Choosing which root

[avm228]

There is a Harry Simmonds 3 months old in Lewisham in 1881, son of George (a miller) and Elizabeth, who looks worth investigating.

Update: no, he can be traced later on and isn't yours.

[baldangel]

There is a Harry Simmonds 3 months old in Lewisham in 1881, son of George (a miller) and Elizabeth, who looks worth investigating.

Why would you choose that George rather than the George from Old Ford?

[avm228]

There is a Harry Simmonds 3 months old in Lewisham in 1881, son of George (a miller) and Elizabeth, who looks worth investigating.

Why would you choose that George rather than the George from Old Ford?

I am not choosing anyone, just looking at possible candidates. I have now followed up the Lewisham chap (born 16 Dec 1880) and he doesn't seem to be yours.

[baldangel]

There is a Harry Simmonds 3 months old in Lewisham in 1881, son of George (a miller) and Elizabeth, who looks worth investigating.

Update: no, he can be traced later on and isn't yours.

So, in theory, that only leaves Old Ford George?

[avm228]

There is a Harry Simmonds 3 months old in Lewisham in 1881, son of George (a miller) and Elizabeth, who looks worth investigating.

Update: no, he can be traced later on and isn't yours.

So, in theory, that only leaves Old Ford George?

Not necessarily. A Harry could have been born Henry; a Simmonds could have been born Simmonds or Symonds or Symons.  Or birthplace could be somewhere other than England & Wales.

I would suggest you access the 1939 Register (you can buy credits) to get that birthdate otherwise there is nothing sufficiently firm to go on.

[baldangel]

There is a Harry Simmonds 3 months old in Lewisham in 1881, son of George (a miller) and Elizabeth, who looks worth investigating.

Update: no, he can be traced later on and isn't yours.

So, in theory, that only leaves Old Ford George?

Not necessarily. A Harry could have been born Henry; a Simmonds could have been born Simmonds or Symonds or Symons.

I would suggest you access the 1939 Register (you can buy credits) to get that birthdate otherwise there is nothing sufficiently firm to go on.

That is my route then, thanks for your help.

[iluleah]

So, in theory, that only leaves Old Ford George?

No, there are many Harry Simmonds born around 1880/82 with a George as father, his registered name may not be Harry or Simmonds......... keep an open mind, expand your research more than ancestry.com and cross reference the information on each and every record you find.

[baldangel]

So, in theory, that only leaves Old Ford George?

No, there are many Harry Simmonds born around 1880/82 with a George as father, his registered name may not be Harry or Simmonds......... keep an open mind, expand your research more than ancestry.com and cross reference the information on each and every record you find.

Thanks, this looks so much easier on Who Do You Think You Are!

[avm228]

The Harry in Old Ford was 5 months old in the 1881 census; his birth was registered Dec qtr 1880 Poplar as Henry Simmonds, mother's maiden name Barrett. 

He can be traced later on.  As Harry Simmonds he married Lilian Bowmer (aka May Lilian Bowmer) in West Ham in 1901. She died as May L Simmonds in Islington in 1919.

Harry then remarried to Eva G Tilley or Mayhew (one of these will be her maiden and one her previous married name) in Edmonton in 1926.