common surname, but unusual first name

[mintola1964]

We just had my husband's dad's birth certificate which showed his parents names, I thought it was great as he had such an unusual name, but apart from finding his birth and marriage I can't find him on the census. His name was Edden Smith (I know Smith is commong but Edden isn't!) He was born, it seems, in the September quarter of 1891 in Stratford upon Avon, he married in the December quarter of 1911 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, to Ethel Lilian North. This is all I have found so far, I really thought I'd be able to find him easily on the 1901 census, but I just can't! We will send off for his birth certificate later, but wondered if anyone could help until then? Thanks,

[Nessie]

Think there may be some question about his christian name
Could it have been mistranscribed?
Could you tell us his parents names, it might help looking for him in 1901

[janan]

Hi
I've had a good look but no sign Trouble is because Edden is so unusual it might have been misread/heard. There is an Edward Smith age 9 born Stratford living in Walsall with father Henry a bookseller's shop manager - he appears the only candidate. Only certificates will confirm.
Cheers Jan

[mintola1964]

I thought i had just posted a reply but it seems to have gone!! Anyway, all we have so far is the birth certificate of Reginald William John Smith, born 1919, it shows his father as Edden Smith, farm labourer and mother as Ethel Lilian Smith, formerley North, she is the person registering the birth. I have searched on Ancestry and found the birth of Edden smith in the September quarter of 1891 in Stratford upon Avon, I searched for Ethel Lilian North under marriages and found it in the december quarter of 1911 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, it shows his name as Edde(o)n Smith.  As there only seems to be one Eddon Smith I'm presuming this is his birth and will eventually send off for his birth certificate when finances allow, it really is an unusual name and I thought it was going to help so much lol. Thanks for your replies so far

[mintola1964]

Are you searching just by using birth, death and marriage, or the general search? Only I have looked on BMD and it sort of looks like it could say Eddie, in Stratford, but it IS Edden. I have also, after an hour of going through years and  years, found his death in the March quarter of 1957, at the age of 65, in Nuneaton, just need to find a census with him on now!!

[mintola1964]

me again,  , I am getting so confused with this, I really thought that having such an unusual name would help our search. We bought the birth certificate of Edden Smith, and as someone had suggested, this was his mother's maiden name. Her name was ellen Edden and his father was John Smith (just to help lol) Edden was born in Stratford upon Avon.  I did a search starting from the year Edden was born going backwards, looking for their marriage and found one in 1875, I've tried searching censuses from 1901 (but no longer have access) but can't seem to find them, or I may have missed them. I have no idea if this is the correct marriage or if there is another Ellen Edden and John Smith! If Ellen was born in 1853, this makes her 38 when Edden was born, is this a little old in those days, or not? Thanks

[Valda]

This is the Ellen who married John Smith in Brackley Registration district in 1875. Eydon comes under Brackley registration district. Ellen is on the 1871 census living in Eydon.

1901 census RG13 2901 folio 66
Gorse bain Cottage Nuneaton  Warwickshire   
John Smith 45  Woodford, Northamptonshire, Head  Married Farm Labourer
Ellen Smith 49  Eydon, Northamptonshire, Wife  Married
George Smith 16  Eydon, Northamptonshire,  Son Farm Labourer
Wm Smith 14  Eydon, Northamptonshire,  Son Farm Labourer
Edith Smith 12 Halledon, Northamptonshire, Daughter 
John Smith 20  Eydon, Northamptonshire, Son  Farm Labourer

It is perfectly possible for people to be accidentally left off the censuses

In 1891 the family were living at 1 Wimpstone Whitchurch in the district of Stratford on Avon.

Regards

Valda

[mintola1964]

oh wow, thank you so much for this, it looks like poor Edden was left off the census then! It definitely says wimpstone whitchurch on his birth certificate of 1891 and Edden did marry in Nuneaton in 1911! So this must be his family, I had found the marriage of Ellen and John but wasn't 100% sure it was his parents as I found another Ellen and John on something but born in Ireland. This is brilliant, thank you so much again

[Valda]

1891 census RG12 2478 folio 92
1 Wimpstone Whitchurch  Warwickshire   
John Smith 37 Woodford, Northamptonshire,  Head  Married Agricultural Labourer
Ellen Smith 39 Eydon, Northamptonshire, Wife Married
John Smith 14 Hadson, Northamptonshire, Son Agricultural Labourer
James Smith 9 Eydon, Northamptonshire, Son 
George Smith 4 Eydon, Northamptonshire, Son   
Edith Elizabeth Smith 3 Eydon, Northamptonshire, Daughter 

1881 census RG11 1533 folio 39
Main Street Eydon  Northamptonshire   
Ellen Smith 29 Eydon, Northamptonshire, Head Married Ag lab's wife
Millian Smith 5 Eydon, Northamptonshire, Daughter 
John Smith 3 Eydon, Northamptonshire, Son 

1881 census RG11 3081 folio 131
Thurlaston village   Warwickshire
John Smith 26Woodford, Northamptonshire, Boarder (Lodger) Married Ag Lab

1871 census RG10 1469 folio 41
Main Street Eydon  Northamptonshire 
John Eddin 59 Eydon, Northamptonshire, Head Married Hawker
Mary Ann Eddin 49  Eydon, Northamptonshire, Wife 
William Thomas Eddin 22  Eydon, Northamptonshire, Son Ag Lab
Ellen Eddin 19 Eydon, Northamptonshire, Daughter Lacemaker 

1871 census RG10 1491 folio 16
Woodford Village  Northamptonshire   
John Smith 40 Woodford, Northamptonshire,  Head  Married Ag Lab
Hannah Smith 34 Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, Wife Married Ag lab's wife
John Smith 15 Woodford, Northamptonshire, Son Ag lab
William Smith 12 Woodford, Northamptonshire,  Son  Farm lab
Thomas Smith 10  Woodford, Northamptonshire,  Son Farm lab
George Smith 7  Woodford, Northamptonshire,  Son   
Eli Smith 5 Woodford, Northamptonshire, Son 
Betsy Smith 3  Woodford, Northamptonshire, Daughter 
Eliza Smith 1 Woodford, Northamptonshire,  Daughter  At home

Regards

Valda