Grandfather's birth certificate

[Codd]

Hello Everyone,

I live in Canada and need to obtain my grandfather's birth certificate.  He was born in Wales in 1885.  I can't seem to be able to order it through ancestry because I live in Canada.

I know when and where he was born.  Could someone please tell me how to go about obtaining his birth certificate?

Thank you,
Codd

[Mort29]

Hi Codd - 2 things:-

1. You dont want to order via Ancestry when you can get it direct online from the GRO for GBP 9.25

   http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/ - needs the District, Volume & Page Refs you typically see in FreeBMD & Ancestry

2. What was his name and the place or area he was born - hopefully found in a census entry?

[Codd]

Hi Mort,

Thank you so much for the information!

Yes, I think I have all of the information.  His name was William John Roberts and he was born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, S. Wales on Jan. 17, 1885.  I got that information from his Attestation Papers when he signed up to join the Canadian Forces in 1916.

The BMD birth index has his birth as County of Dyfed, Pembrokershire, Wales.

I need to find out who his mother was.  His father James Roberts was apparently (according to family whispers) married three times.  I have found census records showing his mother as Mary Ann  but I'm not sure if that is his mother or his stepmother.

Thanks again for the help
Codd

[Mort29]

Interesting. In the 1891 census, James has his MiL staying - a Maria Goodridge, born in St Dogwells.

So naturally you'd look for James marrying a Mary A Goodridge - but in Dec Q 1883 he appears to marry a Sarah Goodridge in the Pembroke District.

Now, in 1881, Maria Goodridge has her daughter Sarah in the Household - same age as the Mary A seen in the 1891 census.

If Mary A and Sarah are one and the same, it answers your question as to who was young WJ's mother - but introduces another question 

The 1871 doesnt help - only a younger sibling - Martha - is at home.

1861 seems to show that theres only a Sarah of that age - RG9/Piece: 4159 Folio: 7 Page: 16 Parish of Burton, Pembs.
 
William Goodridge 41 Head of Household born Burton: a Dockyard Sawyer
Maria Goodridge 42 Wife born St Dogwells
John Goodridge 17 son born Burton
Sarah Goodridge 11 dau ditto
David Goodridge 9 son ditto
Phebe Goodridge 4 dau ditto
Martha Goodridge 2 dau ditto


BUT the 1851 has a Mary Ann - HO107/Piece: 2476 Folio: 789 Page: 15 Parish of Llanstadwell 'Little Honeybrough'
 
William Goodridg (sic) 31 Head of Household born Pembs, Rosemarket: Dockyard Labourer
Maria Goodridg 32 Wife St Dogwells
Margaret Goodridg 8 dau Burton
John Goodridg 7 son ditto
Stephen Goodridg 4 son ditto
Mary Ann Goodridg 2 dau born Llanstadwell
Sarah Goodridg 1 dau ditto

No deaths 1851 - 1861 in the Pembroke Reg District for a Mary (A) Goodridge, so where was she in 1861 onward ?

1861 - Mary was visiting her sister Margaret, who was in Service in Furzy Park.  RG9/Piece: 4163 Folio: 64 Page: 7

1871 in Service in the Parish of Prendfergast, Haverfordwest - RG10/Piece: 5527 Folio: 91 Page: 16


I'll leave the rest to you up to 1891 etc, but it does look like even tho' James Roberts married Sarah in 1883, by 1891 her sister was the Mistress of the House, given this likely death of a 37 year old Sarah Roberts.

Deaths Sep 1889   
Roberts  Sarah  age 37  Pembroke  11a 537

I believe at that time it wasnt legal to marry your dead wife's sister?

But it does seem to indicate that Sarah was WJ's mother ?

[Codd]

Hi Mort,

Thank you so much!!  I totally missed the clue that James had married Sarah in 1883.  I do know from what little my mother told me that Wm J's mother died at a young age from TB, one reason why I thought Mary A was a stepmother. I also totally lost track of Mary Ann 1881 and 1871.  I have much to learn about searching

You have saved me money and time and I'm most grateful!

Codd

[Mort29]

Pleased to have helped