Looking up records before 1837

[swinging60]

I am now stuck after having quite a good start on tracing my tree.   My interests are now before 1837.

The records I now need to search would be in parish records I presume.  I am tracing my gt. gt. grandfather
who has a fairly common surname, which doesn't help matters.  His name is Thomas REYNOLDS and I want to find out who his parents were to go back another generation.
Thomas married in 1816 in Old Church, St. Pancras. On one of his daughter's marriage certificates he is down in the father's name and surname and does not have deceased by this, which would mean he was still alive in 1844.  There is no trace of him or his wife or family in the 1881 census.    Am I right in thinking that if I search the parish records I might find him there ?
Any help would be much appreciated.

[Little Nell]

Hi swinging60,

You need to try and find him in 1851 census and 1841 census.  The 1851 is more useful to you because it will give you a better idea of his birth-place and a more accurate idea of his age.  In 1841, ages were rounded to the nearest 5 years for adults and it was only recorded if born in census county or not, not where more precisely.  I'm sure some kind Rootschatter will look him up if have an idea of address or rough area to look in.  Then you can go back to the parish records pre 1837, the IGI would be a good starting point (online at www.familysearch.org).  It is also possible that he was dead by 1844, sometimes the forms were not filled out correctly, not necessarily deliberately, just "clerical error".

Nell

[Cougar]

Hi assume you have his marriage details?
if not here they are Thomas Reynolds married Ann Stevens 15 Sept 1816 at Old Church, St Pancras, England - this gives you the parish to look up.
Do you have an address on the marriage certificate where he is named as father and we can perhaps start looking there
There is a Thomas Reynolds aged 79 at Pancras Grays Inn Lane ref 107 f47
and Ann aged 78 same - ref 108 f73 and
Ann aged 75 same - ref 110 -46
You would need someone else to look these up as I only have the ref. numbers.
If you can get the other address I could do a full check of 1851.
Hope this is helpful,
Cheers Cougar

[Geoff of Devon]

From 1851 census index of Pancras:
Thomas Reynolds 69 Pancras, Grays Inn Lane 1495 310a
Unfortunatley he has no other Reynolds relations with him.
Good luck,
Geoff.

[Cougar]

OK
That ref 1495 -310a for 1851, gives, 2 Derby St, St Pancras,
Thomas Reynolds, head aged 69, superannuation from excise, born St George, Hanover Square, Middlesex.
Will have a look in a minute and see if he is there ine 1841 and if there is any more info.
There are others at that address,

John H Wright head, widow, 71
Elizabeth Long, head, widow, 60
Amelia Hemmings, visitor, 34
Charlotte Enrick, visitor, 50
do you know any of those names?
Cheers Cougar

[Cougar]

Derby Street in 1841 does not give house numbers.
Reynolds found in the street were
William 35, Attorneys Clerk? born out of London
assume wife Sarah 35 born out of London
assume son William 4 1/2 born London
Hopefully they might tie in.
There was no Thomas Reynolds.
Cheers Cougar