Find Ancestors

I'm trying to find William Taylor, who was alive in 1858 for his son's marriage. I cannot find him in any census. He is listed as a stonemason but the closest I can find that would be of the appropriate age has another son of nine years old by the same name as Henry. I'm hoping you have some advise. Here are the details. Henry Taylor was born around 1830, so William would need to have been born 1800 or so. He was from Aspull originally and also a stonemason. I believe his wife's name was Margaret or Rebekah or a combination, I just can't seem to find him. Any ideas? Sorry, should have mentioned that it is in Hindley/Wigan area of Lancashire Thanks, Denise

There is a Henry Taylor in the 1851 census in Aspull, whose mother is called Margaret, but she is a widow. Are you sure that your William was definitely alive for his son's wedding? If you are basing this on the fact that he is named on the marriage ceretificate, then just because it doesn't say deceased, doesn't mean that he is deceased. It depends how the question was asked. 'What's your father's name?' - answer William Taylor - then doesn't mention the fact that he has died. Could this be the case? Kath. x

According to the marriage certificate he was not listed as deceased in 1858. His son Henry was actually already married in 1851 living in Wigan. He was widowed sometime afterwards and then remarried in 1858 in Haigh. It just seems really odd that I can't find him in any of the census, even 1841, which I had done years ago. Denise

Do you know he was alive for his sons marriage or is it that he wasnt recorded as deceased on the cert. Unless the vicar asked specifically if the father was alive then often only the name was recorded. I have two certs where dad isnt listed as deceased altho he was!!

Unless you have a baptism for Henry, you won't be sure that William was his father. Its possible Henry was illegitimate and made up a father for his marriage cert. Nell

Yikes, I never thought of that. I always thought the certificates would have been accurate....so far they have been. Maybe that's my mistake. How do you get around it since William Taylor would be such a common name? Denise

Nell, thats true, some things I never thought of. Do I just check the indexes and take a stab at everyone named Henry Taylor? None of the churches that my ancestors came from seem to be accessable on the internet....help please. Thanks, Denise

Have you found Henry's first marriage certificate to see if the father is named as William on there? Kath. x

Tell me about it !! thats my FIL name too and we have hit a great big wall with his father. Da d was born 1901 & have him & his mum on the 1901 with two sisters. Dad was in a childrens home in Birmingham from an early age, & cant find any info on his dad. And would you believe his dad was Henry Taylor!!!

No, don't have the first marrige certificate. I don't know the bride's maiden name. I did find an uncle living with them in the 1851 census by the last name of Lawson. Would you assume that would be her maiden name? Is there some way to view anything like this rather than having to pay for each certificate? I'm in the US and can't do anything in person. Thanks for the advise. Denise

If you know that Henry was born about 1830 and he was married by 1851 then you can look through the marriage index (free on Ancestry at the moment) from about 1846ish to 1851 and look for the marriage of any Henry Taylor. You can click to see others on the page and look for someone with the same name as Henry's wife on the 1851 census. To see the certificate you have to buy it unfortunately. You can buy online at £7 per certificate from the GRO in Southport. Kath. x

Thanks for all your help. I'll try that....great ideas. I've not done this for a number of years when everything was done by mail. Sorry to be so naive about this but is there an online source I can go to, or an address I can contact. Thanks again. Denise

denise, have found this one,1851 william tayler, age 50, abt 1801, born. cliveger,lancashire, with wife margaret and also step-daughter and step-son, gwen.

This is the online address for ordering certificates. You need to find the GRO reference first, otherwise the certificates cost more. The GRO index is what you can look up for free on Ancestry at the moment.:- http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificate/index.asp#0 When ordering online, when it asks 'Is the full GRO Reference Known', make sure you check the 'yes' box, otherwise they charge more. Kath. x

Thanks to both of you. I'll check out the census and see if he is 'the one'. Also for the address for the certs. It all makes perfect sense once its been pointed out. I just don't know why I didn't think of it. Denise

Sorry Denise, Just realised I made a mistake. You can't click to see others on page on the Beta version of the births, marriages and deaths on Ancestry, but you can do it if you find the marriage on Ancestry's FreeBMD version. Sorry if this has confused you. Kath. x

Kathleen thanks again. I didn't even know that was there. I poked around a bit, but figured I'll need some time to look at it all. Denise