Smiths and Tolleys of Ward St Bilston

[truebritmega]

Hi there, im finally attempting the hard line of my tree and having a shot at the "Smiths"
My grandad was a William Thomas Smith of Ward Street bilston, born 1891 with a father whos name is John Smith (he was deceased by then)

anyone? anything? lol

[Manchester Rambler]

To start with, do you have William's birth cert, and if so, what was his mother's name? 

This looks the most likely birth:

Births Jun 1891
SMITH   William Thomas        
Wolverhampton 6b 711

There is a fair match on the 1901 census, with parents John and Selina - do you mean  John was deceased before William's birth, or before his marriage?


Rambler

[truebritmega]

ooh well done! do you have the rest of the fam on that census? that does sound like them, yes John was deceased before williams marriage(1912), exactly when, I dont know

[Manchester Rambler]

Here we go:

RG13/2690; Folio 42; Page 1
Coseley St, Bilston, Staffs
John SMITH - Head - 48 - Blast Furnaceman - Dudley, Worcs
Selina SMITH - Wife - 46 - Froghall, Staffs
John Henry SMITH - Son - 22 - Statinary Engine Driver - Bilston, Staffs
Phoebe Ann SMITH - Dau - 15 - Bilston, Staffs
Charles SMITH - Son - 13 - Boot Cutter Out - Bilston, Staffs
William Thomas SMITH - Son - 9 - Bilston, Staffs
Joseph SMITH - Adopted Son - 8 - Bilston, Staffs
Phoebe ALLEN [...] - Adopted Dau - Bilston, Staffs    ErrorSPAM REPORT THIS POST AS SPAM (Use 'Report to Moderator'). DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINKS IN THIS POST. DO NOT REPLY TO THIS PERSON.](not sure whether Allen is surname or middle name)[/color]
Benjamin DOYLE - Boarder - 15 - Crane Driver, Steel Works - Bilston, Staffs

Rambler

[Manchester Rambler]

1891 census:

RG12/2244; Folio 108; Page 7
3 Victoria Terrace, Bilston, Staffs
John SMITH - Head - 37 - Blast Engineer - Netherton, Worcs
Selina SMITH - Wife - 34 - [...], Staffs
Maria SMITH - Dau - 16 - Dress Maker - Bilston, Staffs
John H SMITH - Son - 13 - Bilston, Staffs
Phoebe A SMITH - Dau - 5 - Pulsfield, Staffs
Charlie SMITH - Son - 3 - Pulsfield, Staffs

Given the big gap between John H and Phoebe, it's possible that this was a second marriage for John and/or Selina.

Rambler

[truebritmega]

THANK YOU SO VERY VERY VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!

that means a lot to me as I didnt expect Id get anywhere with the Smiths!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

now I have a kicking off point to go after the others!

[truebritmega]

Oh and btw, it does look like these are.. My fam, cos that 1891 census lists John as "Blast Engineer"

Williams marriage cert lists his dad John's occupation as "Engineer" !!

[truebritmega]

Hiya Manchester Rambler I sent you a pm, but havent heard back from you, id you receive it?

[Manchester Rambler]

Hi - just got your PM! 

I tried to find John on earlier censuses, but I'm not sure whether I have the right guy, so you may need a couple of certs to confirm the family.  Look at these entries for 1881 and 1871, and see what you think!

1881
RG11/2816; Folio 83; Page 5
18 Ward St, Bilston, Staffs
William SMITH - Head - 49 - Blast Furnaceman - Netherton, Worcs
Pathania SMITH - Wife - 49 - Dudley, Worcs

John SMITH - Head - Married - 26 - Blast Furnace Engineer - Dudley, Worcs
William SMITH - Son - 17 - Blast Furnace Labourer - Dudley, Worcs
Phoebe SMITH - Dau - 11 - Scholar - Dudley, Worcs
Hannah SMITH - Dau - 8 - Scholar - Bilston, Staffs
Joseph SMITH - Son - 6 - Scholar - Bilston, Staffs
Alice SMITH - Dau - 4 - Scholar - Bilston, Staffs
Ryah SMITH - Dau - 5 - Scholar - Bilston, Staffs
John SMITH - Son - 3 - Scholar - Bilston, Staffs


1871
RG10/3016; Folio 127; Page 12
9 Griffin Row, Dudley, Worcs
William SMITH - Head - 37 - Labourer
Pathaniah SMITH - Wife - 38
John SMITH - Son - 16 - Labourer
Thomas SMITH - Son - 12 - Scholar
Martha SMITH - Dau - 10 - Scholar
William SMITH - Son - 7 - Scholar
Phoebe SMITH - Dau - 2
(All born Dudley.)


In 1881, there are 2 households at the same address, and at least 2 of John's siblings are recorded as if they were his children....    He is listed as "married", but his wife is not present, complicating things further!   His occupation matches, and Ryah (Maria) and John Jr match the 1891 census, but we don't know whether Selina was their mother, so it doesn't help pin down a likely marriage.


Rambler