Black Country (Bilston) friends and nieghbours - more names 2

[DudleyWinchurch]

Hi all,

I decided it was time to restart this thread for a couple of reasons.

One is that I have noticed several new members appearing on RootsChat and asking about Bilston.

Welcome to all and I am including a link to the old thread here so that you can trawl through and find all the discussion we have already had.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,280912.0.html

And the other is the obvious one, I now do have more names again that I can lookup in the Bilston, Holy Trinity catholic church Baptism Index, so anyone looking for family names in the range A-F at that church, just add a request here or PM me.

[Barbara348]

Hi Dudley, just seen your new thread re Bilston etc.

I'm interested because my Gt Gt Uncle Thomas Howell was born 16 Aug 1848 in a place called Workhouse Fold (where or what is that?) in Bilston.

Also I believe that my Gt Grandad James Howell may also have been born in Bilston 1843 -1844 but I've never been able to trace a birth for him.

As they were probably Methodists, is it possible his birth may be recorded in Bilston Parish Records?

Barbara.

[DudleyWinchurch]

Hi Barbara,

Transcriptions of Bilston Parish records (and a lot more) are available from the Wolverhampton Archives web page at:

http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/resources/familyhistory

Unfortuntely there seems to be a gap in the Methodist records available so far.

Another useful site for church records of various denominations is:

http://www.freereg.org.uk

but I couldn't find Thomas or James on there.

As far as I am aware, there was no requirement after 1837, when general registration came in, for baptisms at any other church to be also registered in the local parish church.

[Barbara348]

Hi Dudley,

Thanks for all that, I have e-mailed the archives enquiring about the gap 1837 - 1907 in the Methodist records.

By the way, can you enlighten me as to where exactly Workhouse fold was? Was it just the Workhouse?

Barbara.

[DudleyWinchurch]

Hi Barbara,

I'm not familiar with Workhouse Fold but there were many small streets and back courts between the main houses in Bilston in the 19th century.  It could just have been an area adjoining or belonging to the Workhouse.

Who were the parents of your Gt Gt Uncle Thomas?

There is a family in Bilston (in 1841 and 1851) with parents, Thomas and Eliza (or Elizer) Howell, who have both a Thomas and a James but the James is 10 years older than your estimated date.  The children all seem to have been baptised at Coseley in Sedgley Parish and transcriptions can be found on the LDS FamilySearch site at:
http://www.familysearch.org/

with file reference C037861

[Barbara348]

Hi Dudley, thanks very much for trying to help me.

The parents of my James & Thomas Howell were Thomas & Jane Howell.

Whilst I was able to get a Birth cert for Thomas for 1848, I've never been able to trace the birth of James in 1843/1844.

I'm becoming convinced that he was not registered even though he was born after 1837 when civil registration came in.

Cheers anyway Dudley

Barbara.

[DudleyWinchurch]

Just found a reference to Workhouse Fold being in the centre of the town.

Also a very detailed description of Bilston which may be of use to others too, at:

http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/articles/BilstonDirectory/BilstonHistory/bilstonhistory04.htm

[Barbara348]

Thanks a lot for the link Dudley.

It's a very interesting article about Bilston and I would imagine it's of interest to a lot of people out there with family history links to Bilston.

Thanks for turning it up

Barbara.

[Samanthapom]

Hi, I'm a bit new to all this but I'm trying to research back on my Mothers Side.
The Family name is Betts and they originate from Bilston. My Grandad & Great Grandad were both named Joseph H Betts & my Great Grandad was Abraham. I've found reference to an Abraham Betts on the 1901 census but I'm unsure if it's the right one as the wife/children's details differ from what my Mother remembers.

So I've tried trace back from my Grandad to find out. His Mother was named Amy Clark (maiden name) but she died when my Grandad was approx 6 months old, sometime late 1921. I can't find any record of her death?  Does anyone have any ideas where else to look or how I can find out if it's the right Abraham.

Sorry for the lengthy post but as this is all new to me I keep going round in circles.

Thanks