Genealogy Chat

Received a copy of my gran's birth certificate yesterday, which gave her father's name and mother's maiden name. Have found family on 1901 census, but can't find any trace of their marriage, or of my great grandfather's birth. He was born around 1865, she 5 years later. I know their place of birth and marriage, but have come to a dead end. I suppose they could have been telling porkies and perhaps weren't legally married, but that doesn't explain why I can't find his birth. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Pam

If you post the details from the certficate here we may be able to help! It's possible his birth wasn't registered as it wasn't compulsory until the 1870's. Sarah

If you put their names down perhaps someone can help. Jeanette

Thanks Sarah. I'm at work at the moment, but will do it when I get home. Pam

Maybe you only looked for his birth reg on FreeBMD or Ancestry? Their transcripts are not complete for all the 1860's. If you need to see which years are transcribed, go to FreeBMD Homepage, then Information and then Statistics, Coverage Charts and then Births. If you need to search the missing quarters you would need to use 1837online (1837-2002) or Family Relatives (1866-1920) Marriages have a few small gaps in the mid 1880's too on FreeBMD/Ancestry. Sarah

Thanks Sarah, I'll try 1837 next time I buy some units. In the meantime - just in case anyone can help - here's the information: Charles Henry Oxenham (great-grandfather) born around 1865-67 in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan Sarah Ann Phillips (great grandmother) born around 1870 in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan First child was born in 1888/89, so I'm assuming they got married a year or so before that. Both were still living in Glamorgan at the time of the 1901 census.

Hi This looks like them in 1891 at 50 Wind St, Merthyr T Oxenham, Charles Hy abt 1870 Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Head Aberdare Glamorgan Oxenham, Elizabeth J abt 1890 Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Daughter Aberdare Glamorgan Oxenham, Sarah A abt 1871 Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Wife Aberdare Glamorgan That suggests that Charles Henry is quite flexible about his age! Christine

But if you've found them in 1901, who is this 'single' man: Charles Oxenham abt 1872 Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales Crew Vessels Durham - steward on the SS Duke of Buckingham 1891 Charles was a 'fitter'. Christine

Here he is in 1881; ***Charles H. Oxenham abt 1870 Aberdare Son 9 Canon St Lucius Hotel, Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Elizabeth Jane Oxenham abt 1866 Aberdare Daughter 9 Canon St Lucius Hotel, Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Martha Oxenham abt 1841 Merthyr Tydfil Wife 9 Canon St Lucius Hotel, Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Rosina Oxenham abt 1868 Aberdare Daughter 9 Canon St Lucius Hotel, Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Rudolph Oxenham abt 1877 Aberdare Son 9 Canon St Lucius Hotel, Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Samuel Oxenham abt 1831 Duloirton, Somerset, England Head 9 Canon St Lucius Hotel, Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Willie Oxenham abt 1873 Aberdare Son 9 Canon St Lucius Hotel, Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Christine

this looks like Sarah's birth: Name: Phillips, Sarah Ann Record Type: Births Quarter: December Year: 1871 District: Merthyr Tydfil County: Breconshire Glamorgan Mid Glamorgan Volume: 11a Page: 403 However, her name isn't unusual - even in that area - so it may be a different Sarah. Marriages give the game away - there are two for Sarah A Phillips at around the right time in the Merthyr area, but the records transcribed have full sets of names - no spares to be matched up with an untranscribed Charles for you. Christine

Here's the set of names in 1871 (let us know if you want the references for these) keeping the Queen's Hotel Baby Oxenham abt 1871 Aberdare Daughter Aberdare Glamorgan ***Charles Oxenham abt 1870 Aberdare Son Aberdare Glamorgan Elizth Oxenham abt 1866 Aberdare Daughter Aberdare Glamorgan Martha Oxenham abt 1841 Merthyr, Glamorgan, Wales Wife Aberdare Glamorgan Rosina Oxenham abt 1868 Aberdare Daughter Aberdare Glamorgan Saml Oxenham abt 1830 Dulcot, Somerset, England Head Aberdare Glamorgan (described as a 'plumber etc') Christine

Here's Charles & Sarah Ann's first child Samuel living with grandparents in 1891: Phillips, Joseph Head abt 1837 b Laugharne, Pembrokeshire, Wales Mason Phillips, Ann Wife abt 1835 b Mydrim, Carmarthenshire, Wales Phillips, Daniel Son abt 1863 b Laugharne, Pembrokeshire, Wales Coal Miner Williams, John L Nephewabt 1874 b Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Coal Miner Oxenham, Samuel H Grandson abt 1889 b Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales living at 5 Mary Street, Aberdare.

Pamela - I started out assuming that couples would have married 'a year or so' before the birth of their first child, but the only 19th c or earlier couples in my tree who didn't have a 'bun in the oven' when they got married are the clergymen! I would search backwards from the quarter in which the first child was born if I were you. Kate.

Some marriages were missed as I have found. Hunted high and low in the indexing, but then found it in the Church Records, but only handy if they came from the same village. One name can be mis spelt but two is unsual. My g grandfathers name Simpkins is under Timpkins of all things. Got it by my g grandmothers name. Another is even if you find it in the indexing the page number can be wrong. Found one on my husbands wife & husband had a different page number. I email them after I had my £3 back and told them both number and explain that no one said to include both numbers, They checked it out and sent me a copy but I could still kept my £3. Hows that for service Irene

Thank you all so much! That's really helpful and I appreciate all your efforts on my behalf. I now have quite a bit to go on and can get back to my research. Love Pam