My tree is only a bush!

[muttly]

How envious I am of all you other researchers who have branches to follow. I have "completed" my dad's side. His maternal grand father was born in the workhouse. No father mentioned. His grandmother has a birth certificate, but her parents weren't married and there is no mention of her father on any census. Her mother could be one of several.
And then there's his paternal side that ends with my grandfather. who had no birth certificate. his parents weren't married, only mentioned on one census and when he joined the army he changed his name!
 but at least I know his mother's first name!
Would anyone like to adopt me?   Muttly

[Nick29]

Well, you could always do the trees of some of your friends !   

Hint: Choose friends with unusual names ! 

Joking aside, this must be very disappointing for you, to have hit so many dead ends so soon 

[behindthefrogs]

Completed your Dad's side?  Possibly hit a brick wall but not completed.  Usually when there are a number of choices, other information like censuses will narrow the choices.  I sugest that you post your problem on the appropiate county board.  Have you looked for a father paying maintenance?

Every generation potentially doubles the number of lines to follow.  Your tree can never be complete.

[Redroger]

Keep at it Muttly, go back over everything you've got, and then go over it again, sooner or later you'll find a lead.

[Annie65115]

I agree, post some details and let the Rootschatters see what they can find for you! You might be surprised at what other info is out there!

[copperbeech5]

Hi Muttly,

Yes, Annie, and Redroger are right get you family out there, but in the meantime, help someone else solve their mystery...... it's nearly as much fun, and good practice!

Not to mention the friends you make!!


Copperbeech5

[halfasheep]

Yep, don't give up. Even when faced with the task of locating the birth place and year of William Hughes, possibly in Wales (who apparently died in London at an unknown point in time during the 1950's or 1960's and is supposedly buried in a pauper's grave) I'm not prepared to give up - even if it means waiting until the next census (and I really don't want it to come to that), there are alway's routes back.

Like the other's have said, post what you can - I've had such brilliant luck on here with my Evans family in South Wales (again, not an easy task) that went from me having a 1901 census return to getting them back to the last decade of the 18th century within a month due to a lucky break.

I've not had to go through workhouse records (yet), but other's could possibly help or point you in the right direction. I've been ''resting'' my tree for a little while - 1911 is out now, and the extra info has already started me off on my Irish lot as I know have villages instead of ''Tipperary''.

If only gt gt grandad William John Hughes was living with his wife on the night of the census so I knew where he was blooming well born 

[mother25]

No family tree is ever complete, Muttly, so don't give up 

Your family must be somewhere out there, so as others have said, post some info in the appropriate place on the forum, and soon someone will be able to give you a few more twigs to add to your tree. Before you know it you'll have a whole forest 
I have a John Smith (his son was also John Smith).....in my tree....imagine how hard he was to find....but I kept at it and I now know quite a bit about him. You have to be like a terrier with a bone....worry it but don't let it go 
I also got loads of help from another forum related to the main city I'm interested in, so that may be another avenue for you to look at.  Also have you joined a local Family History Society? They are very helpful, and if you don't live near the one that's most relevant to your family, you can still join and then look at the forum and post on there.  There's a lot of help out there once you start to ask questions 
Good Luck 

[Redroger]

Halfasheep is lucky Muttly, finding Evans in South Wales, I couldn't even find Luffman in South Wales, and I had the address and his wife's maiden name etc.