Brassingtons of Staffordshire

[Menfreya]

My Great Grandmother was called Bertha Brassington, she married Charles Thursfield. Apparently they divorced and he went on to marry again. My problem is finding any information about her. I think she must have been about 6 in 1901, but I don't know who her parents were or where exactly she was born.
My mum seems to remember she lived with/ married an Indian doctor by the name of R Signa.
Where on earth is best place to start. I've looked on the census 1901 but there a number of possibilities.
If any one has any ideas they would be much appreciated.
Thanks

[piedstilt]

Hi Menfreya,

Since you have exact names for a marriage, the best thing might be to track down that certificate. This will give you the ages of both Bertha and Charles and the names and occupations of their fathers, which will put you on the right track when you start hunting back through the censuses.

You can do this online through 1837online. com (a paying site) or I imagine if you are in Britain you can do it manually.

Hope this helps get you started.

Ros

[Menfreya]

Hi Ros,

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll give then a go as I know quite a lot about Charles.
I'm quite new to this family history research, but I now I've kinda got the bug!

[madabout]

Hi
I research the Thursfield family mainly. Charles & Bertha were married in 1914. Bertha Brassingtons on the 1901 census are
 Bertha Brassington  2 Yorkshire Austerlands Yorkshire West Riding Springhead   
 Bertha Brassington  4 Staffs Leek Coventry Coventry   
 Bertha Brassington  6 Staff Betley Staffordshire Betley Entire   
 Bertha Brassington  7 Staff Stafford Stafford Stoke On Trent   
 Bertha Brassington  10 Staffs Heaton Stafford Leek   
 Bertha Brassington  15 Derby Somersal Stafford Uttoxeter General Servant Domestic
 Bertha Brassington  19 Staffordshire Betley Leicester Leicester Formerly The Newarke   
 Bertha Brassington  27 Worcests Radferton Warwickshire Warwick St Nicholas   
 Bertha Brassington  33 Staffs Weston On Trent Staffordshire Hanley

Sorry not much help. Your next step is to access the 1901 census & get a full read out for Bertha.

[Menfreya]

Hi madabout.

1914 sounds perfect as my nan was born 1915.

I am looking at the census as suggested at the moment for Bertha.

Do you know anything about Charles' second marriage at all?

Thanks for the help

[madabout]

Hi Menfreya
Yes Phyllis is on the civil registration index 1915 Stoke on Trent mothers maiden name Brassington.
I have put some details about Charles 2nd marriage on the rootsweb site(family tree look up Charles Thursfield) It's free to look at if you haven't used it before. http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:1986841&id=I98771277
best wishes
madabout

[Menfreya]

Thanks madabout.

I have been onto that site.

I'm guessing from what my mum has told me that my nan lived with William and Elizabeth Thursfield as a child.

It was strange though to see that my nan had step-brothers and sister. We always thought, as she did, that she was an only child.

[madabout]

I have been in touch with close family members & they didn't mention Phyliss. They are some on the Genes Reunited site. I am a member so will try & get them to look at this site.
All sounds a bit sad to me.

[Menfreya]

Cheers madabout

I may be able to share some knowledge with them about my nan's side. But you're right, it is sad when families get divided like that.

It was actually through Rootsweb that I discovered Charles had married again. All I knew up to then was that he had moved somewhere near London when He and Bertha divorced. I guessed his other family knew little of Phylis as the family tree ended with her.

Regards
menfreya