Find Ancestors

I am stuck ! I've triede everything to find a Jack or John Hearn born around 1890 I think in the Newton Bromswold area my Mum says. He married someone called Anne or Annie and ended up living and working at Wavendon Manor in Northamptonshire. I know its not much to go by but its all I've got. Mary Brooke Ooops ! It should be Wadenhoe Manor ! Sorry.

Hi, Just looked on the map and the place you are looking for is about 10 mile from Bedford Sue...................Hi Mary

Newton Bromswold is a couple of miles east of Rushden and is presently in Northants. The only Hearns in 1901 with a NB connection appear to be: Charlotte 60 Newton B, publican John 20 Beds Pilcroft St, AgLab Henry 17 Beds West St, AgLab (Living in NB)

Thanks. I hope John is the one I'm looking for. Can any of you kind folk find out if he married someone called Anne or Annie ? That would clinch it for me it really would and any other info available on him. I've tried the bmd on ancestry and can't come up with anything that ties in. Mary

Note that the John I found was about 10 years older than the one you mentioned.

I know but I'm not sure exactly when he was born. I know he was a chauffeur at Wadenhoe Manor, Cranford (Northants) at the time of the first motor vehicles (whenever that was) and his wife Annie was housekeeper. Its all a bit vague and my poor old Mum bless her can't remember the surname of his wife except she had a sister called Emma. My family seemed to have flitted between the Northants/Beds border a lot which makes it even more confusing trying to find out things. Thanks a lot anyway and as I said, any more info you can find out I'd be happy for. Mary

It looks as though you need to either spend a bit of time in the FRC in London or look at the GRO in a library and to do a trawl of possible John Hearns marrying an Ann for a 10 year period around 1890 and then do what most of us do which is send off for the certificates. Sometimes you have to purchase several certificates before you get the right one, but its worth it when you do eventually hit the right note! I do not think that anybody has said that this is a cheap hobby! Once you have your correct certificate a trip to Northants record Office at Northampton will show you what it has to offer on Wadenhoe. There is a book on Wadenhoe which you may still be able to purchase. Janet

Cheers Janet - it's mind boggling trying to find this chap and make sure he is the right one I'm looking for. Living in Lincolnshire its not easy to get to the records offices - is there any way I can do this on line ? Mary

You can use the GRO (General Register Office Index) in any big library near to where you live in Lincolnshire. If you have an LDS(Latter Day Saints) near you they also will have the GRO. The GRO is the same as the books you get in the FRC(Family Record Centre). Instaed of looking at books you will look at fiche under a fiche reader, hard work to trawl 10 years but I have done it myself on many occasion with satisfying results. These records go from 1837 to the present day. Use a census as a guide line eg if the relative you want is on the 1891 census somewhere, then trawl the years 1891 - 1901. I hope this makes more sense to you. However looking for him on the 1891 census will not be easy unless you have some idea where he might have been at that time and your window of Census is only 1891 and 1901.The LDS will pull in records for you such as census at a very reasonable cost but in your case will only be 1891 and you will need to know which one you want. When you have enough info a trip to the Northants record office will be worth your while. Make a holiday break for a few days? You couild also try the Free BMD but this only goes to approx 1900 and not all birts, deaths , marriages are on there yet. Also 1837 on line but this is a pay per view site. Just collect all the facts on a sheet for your chap and see how you can narrow down the years of interest to you, that will make life much easier for you. Do you know when he died and have you found him on any census? Born 1890 he should be on 1891 census but you will need to know where he is born which is why I suggested a trawl of the whole country. Hard I know but it can be done. I will look at my Wadenhoe book to see if there are any references to your fellow. The record offices tend to have details of Manor Houses, often who worked in them. I still think your trawl will be the best bet! Janet

Thanks. Thats a lot of help. I've tried ancestry and IGI and the results on Hearn all seem to vary and don't tally with where he might have been and who he married. My Mum insists he married Annie Fisher (though she might have been a Barnett). Don't know a date of death or anything like that so I'll have to go by rough guess on his birth date. I'll visit Lincoln Library and see what they have on offer there. Anythings worth a try. You've been so much help Janet. Thanks no end. Mary

I looked up my book on Wadenhoe but cannot find anything further to help you on this one. I will continue to look through the book in case I missed something! Janet

Thanks for trying Janet. This one is really bugging me. It wouldn't be so bad if I were certain about a few facts but my Mum has told me all she can. His wife's christian name may not really have been Ann, maybe she was just called that. I know they both lived in Cranford Northants after leaving Wadenhoe Manor- remember seeing them when I was little so I expect thats where they both died. I've tried all the Northants sites to no avail. Looks like I'm in for a long trawl on this one. Oh well, no one said this lark was easy - just didn't figure on it being so mind boggling ! Mary Yippee !!!! I've found him !! Don't know how I missed it before. The elusive Mr. Hearn was born John Thomas Hearn and was 2 months old in 1881 so this confirms the details above on the 1901 census. Now I've got his d.o.b. and correct name is there any chance anyone could do a look up on Free BMD for me to find his marriage so I can put this one to rest ? I can't access Free BMD due to Firewall and its actually my employers computer I daren't mess about with it. Mary

This will look like I've said it twice - updated message then realised I shouldn't have done ! Thick or what ? Anyway, found the elusive Mr. Hearn - born John Thomas Hearn in 1881 - how did I miss this on the 1881 census ? Confirms details already given above (thanks for that) Now I just need to ask if someone can do a Free BMD for me to find out when He married. Can't access the site myself due to Firewall and as it's not actually my computer I daren't mess about with it. Mary

I cannot access Free BMD either due to my Norton Firewall but Ancestry.com also do Free BMD I think! If not then try LDS site. One of those two sites will access Free BMD for you. I would look up but am pushed for time! Remember that Free BMD only goes approx to 1900 and your Hearne will only be 19 in 1900. I would say average age of marriage in those days for men was approx 24 so you could look at GRO for marriage from1900-1910 so that cuts your trawl yeras down. It would be a good idea to purchase the birth cert from Southprt GRO by completing a form either through your local LDS centre or Online at a cost of £7 50. That will be your proof of ancestry. Now you have an address try the 1891 Census to see if they are still there. Janet