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Hi,

Is anybody able to offer any info on the Drayford family? I don't think there are many of them but am drawing a blank with my great-great-Grandfather John/Joseph. I believe his Father was William Thomas born circa 1848 but any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Sinead

where did they come from

could this be william in 1881
1881 England Census about William Thos. Drayford
Name: William Thos. Drayford
Age: 33
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1848
Relation: Prisoner
Gender: Male
Where born: Hanley, Staffordshire, England

Civil parish: Stafford St Mary
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street Address: "Her Majestys Prison" Stafford
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status:

View image
Occupation: Coal Miner

Registration district: Stafford
Sub-registration district: Stafford
ED, institution, or vessel: Her Majestys Prison
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 2690
Folio: 116
Page Number: 12

There is this birth but not seeing him in 1881

Births Jun 1871 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drayford Joseph - Stoke T. 6b 261



Also this one which again I can't see her in 1881
Births Mar 1873
Drayford Elizabeth - Stoke T. 6b 235

When you say you "believe his father is William", does this mean that you have John/Joseph's marriage cert with his father named as William? If so, what is William's occupation.

Where and when was John/Joseph born and why the two names?

Can you please post census details of him after his marriage (if you have them)?

I'm not sure whether my great great Grandfather was called John or Joseph as I have found different docs under different names and both my Nan and great Aunt knew him as Jack. I have found birth cert with Joseph but census with John on.

My Great-grandad was born on a barge and so were some of his brothers but I think they were originally based around Staffordshire.

I haven't been able to find a marriage cert for John/Joseph but think he married a lady called Mary-Anne based on the 1911 census which lists Mary Drayford and John Drayford as living on a barge in Woolwich, I know this is correct as my great-Grandfather is on it.

I think the William Thomas listed above is the Father of my John/Joseph based on location, age and the limited number of Drayfords out there but can't find anything else about William other than on the census mentioned above.

1901

Name: John Drayford
Age: 27
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1874
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Mary Drayford
Gender: Male
Where born: Stoke Upon Trent, Staffordshire, England

Civil parish: Wolverhampton
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Wolverhampton
Sub-registration district: Wolverhampton Eastern
ED, institution, or vessel: 9
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 150
Piece: 2680
Folio: 16
Page Number: 24
Household Members: Name Age
John Drayford 27 Canal Boatman
Mary Drayford 25
William Drayford 1
John T Drayford 4

1891

Name: John Drayford
Age: 17
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1874
Relation: Crew
Gender: Male
Where born: Stone, Staffordshire, England

Civil parish: Wolverhampton
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Wolverhampton
Sub-registration district: Wolverhampton Eastern
ED, institution, or vessel: 43
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 2236
Folio: 137
Page Number: 2

This birth certificate will give the mother's maiden surname.

Births Jun 1897 Drayford John Thomas Wolverhampton 6b 599

I think you need to get your great-grandfather's birth cert. That would give you his mother's maiden name and then you could search for John's marriage cert, which would confirm his father's name and occupation.

The William Thomas in prison is a coal miner.

the 1911 says they have been married for 16 years their eldest is 14 and born Wolverhampton so they may have married in that area.

???

Name: John Drayford
Birth Date: abt 1874
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1959
Age at Death: 85
Registration district: Nuneaton
Inferred County: Warwickshire
Volume: 9c
Page: 853


Name: John T Drayford
Birth Date: abt 1898
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1963
Age at Death: 65
Registration district: Nuneaton
Inferred County: Warwickshire
Volume: 9c
Page: 1220

Co-incidence or interesting not sure which.

There are only 2 Drayford marriages on FreeBMD up to 1911.

This is one of them.

Marriages Sep 1890 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drayford Mary Ann Wolverhampton 6b 844
Hampton John Wolverhampton 6b 844
YATES James Wolverhampton 6b 844
YORK Annie Emily Wolverhampton 6b 844


If she married Yates, this could be her?

1891

Name: Mary Ann Yates
Age: 37
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1854
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: James Yates
Gender: Female
Where born: Hanley, Staffordshire, England

Civil parish: Stoke Upon Trent
Ecclesiastical parish: Shelton
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Stoke Upon Trent
Sub-registration district: Shelton
ED, institution, or vessel: 27
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 2174
Folio: 95
Page Number: 2
Household Members: Name Age
James Yates 39
Mary Ann Yates 37
John William Yates 14
Mary Ellen Yates 10

1901

Name: Mary Ann Yates
[Mary Ann Brunt]
Age: 47
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1854
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: James Yates
Mother's Name: Sarah Brunt
Gender: Female
Where born: Shelton, Staffordshire, England

Civil parish: Hanley
Ecclesiastical parish: Shelton St Mark
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Stoke upon Trent
Sub-registration district: Shelton
ED, institution, or vessel: 26
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 1
Piece: 2607
Folio: 43
Page Number: 1
Household Members: Name Age
James Yates 49 Collier underground
Mary Ann Yates 47
Mary Ellen Yates 20
Sarah Brunt 74



Her first marriage - there is a male missing here.

Marriages Sep 1873 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brunt Mary Ann Stoke T. 6b 298
Goodwin William Stoke T. 6b 298
Stanley Christina Stoke T. 6b 298

This could be the missing man:

LEDBATTER Ephraim Stoke T. 6b 2_8
LEDBETTER Ephraim Stoke T. 6b 298*

Staffs bmds confirm Mary Ann Brunt married Ephraim Ledbetter.

I think the 1890 marriage ends up as:
1891 census transcription details for: Canal Boat, Wolverhampton
RG number: RG12 Piece: 2236 Folio: 137 Page: 2

Reg. District: Wolverhampton Sub District: Wolverhampton Eastern
HAMPTON, John Crew Married M 23 1868 Master Boy
Stone
Staffordshire
HAMPTON, Polly Crew Married F 21 1870
Stone
Staffordshire
DRAYFORD, John Crew Single M 17 1874 Mate
Stone
Staffordshire

So there's definitely a connection there!!!!

I keep wondering if the name has changed from Drakeford or Trafford or something!!

Maureen

Not that it helps but John Hampton is still a Canal Boatman in 1901. I was hoping that the names of the children would give us a lead.

Name: Mary A Hampton
Age in 1901: 30
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1871
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: John Hampton
Gender: Female
Where born: Stoke Upon Trent, Staffordshire, England

Civil parish: Llangollen
Ecclesiastical parish: Llangollen
Town: Trevor Isa
County/Island: Denbighshire
Country: Wales

Street Address: Difficult to read but living on a Boat

Registration district: Corwen
Sub-registration district: Llangollen
ED, institution, or vessel: 7
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 278
Piece: 5248
Folio: 67
Page Number: 42
Household Members: Name Age
John Hampton 32
Mary A Hampton 30
Mary E Hampton 9
Eliza Hampton 8
Joseph Hampton 7
Clarah Hampton 2
Harriet Hampton 1

I am confused. I must be missing something

John Drayford and Mary Drayford are on the 1901 and 1911 census with my Great-Uncles and Great Grandad. The 1911 census says they have been married for 16 years and and that John was 37 which would tie in with him being born in 1874.

I have searched under the births for all Drayfords and the only one in the 1870s is a Joseph Drayford.

I have searched under marriages for Drayford and the only one I can find is of a Mary Anne Drayford. Even if she got married again, wouldn't I be able to find a marriage record for John/Joseph Drayford?

I am new to this but am thinking I am doing something wrong so I think I will do as suggested and get my Great-Grandfather's birth cert to see if that sheds any light.

Come back when you have got the birth cert, Sinead. Post all the info from it and we will see if that helps.

It is possible they never married or the name could be mistranscribed.

Do you know if there were any children born after the 1911 census?

Hi, I've been trying to do my Mums family tree, her maiden was Drayford, and her Father, who was John Audley Drayford, born in Bedworth in 1923, he had a brother called Harold (he never married) and a sister called Winnifred. Sadly my Mums dad passed away in 1958 at the age of 35, so we know nothing else of his family apart from what my Nan has told us. His father was also called John Drayford and his Grandfather, and we know they worked on the canals and and were miners. I've come across two John Drayfords on the 1911 census, one from the Wolverhampton area, which we presumed were my Grandads Grandparents, due to location, names etc but after talking to my Nan again, we understand that John had two sisters, names unknown. After looking again, we have come across another John Drayford, who on the 1911 census lived in Skipton,Yorks, children, John Drayford (poss my grandads Dad) his brothers and two sisters.

I'm new to this family history and am now completely stuck as to which is my mums Great Grandparents! Not sure if they are all related some where along the line.

Any help would be much appreciated. Many thanks Georgina

Hi Georgina and welcome to the boards.

You have posted on Sinead's thread - she may not still be following it. If you click on her name, you can send her a PM (personal message) to see if your two families are connected.

To trace your own tree, the best advice is to start with what you know and work backwards. If you look on this site:

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl

you should be able to find his birth registration which would have his mother's maiden surname. You can then buy his birth cert which will have his mother's full name. Then, using the same site you should be able to get their marriage cert, which will give their ages, occupations and father's names and occupations. You will probably then be back to before 1911 and can start searching the census.

If you get stuck, come back to the boards and start a thread of your own, giving all the info you have.

Good luck!

Oh, dear, this looks as if it is going to be as difficult as Sinead's search!

I have looked on freebmd but cannot find John Audley's birth! I can find a Harold and a Winnifred, but they have different mother's maiden names!

Did John Audley marry a Beatrice Hadley in 1946? If so, do you have the marriage cert?

Edit:

Could this be John's birth reg:

Births Mar 1923 (>99%)
Drakeford John A Amos Foleshill 6d 1172

There is also this birth:

Births Sep 1928 (>99%)
DRAYFORD Winifred F Amos Foleshill 6d 1054

and this marriage:

Marriages Dec 1920 (31%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drakeford John T Amos Foleshill 6d 1504
Amos Winifred A Drakeford Foleshill 6d 1504