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Author Topic: Should I just give up now?  (Read 9360 times)

Offline Romilly

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Should I just give up now?
« on: Saturday 29 December 12 22:51 GMT (UK) »

Just pondering on New Year Resolutions, etc... and wondered,

After more than 30+ years of searching for my late Grandfather, - should I just draw a line in the sand, admit defeat, and give up?

I am completely unable to find him anywhere prior to the 1901 Census for Wales. He's also on the 1911 Census for Wales, and I have his Death Cert, (in Hendon, Middx in December 1937, aged 77yrs).

He was: William James Wilson, alledgedly born in Manchester in 1860/'61. He married my Grandmother, Margaret Rees, in Swansea in June 1893, aged 32yrs, Occupation: House Painter.

I have never been able to find a definate Birth for him, and I can't find him on any Census prior to 1901...

Advise please... should I just give up?

Romilly :'( :'( :'(
Any census information included in this post is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Researching:
Wilson, Warren, Dulston, Hooper, Duffin, Petty, Rees, Davies, Williams, Newman, Dyer, Hamilton, Edmeads, Pattenden.

Online CaroleW

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Re: Should I just give up now?
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 29 December 12 22:53 GMT (UK) »
Quote
He married my Grandmother, Margaret Rees, in Swansea in June 1893, aged 32yrs

Any father shown on the marriage cert
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Carlin (Ireland & Liverpool) Doughty & Wright (Liverpool) Dick & Park (Scotland & Liverpool)

Offline alpinecottage

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Re: Should I just give up now?
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 29 December 12 23:02 GMT (UK) »
Well, after looking for 30 years, you won't be able to give up, will you??

You only need one more set of records to come online and you may find him (or his father) and several new record sets have come online in the last year or so - FindMyPast's Manchester series, British Newspaper Archive, more records on Lancs Online Parish Clerk etc.

Why don't you post all you know (and have discounted) and see if anything new can be turned up?
Perrins - Manchester and Staffs
Honan - Manchester and Ireland
Hogg - Manchester 19 cent
Anderson - Newcastle mid 19 cent
Boullen - London then Carlisle then Manchester
Comer - Manchester and Galway

Offline andycand

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Re: Should I just give up now?
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 29 December 12 23:23 GMT (UK) »
Hi

Have you ruled out the James William Wilson birth registered Manchester Sept Qtr 1859 Vol 8d Page 138

It is not unknown for first and middle names to be reversed.

Andy

Offline Billyblue

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Re: Should I just give up now?
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 29 December 12 23:26 GMT (UK) »
Romilly - NO!

I've just a couple of months ago found lots of info on my GGF Robert Wilson, searching since 1980!

And last year found info on a GGM that I'd been looking for for 25 years!

So never give up   ;D  ;D  ;D

Dawn M
PS  Have you looked in Scotland? Lots of Wilson people there too.  Curse of being such a popular surname, isn't it?!
Denys (France); Rossier/Rousseau (Switzerland); Montgomery (Antrim, IRL & North Sydney NSW);  Finn (Co.Carlow, IRL & NSW); Wilson (Leicestershire & NSW); Blue (Sydney NSW); Fisher & Barrago & Harrington(all Tipperary, IRL)

Offline Shizara

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Re: Should I just give up now?
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 29 December 12 23:49 GMT (UK) »
Is there a chance that on the 1891 census this is your William James Wilson?

William James Wilson, aged 30, born c1861, Kirkby Ireleth, Lancashire, England.  Son of William, occupation Slate Quarrier and Elizabeth Wilson?

I am guessing that stone mason / slate quarrier might loosely be connected.


KILLEY, MULCARE, FAIRCLOUGH, GRIFFITH, BREADNER, Lancashire, England.
BROOKS, COLE, PURCHASE, MAY, LITTELL, HOWELL, MULCARE, CANE, East London, England.
GODDARD, Saffron Walden, Essex
RAYMENT, Epping, Essex
WALKINSHAW, Walthamstow, Essex
BEANEY, Walthamstow, Essex

Offline Romilly

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Re: Should I just give up now?
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 30 December 12 10:45 GMT (UK) »

Many Thanks for all of the replies, - much appreciated.

Over the years I have tried all of the usual things... and have ordered many Birth Certs; which have not fitted with the info that I have. :-\ I've tried reversing the christian names, and just ordering ones for William Wilson, - but there are so many:-(

CaroleW, - I have the Marriage Cert for William James and Margaret Wilson. William James gives his father as, 'William Wilson (deceased) Occupation: Mason'. Accordingly I searched through the Censuses and Trade Directories looking for a William Wilson, Mason, in and around Manchester. None fit the dates...

I have combed Parish Records/the IGI/Family search, The National Archives - et al...
Because I thought one explanation for William James Wilson being missing from the Censuses might have been him being in the Services, - I have trawled Army and Navy records, - but no joy.

Shizara, - until the 1911 Census became available, I thought the Kirkby Ireleth chap was him too. However, on the 1911 that one is still single and living at home, working as a Labourer, - whereas my William James Wilson is living in Swansea with my Grandmother and their six sons, & running 'Wilson and Co', a painting and decorating company.

My late Uncle, (William Havelock Wilson) told me that as a boy he had visited members of his father's family in Manchester, and that his father came from Manchester. My father died when I was five, and so I haven't been able to ask him for any info... and anyone who might have been able to help with this is long dead. :-X

This is why I am wondering if I should just give up!
Romilly :'(
Any census information included in this post is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Researching:
Wilson, Warren, Dulston, Hooper, Duffin, Petty, Rees, Davies, Williams, Newman, Dyer, Hamilton, Edmeads, Pattenden.

Offline sillgen

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Re: Should I just give up now?
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 30 December 12 10:57 GMT (UK) »
Where does the "Havelock" come from?    Might be a good clue.

Offline Yasmina4

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Re: Should I just give up now?
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 30 December 12 14:13 GMT (UK) »
Did your grandfather have any more siblings?

Where did your grandfather stand in the family hierechy.sp Was William Havelock older than William James?

If there was an older sister she may  have been named after her mother whose surname may have been Havelock.  Just thoughts!

Sandra
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