent for the certificate yet to check if it is him. If it is that would give a reason as to why I can't find him on the 1861 census.

As for Charlotte I can't find either a death record for her or an entry on the 1861 census. I think I will have to try and go backwards to the 1841 census, but that will have to wait until my next trip up to London and the FRC, and of course that will probably only say something like 'born outside county.'

Their son George Beech born c1829 - Paddington - was married on 18th July, 1852 at St. John's Church, Paddington to Mary Ann Drake, and on their certificate it gives Joseph Beech, Cabinet Maker, as his father. So I think I am on the right trail when I can discover just where in Staffordshire to search.

Thank you again for your help.
Best Wishes, Patsy

[Mrs O]

Good luck with your searches Patsy.  Something may turn up out of the blue - it often does, when you least expect it.  I'll keep my eyes open as well - I'm intrigued now about the places. Unfortunately some of the enumerators didn't write very clearly and like you say didn't always hear very well  . 

All the best, Jeanette