Should I just give up now?

[Romilly]

Carol,

My parents married in 1946 in Lewisham Registry Office in South London. My father's parents had died in 1934 and 1937. The witnesses were my mother's brother and sister in law. There were no photos, - there are no photos of my parents together at all.

Re: censuses, it is disapponting that we can't see the later censuses, when the US 1940 is available to view!

Romilly.

[Redroger]

To Recap...

These are the dates & ages that I have for William James Wilson:

On his wedding day in Swansea on the 23rd June 1893, he gives his age as 32yrs.
On the 1901 Census for Wales (taken on the 31st March 1901) his age is given as 40yrs.
On the 1911 Census for Wales (taken on the 2nd April 1911) his age is given as 51yrs.
On his Death Cert, in London, in December 1937, his son gives his age as 77yrs.

Romilly.

Deduced from the above that if all the information shown is correct he MUST have been born on 1st April 1860. Does that help in any way? Is it possible to refine birth records to that amount of detail?

[FionaO]

Romilly,

You’re breaking my heart now – no parents wedding photo!

And I’ve got a rellie who got 11 years older per census, in 1871 he was 36, in 1881 he was 47 and in 1891 he was 58.

Fiona O if only they knew the troubles they gave us....

[Spidermonkey]

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.

So, one could consider that on the 1901 census there should be some Wilsons in Manchester that belong to you.  There are (just checked ) 110, so I wonder if it possible to look back through family groupings to see if there are any likely candidates 

[jc26red]

I found this the other day but couldn't follow it through as I don't have a current sub.

1881
25 Woodley st, Manchester
William Wilson unemployed house painter, b1833 Liverpool
Alice Wilson wife, b1837 Ireland

Right age frame, interesting occupation and wife's name the same as the one initially chosen for Ernest.... Certainly worth following through even if only to discount.

[Romilly]

To Recap...
These are the dates & ages that I have for William James Wilson:
On his wedding day in Swansea on the 23rd June 1893, he gives his age as 32yrs.
On the 1901 Census for Wales (taken on the 31st March 1901) his age is given as 40yrs.
On the 1911 Census for Wales (taken on the 2nd April 1911) his age is given as 51yrs.
On his Death Cert, in London, in December 1937, his son gives his age as 77yrs.
Romilly.

Deduced from the above that if all the information shown is correct he MUST have been born on 1st April 1860. Does that help in any way? Is it possible to refine birth records to that amount of detail?

Hi Redroger,

Long time no speak!

Many Thanks for your imput. I've checked through that Quarter for 1860, but no, it doesn't seem possible to pin it down that precisely...

I've concentrated on Lancashire, because he seems to have genuinely believed that he came from Manchester, - he gives there as POB on the 1901 and 1911 Censuses.

I've already ordered 10 Birth Certs which were incorrect, - and I think my husband will strangle me if I order any more...

Best Wishes, Romilly.

[Spidermonkey]

I found this the other day but couldn't follow it through as I don't have a current sub.

1881
25 Woodley st, Manchester
William Wilson unemployed house painter, b1833 Liverpool
Alice Wilson wife, b1837 Ireland

Right age frame, interesting occupation and wife's name the same as the one initially chosen for Ernest.... Certainly worth following through even if only to discount.

They are here on the 1861 census RG 9; Piece: 2665; Folio: 57; Page: 52 - no children shown.

[Romilly]

Romilly,
You’re breaking my heart now – no parents wedding photo!
And I’ve got a rellie who got 11 years older per census, in 1871 he was 36, in 1881 he was 47 and in 1891 he was 58.
Fiona O if only they knew the troubles they gave us....

Hi FionaO,

It does seem strange I know, the lack of photos, - but that's just how it is...

The only photos that I have of my father is one of him as a baby,one in RNR Uniform during WW1, and one of him and his brothers taken in 1926, - passed on to me by a half -Swiss Wilson cousin who sent it to me from Geneva.

My mother is of the belief that once you're dead it's all over and done with, and she destroyed any photos that she did have of my father when he died in 1957. Apparantly, in the 1950's the thought was that when a parent died leaving young children, - they should never be mentioned again, and the children would forget in time. Of course this is not the case, but certainly he was never mentioned during my childhood, there were no photos, - and everything that I do know... I have had to find out for myself.

Thanks everyone for all of the help on here.

Romilly.

[Romilly]

I found this the other day but couldn't follow it through as I don't have a current sub.
1881
25 Woodley st, Manchester
William Wilson unemployed house painter, b1833 Liverpool
Alice Wilson wife, b1837 Ireland
Right age frame, interesting occupation and wife's name the same as the one initially chosen for Ernest.... Certainly worth following through even if only to discount.

They are here on the 1861 census RG 9; Piece: 2665; Folio: 57; Page: 52 - no children shown.

Thats certainly worth a try, - thanks spidermonkey.

Romilly.