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I'm trying to find out more info on my 2 x great grandfather Richard Smith 1787 Hatfield, Essex. He married a Ann Stockbridge and was a Coachman/Groom in the Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich, Kent. Has anyone got any information please on how I can find out more about Richards ancestors. I have tried the usual channels of genes, ancestry, igi etc. I now seem to have hit a brick wall. Any help will be gratefully received.

Hi Kathleen, With a family name like Smith, researchers are probably hiding in the cupboards or putting the question in the too hard basket. That is just your first problem. The second problem is the date of the research. I can never exactly remember what records are available from what year but I would imagine that 1787 presents a problem for accessing, birth, marriage and death indexes.

Have you tried going about it through Ann Stockbridge info, or through the Royal Artillery Barracks. Was he in the army? Are there army records from Woolwich Kent.

I noticed you mentioned IGI, did you try Ann's info on that web site. Have you tried Parish Registers. Which I might add are not my strong point.

I am not being much help. Hopefully there is a Smith expert out there who can fill in the gaps. Good luck!!

Never let it be said Aunty Sherlock hid from any challenge.

Is this by any chance the family in 1851??? I could not find them in the new Ancestry search, switched back to the old one and came up with this. Yes, I know you probably already have the info. Do I have the correct family.


Richard Smith
Age: 64
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1787
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Ann
Gender: Male
Where born: Hatfield, Essex, England

Civil parish: Woolwich
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
Town: Woolwich
County/Island: Kent
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability: View image

Registration district: Greenwich
Sub-registration district: Woolwich Arsenal
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 65
Household Members: Name Age
Richard Smith 64
Ann Smith 54
Caroline Smith 21
Henry Smith 19
William Smith 17
Esther Smith 14
Rebecca Smith 10
Robert Smith 10
John Barley 9
Adelaide Barley 3

Do you have dates for Ann. Birth or death. That would help narrow down the census information. Can not find them on the 1841 census. Not that that is much help with your search but it might fill in some gaps.

Many thanks for all of your help, I've only just found out how to reply to my messages, so apologies to everyone who answered my call for help.

Kath