Redding Family of Birmingham (someimes spelt Reading)

[Daisypetal]

Hi Chris,

I'm sorry if I'm being dumb  I understand that you have a William b.1821 to Samuel and Elizabeth but I still don't know why you think he is definitely George's father.

I think that the fact that he is a die sinker in 1841 seems to make him more likely to be the William married to Caroline in 1851 and 1861.

In 1851 William and Caroline are living in York St. Harborne, Staffordshire next door to John and Rebecca POWELL. In 1861 an Elizabeth READING Mother-in-Law is living with John and Rebecca POWELL still in York St. Harborne, Staffordshire. If Rebecca is the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth READING then doesn't it seem more likely that the William READING next door in 1851 is her brother rather than another random William READING.


Possible marriages for William and Caroline are,

William READING    Dec Q 1845    King's Norton    18  559
Caroline BENNETT with same details.

William READING    Dec Q 1847    Birmingham    16   535
Caroline KIRK with the same details.


If I were you I would get the above certificates to check who those William's fathers were, just to make sure. Harborne was in Kings Norton Registration district so I think that's the most likely.



The William b. Canterbury and Ellen that I found are living in Allison Street in 1851 doesn't that make them more likely to be George's parents?



I hardly like to suggest it, as I understand from experience how frustrating and upsetting it can be to find you have followed the wrong line, especially if alot of time and effort has gone into the search, but I always think it's better to be sure. 

Please don't shoot the messenger, my thoughts could be wrong 

 
Regards,
Daisy

[ChristinaJ]

Hi Daisy, thanks for your email.  Really do appreciate another pair of eyes on this William Reading.  I'm a member of the local Family History Group, been going for 3 years now, and the chap who helps us was bewildered by not being able to find William in Birmingham and Ellen Kelly marriage.  I've been able to help others in the group and had good results, but this one has really stumped me.

Will definitely order the certificates to see where I stand.  This is the thing about finding your family history you can bark up the wrong tree.

Think what made me think it was Ellen from Ireland was that my mum always said that her mum had said that George had the Irish about him, and used lots of Irish phrases, but this may be just one of those things.

I also think that George being married in a RC Church to Sara Ann Davis made me think he was of Irish descent, but the children were christianed in the Anglican Church. 

I know that George is defiinitely my great grandfather because of the census, with my granddad and great uncles on them.

I'll let you know what happens, and again I really do appreciate your help.

Regards 

Chris

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

Yes, please let us know how you get on with the certificates.

In both 1851 and 1861 the Ellen I found was born in Ireland. I wouldn't discount the William REDDING - Ellen CAREY marriage in Portsea, her father could have been in the forces and she could have been born in Ireland.

It would be interesting to see the images of the Catholic records of their marriage and William Jnr's christening. Ellen's name seems to have changed from CAREY to KERRY. Even more interesting would be to find George's christening to see if it shows Ellen's maiden name.

The William Snr's Army record shows X his mark showing that he was illiterate if Ellen was as well records for their name would only be as good as the person writing them could hear and/or spell them correctly. Different accents in different areas  I don't think CAREY, KERRY and KELLY are too different for a mistake to be made.


Daisy

[ChristinaJ]

Hi,

Have George's birth certificate, shows William (Soldier) and mother Ellen formerly Kelly.  Also have marraige of George to Sarah Ann Davis, again William (soldier).

As you say, certificates are only as good as who ever wrote them out, and of course if they couldn't read or write they wouldn't be able to check what they had put. 

I'm off to St Chads Cathedral soon to have a look at the records. 

What is so sad is that the majority of Willliam's family were all jewellers, heaven knows what happened to him not being able to read or write. In fact some of the Readings are well know as master jewellers here in Birmingham and had patents issued (have these), and one of his great nephews became Lord Mayor of Birmingham.  He must have been the black sheep of the family. 

Speak soon

Chris

[Daisypetal]

Remember the illiterate William in the army married to Ellen CAREY/KERRY wasn't the William born in Birmingham 1821. As he did join the army in Coventry, Warwickshire he could possibly be from the same wider family or he might not be related to the Samuel & Elizabeth REDDING family at all.


If the family of William b.1821 Birmingham were jewellers I think even more that the William married to Caroline is the right one because of his occupation, die sinker:

die-sinker:  a person who engraves dies used to stamp designs on coins or medals

It seems quite a skilled job connected to the jewellery business, googling brings up lots of examples eg;

http://www.whdarby.co.uk/history.html

http://www.heraldic-arts.com/street.htm

Daisy

[hoobaloo]

I know this is a little late, but, in one of "Daisypetal's" postings it's suggested that an 1847 marriage for W. Reading could be to Caroline Kirk.  I can definitely state that Caroline Kirk married Samuel Bowcott at St. Thomas in Bath Row, Birmingham on 18th Oct 1847.Regards, John.

[ChristinaJ]

Thanks for your email.  Appreciate your help on the Reading/Redding query.  Now sorting, have appointment at St Chads Cathedral in Birmingham who keep the records of Roman Catholic births/marriages/deaths to sort this marriage out.

Regards

Chris