Black Country (Bilston) Friends and Neighbours - more names

[DudleyWinchurch]

Hi Willow,

this one so clearly said that the birth-place was "Gloucestershire, Bristol" that I was about to dismiss it as a bizarre co-incidence when it occurred to me that it could have been a transcription error between the household schedule and the enumerator's book.

I couldn't image any way that the Albert Whitmore that I was looking for could suddenly think that he came from Gloucs, even allowing for the fact that he had moved a little from his previous census location.

No wonder some people are so difficult to find.  I'm still looking for his parents, John and Jane (should be in their 60s by 1901 so possibly not still around but haven't located any appropriate death registrations either) so gradually finding each of their children to see if that helps.

[Willow 4873]

Hiya Sheila

Have you considered this one for Jane?

RG13/2710 Folio 115 Page 42

Willow x

[DudleyWinchurch]

Hi Willow,

found that one yesterday but doesn't quite fit. There were two the right age but wrong birthplaces.

With such a big family I would have expected to find her with one of the children, if widowed, but can't find a death for John either.

I've just remembered that I do have a contact on that line of the family too, so I'll check out as far as I can and then get back in touch with them as they may possibly be able to confirm some of the various wives' maiden names too.

[Just trying to sort out all the bits and pieces I have for this family (one of my great-grandmother's sisters).  Didn't remember to search for her when I had temporary access to the 1911 so will have to wait now  ]

[Willow 4873]

Hiya Sheila

I did wonder if it was her and she just gave her last place of residence as her birthplace

There is the death of a John Whitmore 1897 at West Bromwich aged 81 - could it be 61 mistranscribed as 81?

Willow x

[DudleyWinchurch]

Hi Willow,

hope that you didn't stay up late just to find Jane.  Thanks for all the effort.

Trouble is that my records show our Jane to be in Bilston until she moved to Handsworth for the 1881 and 1891.  Although, of course, I may be missing info from the gaps between censuses.

I'm also having trouble with a daughter Lucy.  Not because I can't find one but because there are two born very close to the same time in the same district.

I probably need to try grouping other Whitmore families at this stage, to separate them out and find where the other Jane(s) and Lucy(s) came from.

There were at least 10 children so still plodding through finding each one.

[Willow 4873]

Hiya Sheila

I was chasing down Tippins in Gloucestershire and had a break to give my brain a rest and funnily enough one married a man from Bilton 

Willow x

[nickbris]

Dudley Whitchurch,Have you come across any Nokes family in Bilston?  My great great Grandfather was a printer in Church St till his death 1873 That was Francis Nokes,He had a son also called Francis Nokes  Postmaster of Bilston in Church St.

2 Daughters  Harriett Nokes B 1830  Sarah about 1837  They became Anglican Nuns and ran Female Penitentiaries in Kent.I do have lots of other info if you would like to share.

At the moment I am trying to find out if Francis Sr left a will.Also as the started up a newspaper called Bilston Herald whether they were important enough to have left any photographs.ß

[DudleyWinchurch]

Hi Nick,

the only Nokes that I've come across in Bilston so far is a george Nokes who married Mary Jane Thomas in 1881 at the catholic church so sounds unlikely to be your family, I'm afraid.

I'll look out for any more in my searches.

[DudleyWinchurch]

Hi again Willow,

I keep coming back to that Jane in my searches and she does seem to be only about a mile away from her previous home so, ignoring the birthplace that was presumably provided by the householder who was a bit busy at the time  , it's very plausible.

Just can't fathom out why she should suddenly become a monthly nurse in her 60s, although with 10 children and probably at least twice that many grandchildren, she must have had lots of experience with small babies. [added: most of her own children seemed to have moved to Smethwick since the last census]

I'd be more convinced if I could find a relationship between the families concerned but I'm not having much luck wotking out the Allen family with hubby away.  Maybe another one that needs some 1911 census data to work out.

Another interesting snippet about this family is that, if I've got all the matches right, there seem to be three consecutive children who (on different dates) married 3 siblings from another family (called Maull).  I've come across two X two before but, is this a record?

S.