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Arghhhh......!

I have four men - Abraham, John, Benjamin and Samuel. All were born before 1837, so I looked on the IGI to find their parents. All have parents called William and Mary. Here's where my problem starts. How do I tell which ones are from the same family? I have looked for siblings, and found about 30 all born around the same time, with the same parents. They can't /all/ be siblings, can they?

I think you have hit upon commandment 95 (?) And all the men in the village shall marry women of the same name. I think the only way would be for you to go and check the records physically. You should be able to match a couple fairly well by looking at their marriage in the parish records and seeing what years the children were born. I take it they are all in the same parish. Good luck, mine were all James and Sarah's.

Hi, Have a look at the original parish records to see if there is more information. Gwynne

Heather - they certainly are lol Gwynne - it's closed for renovations for the next few months, so I can't lol

I just hope they're not all Stone Masons, as most of the family were lol

I think it is to confuse us. I recently went through a list of Cambridge baptisms looking for children born to a William Moore - there were several William Moores, one was a bricklayer, one a tailor and one a carpenter, plus two more, or one with 2 wives, who had children. Of course all the ones that had sons called them William, and then those Williams grew up to have sons called... In some villages on the early censuses there are only about half-a-dozen christian names and probably fewer surnames to go round. I think they must additionally have all had nicknames so they knew who was whom! nell

In one village (12 adult males with the same surname in tudor times) the vicar kindly distinguished the men: William senior of Coombe, William junior of Coombe, William of the town, William of Snapes, William of Bolberry. The only snag was that in the course of time, William junior became William senior (usually at the time that grandson William started to have children, naturally becoming known as William junior) while if William of Snapes moved, he might become William of Bolberry. I have put put the names into spreadsheets, covered the floor with pieces of paper and am still no closer to working out the families. The cruellest thing is that they made wills - which were destroyed in a bombing raid in WW2. B

They have a pretty common surname too, which just adds to the confusion lol It's too confusing!

I've just received a letter from the hospital saying that my eye twitch is down to stress and that I should take up meditation!!! Or is it just another side effect form genealogy?

hi tracy- even if it is closed for renovations- ask where other copies of the records are kept. if i go to -say- huddersfield library, they have the parish records for most of west yorkshire. so try the nearest main library. the fathers occupation is usually given- that is a big help, sue. [ps have you checked the vri ?]

Thans Sue. I haven't checked the vri. How do I get it to check it? The records, if held elsewhere, will probably be in Bradford. Sometimes I wish I'd stayed down there lol

Hi Tracy I can check VRI for you if you tell me the county (I'm assuming we're still in Yorkshire and probably Barnsley!) and preferably the area, rough years and the surname you need Lou

This lot are from Cleckheaton, Lou :) They're all Roberts, born 1780-1820. I thought I'd found all the right ones when I saw the names of their parents, then I checked a bit more, and found loads of them lol

These are the only 2 on VRI ROBERTS, Abraham Christening Gender: Male Christening Date: 25 Dec 1800 Recorded in: Cleckheaton, Yorkshire, England Father: William ROBERTS Mother: Mary Source: FHL Film Dates: 1760 - 1812 ROBERTS, John Christening Gender: Male Christening Date: 27 Feb 1803 Recorded in: Cleckheaton, Yorkshire, England Father: William ROBERTS Mother: Mary Source: FHL Film Dates: 1760 - 1812 And this is the only William and Mary marriage on there ROBERTS, William Henry Age: 27 Marriage Wife: Mary Ann CHARLESWORTH Age: 24 Marriage Date: 26 Dec 1876 Recorded in: Owston, Yorkshire, England Husband's Father: Abraham ROBERTS Wife's Father: Timothy CHARLESWORTH Source: FHL Film 1545732 Dates: 1873 - 1881 Probably doesn't tell you any more than you already have but at least you've tried! Lou

It tells me there are only two from that family... I've got 18 more to find homes for now lol Thanks for looking Lou :)

It makes you cry - and laugh ! I have a chap with 22 (yes) kids - 2 marriages. The first batch all get called the traditional, Thomas, Joseph, Mary, James, William etc - 2nd marriage some time after being widowed, and sod me he gives the second batch the same names again !