Well I did make it to the records office today but only for a short while. I was amazed at how busy it was! I didn't book a reader this time as I couldn't guarantee going today but I shall definitely book one for next time. Fortunately for me the staff were very helpful and I got to use a film reader even though they were all fully booked!
Unfortunately that's where all my good luck ends. I had hoped, even wished that I would have a bit of beginners luck! I was going to go looking for my great granddad George Henry straight away but I thought I should be a bit more methodical.
Despite having a copy of my granddad's birth certificate I double checked and looked at the Letton parish records. I found George James (granddad) baptised on 24 Nov 1901 and his parents were given as George Henry and Louisa Price. So that tallies all in. I found his brother Thomas Arthur baptised 29 Oct 1905 with the same parents. His sister Isabelle Annie baptised 24 Sep 1899. Then I found Eliza/Susan Lucy. In the parish records she was baptised as Elsie Susan 28 Feb 1897, again with the same parents.
I then looked for the film for the Kinnersley parish records but there are none. So I got to look at the actual parish records themselves! Failure. No George Henry Price born in Kinnersley in 1845, nor a decade before or after. I found his brother, James Price baptised 5 Nov 1843 with James Price recorded as the father and Susanna as the mother. James snr. was listed as a gardener.
No Price's listed in 1845. I'm not sure if I found George Henry's brother Arthur as shown in the censuses. I found an Arthur Price baptised 14 Feb 1847 with James Price given as the father and listed as a gardener. The mother was given as Anne. Could this be James' wife who on the censuses referred to herself as Susan, Susanh and Susanah, whilst being listed as Susanna on James' baptism?
I didn't have time to check the Shobdon parish records where the family were previously but that would make George Henry a lot older than he claimed and on all censuses he stated he was born in Kinnersley. I shall still check the Shobdon records, along with those for burial records for Staunton-On-Wye where he is buried. Even if he is recorded and it states he was born in Kinnersley I'm no farther forwards am I?
On the freeBMD I couldn't find George Henry's birth, marriage or death certificate. The superintendent registrar couldn't find his birth certificate either. Now I find there is not even a parish record of his baptism? He's like a man who never was. My mind is running down all avenues.
To compound the mystery for myself, as I got to see the actual parish book, I saw for Arthur's baptism 'George' had been written in, then blotted out before the ink dried and Arthur written over the top. Could George and Arthur be twins? I'm clutching at straws here.
The entry below Arthur was a baptism for a 'George' 21 Feb 1847 but he was listed as a 'Bastard, son of Mary Anne Bury, a single woman from Leominster.' Coincidence and no connection at all?
I don't have a clue what to do next after looking at the Shobdon/Staunton parish records. How can I carry on following the line with James and his wife if I can't even find George Henry? As I say, he's like the man who never was.
Best wishes,
Bosuns Call
