I've reached a brick wall - so anyone who can help I'd be eternally grateful!
My great grandmother was Harriet Carter. The only things I know about her are:
* In 1901 census she is shown aged 31 and place of birth Manchester
* In 1891 census she is shown aged 22 and place of birth Liverpool
* In Dec 1889 when she was married her age was given as 20 and her father as William, a publican
* all 3 events took place in Birmingham
I have been unable to find her in the 1881 or 1871 censuses, and the various birth registrations for Harriet/Harriett/Hetty Carter between 1864 and 1872 do not appear to be her.
In desparation I recently went through ever single Harriet(t) Carter birth in that date range (there were 16, plus 2 others from other counties that were possible) and traced the person to infant death or through the censuses until married. All except one resolved themselves into people that are not my great grandmother. The one was a Harriet Carter born in Wigan about 1868 - but this only from the census records, there is no birth registration. In the censuses her parents and siblings were all living in County Durham except for that brief period of her birth. This Harriet is evident in 1871 and 1881 but not afterwards so looked like a good bet... except that the father was Edward Carter, a coal miner not William a Publican!
I should note that I have not found ANY Harriet Carter daughter of William in 1871 or 1881.
I don't know where to go next. Two censuses suggest a Lancashire birth (although there is a big gap between Manchester and Liverpool...) and three events suggest a 1868/1869 birth date, but none of the Harriet's registered in Lancashire around those dates is her.
Any suggestions anyone?!
Thanks, Peter
