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In 1871, Thomas and Elizabeth Hicks can be found in the census living in Jeffries Hill, Bristol with their 7 children from Thomas born in 1846 to Samuel born in 1858. Trouble is I can't find any of them anywhere before that census. Where were they in 1841, 1851 and 1861??? Any help?
Thanks
Steve

Just for background:
1871 England Census
Thomas Hicks Age: 44 Estimated birth year: abt 1827
Relation: Head Spouse's name: Elizabeth Hicks Gender: Male Where born: Hanham, Gloucestershire, England Civil Parish: Bitton
Ecclesiastical parish: Hanham Town: Hanham County/Island: Gloucestershire Country: England Registration district: Keynsham Sub-registration district: Bitton ED, institution, or vessel: 6
Household schedule number: 11

Thomas Hicks 44 Haulier's General (?)
Elizabeth Hicks 43 Laundress
Thomas Hicks 26
Hannah Hicks 24
John Hicks 22
Mary A Hicks 20
Ann Hicks 18
Robert Hicks 15
Samuel Hicks 13
Alice Brain 2 grndau

Source Citation: Class: RG10; Piece: 2499; Folio: 76; Page: 3; GSU roll: 835200.

Added: All born Hanham Gloucestershire

Where, according to that census or other info you might have, were they born?

When were Thomas and Elizabeth born?

Do you have their marriage cert? When did they marry and where?

Jill

According to the 1871 census Thomas and Elizabeth were born in Hanham, Gloucestershire.

Kath. x

The only marriage I can see in the Keynsham registration district seems a bit too early to be them:-

Name: Thomas Hicks
Year of Registration: 1840
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Keynsham
County: Gloucestershire, Somerset
Volume: 11
Page: 110

There is an Elizabeth Jones on the same page.

However if the birth year is correct from the census then this would be too early to be them.

Kath. x

The background info you have posted is dead right, Thomas and Elizabeth wre born in 1827 1nd 1828. Don't know when they married. Thanks.
Steve

Is this part of the family in the 1851 census (Elizabeth is described as "wife" but Thomas is not present):-

Name: Hannah Hicks
Age: 3
Estimated birth year: abt 1848
Relation: Daughter
Mother's name: Elizabeth Hicks
Gender: F (Female)
Where born: Hanham, Gloucestershire, England
Civil Parish: Hanham
Ecclesiastical parish: Hanham
County/Island: Gloucestershire
Country: England
Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability:

View image
Registration district: Keynsham
Sub-registration district: Bitton
ED, institution, or vessel: 4a
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 51
Household Members:
Name Age

Elizabeth Hicks 32
Harriett Hicks 9
Sarah Hicks 7
Thomas Hicks 5
Hannah Hicks 3
John Hicks 3 MO

Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 1944; Folio: 110; Page: 14; GSU roll: 221103-221104.

Kath. x

Thanks Kath. Did they get married at 13 in those days? Judging by the birth date of their first child, 1846, E lizabeth would have only been 18 when she had the child, This seems young to be married (unless she had to!. Maybe their ages on the 1871 census are wrong.
Steve

It looks as if their ages were wrong in the 1871 census going by the age given for Elizabeth in the 1851 census, so the marriage I found may be right.

It also looks as if they had two children before Thomas.

Kath. x

1881:-

Robert Hicks
Age: 22
Estimated birth year: abt 1859
Relation: Son
Mother's name: Betsy Hicks
Gender: Male
Where born: Hanham, Gloucestershire, England

Civil Parish: Bitton
County/Island: Gloucestershire
Country: England

Street address: Hanham
Education:

Employment status:

View image
Occupation: Labourer At Stone Quarry

Registration district: Keynsham
Sub-registration district: Bitton
ED, institution, or vessel: 7
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Betsy Hicks 60
Robert Hicks 22
Alice Brain 13

.

Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 2445; Folio: 114; Page: 20; GSU roll: 1341588.

Have you got any of the children's birth or marriage certificates?
Thanks

This must be them, the age must be wrong in 1871. Elizabeth was probably born in 1818 not 1828.
Steve

Hi Mrs Grumpy, yes Robert is one of the children and obviously Elizabeth is Betsy born around 1819. I wonder what happened to Thomas? I have no certificates for any of them as yet> thanks again.
Steve

Robert is 15 in 1871 but 22 in 1881. This is rather a large discrepancy.
Births Dec 1855
Hicks Robert Keynsham 5c 631
Births Dec 1858
Hicks Robert Keynsham 5c 681
Possibly cousins?

1861 England Census
Thomas Hicks
Age: 36 Estimated birth year: abt 1825 Relation: Head Spouse's name: Elizabh Hicks Gender: Male Where born: St George, Gloucestershire, England Civil Parish: Bristol St George Ecclesiastical parish: St Mark County/Island: Gloucestershire
Country: England Occupation: Haulier
Registration district: Clifton Sub-registration district: St George
ED, institution, or vessel: 1 Household schedule number: 49

Thomas Hicks 36
Elizabh Hicks 39
John Hicks 17
Susanna Hicks 15
Harriet Hicks 13
Alice Hicks 13
Thomas Hicks 11
Elizabeth Hicks 9
Robert Hicks 7
Maria Hicks 5
Fanny Hicks 3
Francis Hicks 6 MO

Source Citation: Class: RG9; Piece: 1731; Folio: 8; Page: 10; GSU roll: 542858.

Added:
These ages no good for children, just the Haulier seduced me into thinking correct family.

And in this family he is a haulier and she is a laundress, as in 1871, and correct address, but wrong husband and children.
I think you need to work back very carefully from whichever relative is definitely yours with all birth and marriage certificates.

1861 England Census
John Hicks Age: 37
Estimated birth year: abt 1824 Relation: Head Spouse's name: Elizabeth Hicks Gender: Male Where born: Hanham, Gloucestershire, England Civil Parish: Hanham Ecclesiastical parish: Hanham County/Island: Somerset Country: England
Street address: Jeffries Hill
Occupation: Haulier
Registration district: Keynsham Sub-registration district: Bitton ED, institution, or vessel: 6 Household schedule number: 37

John Hicks 37 all born Hanham
Elizabeth Hicks 35 Laundress
Hester Hicks 12
Daniel Hicks 9
Isaac Hicks 7
Samuel Hicks 4
John Hicks 1

Source Citation: Class: RG9; Piece: 1698; Folio: 84; Page: 8; GSU roll: 542852.

There are so many coincidences here but I am sure the real family is Thomas and Elizabeth Hicks born 1818/1819 plus their children starting with Harriet and Sarah. It just leaves the disappearance and reappearance of Thomas, the father, as the only mystery. I also need to find out who Alice Brain was and why she was living with the family for over 10 years. Thanks to all for the invaluable help.
Steve