Genealogy Chat

If 'Alfred' is the mystery Hancock then I think I have found the death ref for him - Amersham Vol 3a Page 227 June 1855.

Sorry - have been out for a couple of hours - thank you all so much, certainly sounds like we've found the right one's - will have to order some certs to confirm. Once again, many thanks Trudy

And this would seem likely to be Catherine's birth reference:- Catherine Eliza Hancock Sept. qtr. 1850, Amersham, VI, 316 Kath. x

With what Robin's found, the marriage I found sounds quite likely to be the right one. Kath. x

1861 is a bit odd -- in the Condition column she's unmarried, but in the Relationship column, she's shown as the Widow of the head of household. He must have been still there in spirit. In 1851 she's got a husband, Alfred, master carpenter, age 31, born Penn. Same 3 children all present and correct, Catherine is 7 months.

Trudy If it was me i would ask for a lookup for 1851 Looked at image, she is a WIDOW.

Just had a look on 1837online for marriages of any male Hancocks in Amersham prior to William's birth. There is this one that sounds likely, given William's middle name:- Alfred Hancock Sept. qtr. 1845, Amersham, 6, 408 I can't cross check it without Sarah's surname, but you could order the certificate, giving 'Sarah' as the brides first name as a checking point. I've checked the 1861 census image and although it does say 'unmarried' it also says 'widow' where it should say 'head'. Kath. x

It sounds as though William was illegitimate. Does the parish baptism register say William, son of Sarah and 'Unknown' Hancock or does it say William, son of Sarah Hancock? If the latter, I am sure he was illegitimate. If the father was known they would have put his full name. This is why Sarah is unmarried on the census, as opposed to married/widowed. nell

Thanks all, yes these are the children, but I haven't had chance to order the certs yet. Think that's going to be the next stage - just wondered if anyone had any other ideas. Trudy

This is the full reference for the birth Jim found:- Name: Hancock, William Alfred Record Type: Births Quarter: June Year: 1846 District: Amersham County: Buckinghamshire Volume: 6 Page: 323 It sounds promising. You could order it and give 'Sarah' as mother's first name as a checking point. And Charles:- Name: HANCOCK, Charles Henry Record Type: Births Quarter: March Year: 1848 District: Amersham County: Buckinghamshire Volume: 6 Page: 321 Kath. x

If Sarah is shown as unmarried in the census, I wouldn't have thought she was a widow. It should say widow or 'W' if she was. Have you managed to find the birth references for any of the children, as one of their birth certificates would help sort out the parents. Kath. x

I checked Penn as being in Amersham district HANCOCK, Charles Henry 1848 March Births Amersham Buckinghamshire Hancock, William Alfred 1846 June Births Amersham Buckinghamshire Might be worth a punt

I am trying to find someone in my partners side of the tree. She is his 3x great grandmother on his fathers side – I can trace the family back to his 2x ggrandparents – William Hancock/Mary Ann Carr, and I can find William listed with his mother on his the 1861 census, but no sign of a father. The info I have is that William was born c.1847 Penn, Buckinghamshire – son of Sarah(?) – don’t have a surname, and an ‘unknown’ male Hancock. He is shown on the 1861 with his mother and two siblings, Chas b.c.1849 and Katherine b.c.1851. Sarah is shown as unmarried, so I am presuming that she was a widow, but I have checked all marriages 5years before and up to the birth of William with no luck, and I have also checked deaths of ‘male’ Hancocks from the birth of the youngest sibling to the date of the census – again with no luck!!!!!! Anybody got any ideas where else I might find him – I’d really appreciate some help as I’m trying to put this together for my partners grandma’s birthday later in the year and would love to fill in this ‘gap’. Many thanks for any help. Trudy

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