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Could someone please give me their thoughts on the following: My grandfather John Hepburn bn 4 Jul 1893, Sherburn Hill, Co. Durham. Confirmed. Parents George Hepburn & Margaret Richardson. Confirmed. George & Margaret married 10 Sept 1887, Sunderland. Confirmed George’s age on marr cert 21. Unconfirmed! This is where we hit trouble. This calculates bn c1866. Father (from cert) George Hepburn. On 1901 census age given 32 bn Easington. This entry is definitely him. On 1891 census age given 22 bn Easington. This entry is definitely him. This makes him born c 1868/69. Have not been able to find a birth reg, to obtain his Birth cert. Not registered, I think! Have checked the indexes thoroughly from 1860- 1872. On 1881 census there is only one George Hepburn of this age, with father also George. This gives age 12, bn Sherburn. (Comes under Easington. Looking good.) I now have the 1871 & 1861 entries for this family, but how can I be sure I am tracking the right family?! There is only one 2yr old George Hepburn on 1871, father George( Durham Records Online) bn Littletown, Co Durham (again under Easington) Can anyone track a birth reg for him, or a baptism entry, or anything to help prove or disprove that this is my man. Open to any suggestions. Thanks, Debbie

Did either of his parents witness the marriage? Could he have said he was 21 so as not to need parental consent? Just wondering.

Hi Geoff, I am quite certain he may have lied about his age. Margaret was only 17, when they married. Witnesses were a Benjamin Richardson (Margaret's brother) and Annie Hepburn (George's sister-I think) If the family I have picked up in 1881 is the right one, Annie could be a sister of his mother. Debbie

hi deborah, got exactly the same thing with one of mine, i too tried to get his b cert and they did a 5 year search and came up with nothing, isnt it frustrating !!! sue.

Hi Sue, It IS frustrating, and very annoying. I have traced, what I believe to be my mothers family back to c1720, with help from 3rd party trees, IGI, LDS, cenus etc. But I can,t put anything on my tree before 1870, because I can't prove this blessed man belongs there!!! Debbie

me again, had a couple of spares left for 1837 site, taking his age from the census entries, found 3 probables [but you prob already have them . did you see the one for david GEORGE hepburn, j/m 1868- sunderland 10a 499 ? 1871 census was april, so he would have been 2 on it. [ the other 2 i found were b birkenhead and hackney ]sue x

Hi Sue, That was very good of you!! I must admit I hadn't considered the David George. I'll look into that. Wouldn't be the first time, we had one with disappearing christian names! Thanks again Debbie

hi deborah, hope it works out. that stuck with mine i keep poking my nose in everyone elses ! even interfere with people in the library [in the nicest possible way] and everyone elses trees seem easier than mine. perhaps we could start a tree swap, sue.

Hi again Sue, We're very like-minded, I tend to poke around on the boards, when I'm stuck. Be careful tho' - interfering with people in the library!! That might be an arrestable offence! LOL Thanks again for your help Debbie