Find Ancestors

Wot spare time? This is a full-time hobby for a bored, retired-too-soon, used-to-work-60-hours-a-week accountant who hasn't got used to not using her brain. YOU are doing ME the favour by offering tricky problems to solve.

Good luck.

Dear Madmeg, we will do that. Thank you so much for all the help you have given us. We will be in contact with the Portsmouth records office very soon.
Award your self a gold star. Do you spend a lot of your spare time helping other members?

Very best wishes Bob

Then I would treat yourself to Ida Wilson Fisher's birth certificate, which will be a nice piece of history to have as well as confirming that her mother's maiden name was Smith.

Hi Margaret, your information about Henry being a stoker on HMS Crocodile ties in with other information I`ve been sent by other kind-hearted members. Thanks a lot, Bob

Hi Madmeg, we don`t have any certificates at all except for Ida Wilson`s death. The name Wilson is aparently after a famous sea captian so my mother-in-law always said. As she was born illagitimately in south Africa,we don`t have a birth cetificate for her either! We have however found the record of her coming to England aged 2 with Ida Wilson Fisher, so that is why we are sure that you found the correct Henry & Sophia marraige.
I agree 28 is a mature age to marry in a Naval town. Perhaps they met & Henry went on a long sea voyage & she waited for him. Perhaps this is just a romantic notion.
Bob

The 1881 census has a Sophia Smith, born 1862, Portsmouth. She's single, a servant in the home of Eliza Hayward, grocer.
Henry Fisher, 24, born Portsmouth is a stoker aboard the "Crocodile" a navy vessel.

How can we be sure the marriage of Henry to Sophia Smith in Jun 1890 is the right pair? I'm wanting you to tell me you have your wife's grandmother's birth certificate, and it confirms the name.

It bothers me a little that Ida's middle name is Wilson. It also bothers me a little that Sophia Ann appears to have been 28 when she married, in a town over-run with men.

Hi Margaret, my wife`s Mother (a Fisher) was born out of wedlock & not talked about in the family. Previous knowledge has been hearsay & patchy, but she recognises many of the names. We have made real progress this afternoon thanks to you & SatNav being so generous with your time.
Bob
Realise you are not Margaret, sorry

The marriage?

Marriages Jun 1890 (>99%)
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Fisher Henry Portsea 2b 881
Smith Sophia Ann Portsea 2b 881

Edit: Oops! Sorry Madmeg you'd already posted that. I must learn to read the threads more thoroughly.

bINGO! OUR MESSAGES CROSSED AS YOU`RE QUICKER AT TYPING THAN ME.
tHE FIRST hENRY IS CORRECT AS THE YOUNGEST CHILD iDA IS MY WIFE`S gRANDMOTHER. wHAT A LOT OF INFORMATION i HAVE FOUND OUT. tHANKS A MILLION.
bEST WISHES bOB

The child, Henry J on the 1901 census has left home by 1911.

Bob, I went back and checked the occupation after I'd sent the message.

I wouldn't think Henry's middle name was Harry, I'm guessing he first said "Henry" and changed his mind if he was known as Harry.

How do you know his wife was a Smith? You would need the birth cert of one of the children to prove that.

Sat Nav's 1881 Henry is a Stoker.

1911
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FISHER, Henry Head Married M 54 1857 Naval Pen General Al L G B Hants Portsmouth VIEW
FISHER, Sophia Anne Wife Married
20 years F 48 1863 Home Hants Portsmouth VIEW
FISHER, George Albert Son Single M 17 1894 Invalid Hants Portsmouth VIEW
FISHER, May Sophia Daughter F 12 1899 Scholar Hants Portsmouth VIEW
FISHER, Ida Wilson Daughter F 10 1901 Scholar Hants Portsmouth VIEW
FISHER, Rose Lena Daughter F 8 1903 Scholar Hants Portsmouth VIEW
FISHER, Frank Percy Son M 6 1905 Scholar Hants Portsmouth VIEW

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RG number:
RG14 Piece:
5530 Reference:
RG14PN5530 RG78PN252 RD90 SD2 ED9 SN113

Registration District:
Portsmouth Sub District:
Kingston and East Southsea EnumerationDistrict:
9 Parish:
Portsmouth

Address:
20 Stowe Road Asylum Road Milton P'mouth County:
Hampshire

So do these children mean anything to you?

1881
Henry Fisher abt 1857 Portsmouth, Hampshire, England Vessels, Royal Navy

Here's the other one, by good luck the mother-in-law is with them - not Smith. But how do you know "your" Henry married a Smith?

1901 England Census
about Henry Fisher
Name: Henry Fisher
Age: 40
Estimated birth year: abt 1861
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Sophia
Gender: Male
Where born: Patersfield, Hampshire, England

Civil parish: Headley
Ecclesiastical parish: Headley All Saints
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Alton
Sub-registration district: Binsted
ED, institution, or vessel: 8
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 64
Household Members: Name Age
Henry Fisher 40
Sophia Fisher 40
Charles Fisher 9
Frederick Fisher 8
William Fisher 7
Ellen Fisher 6
Jane Fister 5
Emily Fister 2
Doris Fister 1
Jane Semen 60

Hang on a minute, Bob, it isn't that simple. I have found two Henry Fishers, neither of which has a middle name of John, and in 1891 neither of them was born in 1857. One is a gas stoker in the RN.

There are two on the 1901 census as well, neither has anything to do with the navy. I have posted one. Do you know if these are the children of your Henry (John)?

These are census records. They would only show parents if they were living with them.

1901 England Census
about Henry Fisher
Name: Henry Fisher
Age: 44
Estimated birth year: abt 1857
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Sophia A
Gender: Male
Where born: Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

Civil parish: Portsmouth
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
Town: Portsmouth
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Portsmouth
Sub-registration district: North End and Buckland
ED, institution, or vessel: 39
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 22
Household Members: Name Age
Henry Fisher 44
Sophia A Fisher 39
Henry J Fisher 9
George A Fisher 7
May S Fisher 2
Ida W Fisher 10 months

But now he's a general labourer at the union workhouse.

Madmeg, looks like you found my Henry Fisher & Sophia Smith. Does it list Parents in the record?
Many thanks Bob

The first one, Henry Harry, is in the Royal Navy.

Two possibles in 1891, but neither born 1857:

1891 England Census
about Sophia Ann Fisher
Name: Sophia Ann Fisher
Age: 29
Estimated birth year: abt 1862
Relation: Wife
Spouse's name: Henry Harry
Gender: Female
Where born: Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

Civil parish: Portsea
Ecclesiastical parish: All Saints
Town: Portsmouth
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Portsea Island
Sub-registration district: Kingston
ED, institution, or vessel: 17
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Henry Harry Fisher 31
Sophia Ann Fisher 29


1891 England Census
about Henery Fisher
Name: Henery Fisher
Age: 30
Estimated birth year: abt 1861
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Sophia
Gender: Male
Where born: Steep, Hampshire, England

Civil parish: Headley
Ecclesiastical parish: Headley
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Alton
Sub-registration district: Binsted
ED, institution, or vessel: 9
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Henery Fisher 30
Sophia Fisher 30
John Fisher 27

Hi Madmeg, thanks for replying.
I think he married a Sophia Smith & had several children, living in Portsmouth. He was in the Navy. I`m really keen to know who his parents/ mother was.
Thanks Bob