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Please can someone give me some pointers My great grandmother was listed in the 1891 and 1901 Census making her born in 1882 in Hanley named Mary Ann Brook - the date also matches her age at date of death so there doesnt seem to be any error there. however, Ive scanned 1837online till my eyes have gone funny and cannot find any Mary Ann Brook born in 1882 in Hanley or even Staffs. Ive got them to do me a search cover 1881 and 1883 as well to no avail. Is there anywhere else that I can look that would have registered births? All help gratefully recieved.

Have you managed to find a marriage certificate for her parents yet? Sometimes people go 'missing' because they were illegitimate and so they were registered under the mother's name. This may not be the case in this instance, but its worth checking.

Hi Helen, She may not have been born in Hanley. Just cos she thought she was ... and she may have lived there all her life ..doesn't mean she was actually born there. Do ALL the census's say she was ? Have you included Salop in your search for Staffs ? .. as Salop (Shropshire) also covers part of Staffs in some (very rare) cases. Have you checked ALL vol 6 inclusions in your search? Hanley comes under Wolstanton at some point, have you considered this? Not trying to teach granny .. but these are the mistakes I personnally made ..so they may help ! Elaine :-)

Hi Helen I have had a look on Ancestry for you but can't even see her on any census. Have found a marriage but nothing else. Was she still living in Hanley when she appears on the census? Sam

Hi Helen Could this be her? and possibly others in the family. It's off the BIVRIndex Cds. Shirley BROOKS, Thomas Christening Gender: Male Christening Date: 4 Oct 1874 Recorded in: Ipstones, Staffordshire, England Father: Thomas BROOKS Mother: Mary Source: FHL Film 1471000 Dates: 1848 - 1900 BROOKS, William Christening Gender: Male Christening Date: 31 Oct 1875 Recorded in: Ipstones, Staffordshire, England Father: Thomas BROOKS Mother: Mary Source: FHL Film 1471000 Dates: 1848 - 1900 BROOKS, Hannah Christening Gender: Female Christening Date: 1 Feb 1877 Recorded in: Ipstones, Staffordshire, England Father: Thomas BROOKS Mother: Mary Source: FHL Film 1471000 Dates: 1848 - 1900 BROOKS, Mary Ann Christening Gender: Female Christening Date: 26 Feb 1880 Recorded in: Ipstones, Staffordshire, England Father: Thomas BROOKS Mother: Mary Source: FHL Film 1471000 Dates: 1848 - 1900 BROOKS, Harriet Christening Gender: Female Christening Date: 8 Dec 1881 Recorded in: Ipstones, Staffordshire, England Father: Thomas BROOKS Mother: Mary Source: FHL Film 1471000 Dates: 1848 - 1900 BROOKS, Jane Christening Gender: Female Christening Date: 5 Dec 1885 Recorded in: Ipstones, Staffordshire, England Father: Thomas BROOKS Mother: Mary Source: FHL Film 1471000 Dates: 1848 - 1900

Thanks all for such fast and excellent responses I do have her parents cert based on the info from the census listings - her dad was William and her mother Selina and I also have one of her sisters birth certs I also have her wedding cert so know for sure her father was William and the occupation matches the census. I havent considered Salop so will look that again. When the register came into being did families still register in the parish records does anyone know?

A few did still register parish registers but only a few ... I have found a marriage on IGI for 1857 and 1875. Always check the IGI first .. just in case ! you never know ! Good Luck. Elaine :-)

Thanks Elaine - I have checked the IGI on familysearch.org - is this the best one to look at? My only other option would be to order the certs during 1882 that match her name and see what comes up I guess - any pointers on doing this without spending too much cash?

Have you tried contacting the local register office where you believe your relative was born. GRO check their sheets when you order a search. However I have found one of my relatives is not listed, I downloaded all the sheets for 10 years! A check of his passport, which thankfully my husband had, listed his birthdate and place of birth. I rang the office concerned and they provided me with a reference, so I have now ordered the certificate. You could try the same. Christina

Parish baptisms, marriages and burials continued regardless of civil registration. The two are completely separate as one is secular while the other is religious. The IGI is not a complete source of parish records. Not all churches have allowed their records to be filmed. Not only that but books cannot be filmed until the book has been finished with. If the parish is small and not many baptisms/marriages/burials have taken place then the current book might have been started in the late 19th century! You also have to remember that the IGI is a transcription of films and so not all films held by the Mormons have been transcribed. The best way of looking at parish records is to find out where films of them are being kept locally. The local Mormon family history centre will order films for a small fee and then hold them for 4 weeks for you to use at their centre. Other than that the county record office for the area you're interested in will probably have what you need.

Helen, Have just e.mailed you direct ... but as an after thought, what are her parents names ? have you checked 1881 "just incase" she is on 1881 with parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles etc. You never know .. she maybe a year or so older than you think ? OR if she is with rellies, then they could have put her date/place of birth down wrong on the census...or spelt her surname incorrectly ? I know this seems like grasping at straws, but you need to cover any possibility at this point. Elaine :-)

Helen, You could order all possible certificates but specify ONLY IF FATHER WILLIAM. I did that looking for a "B.Jackson" [female] b. South Shields or Coundon. There were 4, so I ordered all 4 but only if father was William[yes he was!]. And I got the right one! Wendy

Thanks Elaine - have checked 1881 sadly she wasnt born early :( but Wendy - like your idea - however did you get charged but refunded for those that didnt have the dads name? Still its worth a go definitely Final thought - I have found a Mary Brock in the GRO records in Dec 1881 in Staffs. - Is there a poss that she was misrecorded and should have been Brook do you think? Can this happen?

I think it quite likely that Brook could be mis recorded as Brock. I have a Peck listed as Peek. Anne

Anne - thats brilliant - youve given me hope - going to order it right now :)

Helen, I can't quite remember what happened when I ordered all 4 certs, but it was from the local registrar in Shields, not the PRO. I think I possibly sent 4 separate cheques and they returned 3!! I WAS quite desperate! Wendy