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Can anyone give me some more help please.... I have William Brown born 1845 in BARNSTABLE Devon but doesn't show up on any index for 1851 or 1861. He married Virginia ? and his children were all born in Bristol (have him there in 1901).

Have you found on any earlier census than 1901 - ie 1891 or 1881

A big jump from 1901 back to 1851

1881 just for info

Name: William Brown
Age: 39
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1842
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Virginia Brown
Gender: Male
Where born: Devon, England

Civil parish: Bristol St Philip and Jacob Out
County/Island: Gloucestershire
Country: England

Street Address: 32 St Silas Place
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status: View image
Occupation: Smith

Registration district: Barton Regis
Sub-registration district: St Philip & St Jacob
ED, institution, or vessel: 52
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 2501
Folio: 161
Page Number: 45
Household Members: Name Age
William Brown 39
Virginia Brown 32
Virginia Brown 9
Richard Brown 2
Mary Rosewell Brown 7
Thomas Brown
Edward Scores 40
Charles Lewis 17

Class: RG11; Piece: 2501; Folio: 161; Page: 45; GSU roll: 1341603.

1871 census?? :-

1871 census transcription details for: St Silas Place, St Philip & Jacob, Bristol

National Archive Reference:
RG number: RG10
Piece: 2562
Folio: 74
Page: 40
Reg. District: Clifton
Sub District: St Philip & Jacob
Parish: St Philip & Jacob
Enum. District: 26
Ecclesiastical District:
City/Municipal Borough: Bristol

Address: St Silas Place, St Philip & Jacob, Bristol
County: Gloucestershire

Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born

BROWN, William Lodger M 25 1846 Devon
BROWN, Virginia Wife F 20 1851 Devon

Kath. x

Virginia Pearcy possibly. married 1870 Clifton district

You say that he was born in Barnstaple........do you mean that his birth was recorded in that registration district?

To find the surname of his wife.....look on freebmd for their marriage

http://www.freebmd.org.uk/

1871???

Name: William Brown
Age: 25
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1846
Relation: Lodger
Spouse's Name: Virginia Brown
Gender: Male
Where born: Collompton, Devon, England
Civil parish: St Philip and St Jacob
Ecclesiastical parish: St Silas
County/Island: Gloucestershire
Country: England
Registration district: Clifton
Sub-registration district: St Philip
ED, institution, or vessel: 26
Household schedule number: 233
Piece: 2562
Folio: 74
Page Number: 40
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Biss 60
Louisa Biss 42
Louisa Biss 19
William Brown 25
Virginia Brown 20

1881:
Name: William Brown
Age: 39
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1842
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Virginia Brown
Gender: Male
Where born: Devon, England
Civil parish: Bristol St Philip and Jacob Out
County/Island: Gloucestershire
Country: England
Street Address: 32 St Silas Place
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status:

View image
Occupation: Smith
Registration district: Barton Regis
Sub-registration district: St Philip & St Jacob
ED, institution, or vessel: 52
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 2501
Folio: 161
Page Number: 45
Household Members:
Name Age
William Brown 39
Virginia Brown 32
Virginia Brown 9
Richard Brown 2
Mary Rosewell Brown 7
Thomas Brown
Edward Scores 40
Charles Lewis 17



1891:
Name: William Brown
Age: 45
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1846
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Virginia Brown
Gender: Male
Where born: Bristol
Civil parish: St Philip and St Jacob
Ecclesiastical parish: St Silas
County/Island: Gloucestershire
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View image
Registration district: Barton Regis
Sub-registration district: St Philip
ED, institution, or vessel: 53
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 1986
Folio: 111
Page Number: 34
Household Members:
Name Age
William Brown 45
Virginia Brown 41
Virginia Brown 19
Rose Brown 17
Richard Brown 12
Thomas Brown 10
William Brown 6
Martha Brown 3
Ethel Brown 8/12


1901:
Name: William Brown
Age: 56
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1845
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Virginia Brown
Gender: Male
Where born: Barnstaple, Devon, England
Civil parish: Bristol
Ecclesiastical parish: St Silas
County/Island: Gloucestershire
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View image
Registration district: Bristol
Sub-registration district: St Philip and St Jacob
ED, institution, or vessel: 54
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 76
Piece: 2385
Folio: 70
Page Number: 12
Household Members:
Name Age
William Brown 56
Virginia Brown 53
Virginia F Brown 29
Mary R Brown 27
Richard Brown 23
Thomas Brown 19
Beatrice Brown 18
William Brown 16
Martha Brown 13
Ethel Brown 11
Winifred Brown 9



1911:
Name: William Brown
Age in 1911: 65
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1846
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Barnstable, Devon
Civil parish: Bristol
County/Island: Gloucestershire
Country: England
Street Address: 1 St Silas Street
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 41
Estimated Marriage Year: 1870
Occupation: Black smith
Registration district: Bristol
Registration District Number: 319
Sub-registration district: St George
ED, institution, or vessel: 18
Household schedule number: 71
Piece: 14964
Household Members:
Name Age
William Brown 65
Verginia Brown 63
Verginia Haward 39
Mary Rosewell Brown 37
Beatrice Brown 27
Martha Brown 25
Ethel Brown 21
Winifred Brown 18

Thanks for the above all, great help.
Only have 1901 census where I saw that he was living in Bristol in the 1870's since his children were born from then onwards . Hoping to find his parents . Couldn't find a marriage for him in Devonshire so he may have been married in Bristol, even though his wife Virginia was also born in Devon.
@Reggie....I know how to search on freeBMD and had found a marriage to Virginia Pearcey in Bristol but was unsure this was the correct one.since they both came from Devon. Its possible they moved together or met later, but can't confirm as yet without a certificate. Familysearch only showed him on 1901 and not before.

I'd say the marriage Jonesey has found is the correct one as it is in the same registration district in 1870 that they are living in the 1871 census.

In the 1871 census William gives his place of birth as Cullompton, Devon and Virginia gives her place of birth as Barnstaple.

If you buy the marriage certificate it should give his father's name which will help in finding him in the earlier census records.

Kath. x

Thanks again. William's birth was registered in Barnstable and Tawstock in that area, so think I will settle on William snr and Francis as parents. Just wondering now whether they had also moved to Bristol?

Marion,

Although William Brown Snr and Frances may well be your William's parents it is never wise to accept or "Settle on" something as fact without evidence to prove it. As Kath has stated your first move should be to obtain some certificates.

The 1870 marriage certificate hopefully will give you both William and Virginia's fathers details.

The 1843 birth certificate will give you the child's parents names to use as a cross reference to both the 1851 census and the father's details on the marriage certificate.

The birth certificate of one of William and Virginia's children will give you Virginia's maiden name which should hopefully confirm that the marriage found is the correct one.

I know that certificates cost money but if anyone is serious about accurately tracing their family history then they are essential.

Good luck

Thanks for the help I do appreciate your comments Jonesey. However this was initial research on behalf of someone else who needed to track some roots back to Barnstable based on family associations. Familysearch confirmed parents on marriages for this family that occurred in Bristol, so its enough for the time being and a basis for further research to find out when the family moved from Devon. I have started this as a favour and its now up to the person in question to spend out for the certificates now. I have got as far as I can go with my tree over the last 10 years and I daren't think about the cost of certificates and subscriptions now having reached some frustrating brick walls! But it has been a pleasure and I hope I can encourage others to pursue with patience by passing on my knowledge with the help of some lovely people on here. <3