William Burch b1817 Arundel

[NigelBurch]

I am looking for info on William Burch that married Ann Sabina Ruff on 11 June 1842 in Binsted.  On the marriage certificate, his father is listed as "not known".
Am I right in assuming therefore that his surname was taken from the mother's side and if so, is there any way I could find out who his mother was?
In 1851 census, he is living with wife and family in Park Cottages, Arundel and is listed as 34 years old, which if correct would make him b1817ish.
I have found a William Clarke Birch in the IGI who was christened on 17 Nov 1816 in Arundel but this lists both a father William and mother Mary so I am not sure if this is the same person.
Any help or hints would be welcome.
Thanks

[kerryb]

Hi Nigel

Have you tried www.familyhistoryonline.co.uk  a very useful site, especially as it has loads of Sussex births and burials on the site.  You might find what you are looking at there.  Althought there is a small charge for using the site, I highly recommend it to all Sussex researchers.

Kerry 

[Jane Masri]

Hi Nigel.
This is undoubtedly the marriage of the parents of that William you found on the IGI William Clarke Birch 17/11/1816.  From the Sussex Marriage Index;

 Arundel, West Sussex,   30 Dec 1807:
William BURCH, bach
 Mary CLARKE, sp botp
Four daughters are also listed to them between 1808 & 1821 in Arundel.
Does your William say where he was born on the census?
I'm rather skeptical that these two are the same William.  This William was obviously around in 1821 fathering children so it's not as though he died when this William was an infant, therefore not known to him and he bears the same name.  Also this William takes his mother's maiden name as a middle name but doesn't use it on his marriage certificate.  What about witnesses on the certificate, sometimes they give a clue, also the names of the children he had with Ann can also point you in the right direction.  Have you found him on other census's?
Loads of questions,l I know but they might get you thinking 

jane
 

[thehen]

Hi Nigel, there is a William Birch bap 22 May 1814 to a Susan Birch in Arundel, father not given.  This is from the Arundel parish registers.

Henrietta.

 

[NigelBurch]

Jane

I was also rather sceptical of the William Clarke Birch as if it was the same person, he would have surely used his middle name on the marriage certificate.
His birthplace is listed as Arundel.  Witnesses at the wedding were Amy Ruff and (another) William Burch.
William does appear on 1841 census listed as 25 years old but not living with family.
He died in 1859 so does not appear on any other census.

Henrietta

Thanks for the tip off about Susan.  I will also follow up that lead.

Thank you both.

[Jane Masri]

Henrietta's William Birch sounds like a good prospect   Perhaps your William gave a daughter the name of Susan?

jane

[NigelBurch]

Unfortunately not.

William Burch and Ann Ruff's children were
William b1843
John b1844
Harriet b1846
Sarah b1851
Thomas b1852

Regards