Find Ancestors

Hi, I have a problem with my Gt Granmothers family. She was called Mary Ann Smith, and she was shot by her husband ( my Gt Grandad ) in 1889, He hung for the murder in 1890. His name was Davis. The problem is I have her mothers name Sarah A Smith but she was a widow, and I cannot find her maiden name or her husbands first name, so I am stuck. Any help or surgestions will be appreciated. Kindest regards Patricia

hi patricia, where did all this happen, sue.

Hi Sue, Sorry I forgot to put the place. Mary Ann Davis was my Gt Granmother, her maiden name was Smith. And she was at the time of her death living in Aston Birmingham. With her husband and family, I found them in 1881 all together, So I looked at 1891 census and found the family all split up between relatives in the area. My Gran was with her Gran who was named Sarah A Smith, So she was her mothers mother. Mary Ann is listed 1881 census as being born in Launton Oxford. but as her name was wrong on the census I don't know if this is right even. Sarah A Smith is listed as being born in Gloucester, but of course she wasn't that surname at birth, so I need to find her maiden name to move on. I hope you understand all this. Many thanks Patricia

Patricia, Am I right so far, Your Gr Gran was Mary Ann Smith and she married a Davis who later shot her. Have you got their wedding certificate ? cos that will give you Mary Ann's Fathers Name & occupation. You have Mary Ann's mother as being Sarah A Smith. ?? Is this right ? Have you got Mary Ann Smiths birth certificate, this will give you both parents names , her Mothers maiden name as well ... is this not what you are looking for ? Elaine :-)

Hi Elaine, You have it all correct, and yes I do want the Birth certificates for both of them, But although I have 2 possibles for Frederick, I cannot find any for Mary Ann. Many thanks Patricia

Patricia, What age is Mary Ann on the census's you have got her on ... and what area's do they say she was born ?? You say you can't find her birth ... where have you looked already ? just so we don't tread over covered ground again !! I know you have looked but a fresh pair of eyes wouldn't hurt to look for her birth would it and it seems the answer to all the questions is on her birth cert !! Elaine :-) By the way, is is definately Mary Ann ... or Marian/Marion ...Marianne ?? or don't we know ..suppose not really. Thing is, it depends on who actually filled the census form out at the time .. sometimes parents couldn't spell or write even, so the enumerator would have completed the form .. so anything could have been put down. What name is on her Marriage certificate. Who is Frederick ? where did he spring from ?? LoL

Hi Elaine, Yes Mary Ann is correct althiugh she was down on the 1881 census as MARJAR, Her husband Frederick Davis shot her in an argument whilst he was drunk in 1889. Her Mothers name is Sarah A Smith, from Gloucester. and her father is George Smith thats all I know about him. So how she was born in Launton Oxford I don't know. Many thanks Patricia

Hi again, What year is Mary Ann supposed to have been born ... and where have you checked for her birth cert ? She is the daughter of George Smith and Sarah A *.*. Any other children older than Mary Ann ?? Elaine :-)

Hi, Mary Ann would have been born 1855/56. she was 25yrs old on the 1881 census. 1881 Census. Fredrick Davis - head - M - 27 - B'ham Warks - Gun Maker Mary Ann - Wife - F - 25 - Launton, Oxford Alice Dau - F - 7 - B'ham Frederick Son - M - 4 - Aston Adeline Dau F 2 Aston Laura " F 3mths Aston This is my Granmother. I hope this helps Patricia

Sorry I forgot to say I have looked on all freebie sites and on 1837. No luck with any of them. Patricia

OK, I'm gonna go away and concentrate on trying to find this birth for you. Shame her name was Smith but still ... these things are sent to try us. Back in a while .. hopefully ! fingers crossed. I WILL get back to you and let you know either way. BEFORE 9.30pm tonight. Starting now !!! Elaine :-)

Hi Patricia, When you looked on 1837, were you looking specifically for the district as Launton by any chance ....? I did some checking first ...Launton comes under the district of Bicester and Bletchington districts and has the Volume No 3a. I have found a Mary Ann Smith born March qtr 1856 Bicester 3a ... and I THINK it is 548 but it is faint. Have you got any units left on 1837 ? you could go and check this out for yourself. Its on page 43 of 60 in the March qtr of 1856, or maybe someone else would be kind enough to give a second opinion ? This is the ONLY qtr I have searched so far ... and that took some getting to !! I would appreciate anyone else's input into this with regards to the district being correct ...! before I go any further !! Elaine :-) Son's due home soon, so gonna have a coffee, then spend some time with him and then catch back up again with the board once I have him occupied !! Elaine :-)

Hi Patricia, Not sure if this could be anything to do with you or not, only time will tell ... have found a possible marriage for George Smith (Mary Ann's dad) on FreeBMD. June qtr 1854 George Smith, Newport Pagnell, 3a, 608., included in the list of four is a Sarah Ann Taylor. Have you any connections to Newport Pagnell that you know off ? Newport Pagnell comes under mainly Buckinghamshire but some parts of Northamptonshire. Keep this info .. incase Mary Ann's mum turns out to be Sarah Ann Taylor ! Elaine :-)

Hi Elaine, I have looked on 1837 and that one looks like a good possibility. I am now going to search freebdm. to see if I can find any on there, then I will go back to 1837. Many thanks for all you have done, I was realy floundering for a while there. Kindest regards Patricia

Hi ,Elaine, I have just been on freebmd and found the same marriage as you did under Sarah Taylor, When I put it in the opposite way round It would not come up. Has this happened to you. Kindest regards Patricia

Hi Patricia, Just got the PC back from my daughter ! so catching up !. Yes, that prob has happened to me before now ... not often but sometimes ! Are we confident that the birth in 1856 is the right one ? Will keep an eye on this thread ... going to do some of my own research now ... just had some info given me on the quiet about my Warburton 's so going to check it out !! Elaine :-)

Hi Elaine, Yes I think we can be quite confident that the birth is 1856, so the one you found could be the correct one. Also the Marriage of Sarah and George looks promising, but god knows how they arrived in Newport Pagnall from Goucester. I am waiting for all the court papers for the Archives, about the murder, so those may hopefully throw some light on them. I am hoping that they will be here next week. If you have any rellies in Gloucester 1861, Hereford 1851, Warwick and B'ham 1851 and 1891. Let me know as I have all those census discs and will be only to pleased to help you if I can. Happy hunting Patricia