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I have just received my great grandfathers marriage certificate. William Maxwell married in 1913, Horsley Gloucestershire and it says that he was aged 22, so he would have been born in 1891. His father was William James Maxwell a blacksmith. William Maxwell's occupation is listed as brass polisher.

I am struggling to find William or his father on the 1901 census as I am not sure where he was born.

Family gossip is that the family came from Edinburgh and moved directly to Gloucestershire but I don't know when or if they even did!!!!

Any help would be most appreciated as I can't go back any further until I have his birth certificate and census information would help with that.

Many thanks.
Shane

1891

Name: William H Maxwell
Age: 6/12
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1890
Relation: Son
Father's Name: William S
Mother's Name: Georgina
Gender: Male
Where born: Newcastle Upon Tyne

Civil Parish: Byker
Ecclesiastical parish: St Silas
Town: Newcastle
County/Island: Northumberland
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View Image

Registration district: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Sub-registration district: Byker
ED, institution, or vessel: 29
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Georgina Maxwell 27
Jerrald W Maxwell 2
William H Maxwell 6/12
William S Maxwell 27


1901


Name: William H Maxwell
Age: 10
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1891
Relation: Son
Father's Name: William Emma
Mother's Name: Georgina
Gender: Male
Where born: Newcastle

Civil Parish: East Barnet
Ecclesiastical parish: East Barnet St Mary
County/Island: Hertfordshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View Image

Registration district: Barnet
Sub-registration district: Barnet
ED, institution, or vessel: 14
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 208
Household Members:
Name Age
Georgina Maxwell 36
Gerald W Maxwell 12
Norman Maxwell 2
Reginald Maxwell 7
William Emma Maxwell 37
William H Maxwell 10
Caroline Wood 43



Shane

I think this may be your guy. On 1891 William senior is a blacksmith and on 1901 he is an engine smith. William senior is described as William Emma on 1901, but the image is clearly William James.

William James is born in Maryport, Cumberland.

Dianne xx

Dear Dianne,
I am really excited about this as it looks as if you have found the family. I will be able to look for marriages and birth information now.
Thank you for your help.
Shane

Shane,

Here's the birth record for Gerald Walter Maxwell.

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index: 1837-1983
about Gerald Walter Maxwell
Name: Gerald Walter Maxwell
Year of Registration: 1888
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
DISTRICT: Lambeth
County: Greater London, London, Surrey
Volume: 1d
Page: 346

Shane,

This may be William's birth record:

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index: 1837-1983
about William Horace Maxwell
Name: William Horace Maxwell
Year of Registration: 1890
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
DISTRICT: Newcastle Upon Tyne
County: Northumberland, Tyne and Wear
Volume: 10b
Page: 145

Joan

I have just talked to my grandmother and suddenly you have jogged all her memories!

She remembers that her father was William Horace Maxwell and that he was born in Newcastle, not that she told us this at the time!

We will now be able to order a birth certificate, that will confirm all the above census details.

Thank you so much for all your help.

Could I ask another favour please, could you confirm who Caroline Wood was on the 1901 census please? (see above for details place)

Kind Regards and thanks once again.
Shane

Hi Shane

Sorry to keep you waiting. I had to take my little boy to a party.

Caroline Wood is a Boarder in their house.

Dianne xx

On the actual census image, Caroline Wood is a Charwoman Domestic

b.ca 1858, Homerton, London



sylvia

Hi Sylvia

I noticed that, but I don't think she is a domestic to the family, I think she is just their lodger. As it's in the occupation column I think she is a charwoman/domestic as her job. Otherwise it would have said servant in the relationship to head column, and it says Boarder in that column. I might be wrong though.

Dianne xx

William James was born in Maryport, Cumberland, ca 1864

Georgina ??? was bor in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, ca 1865


sylvia

Hi Dianne,

I read it that way as well ............ but it is somewhat strange at that time to have a lowly Charwoman move to another county to work


May be there will turn out to be a familial connection fo some sort, or may be she was a woman fallen on ahrd times!



sylvia

You never know Sylvia. They do say to keep an eye on people like lodgers, marriage witnesses etc as they often turn out to be extended family.

Dianne xx

How about this one on the 1881 Census??



Name: William T. Maxwell
Age: 17
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1864
Relation: Apprentice
Gender: Male
Where born: Maryport, Cumberland, England

Civil Parish: Torpenhow and Whitrigg
County/Island: Cumberland
Country: England

Street address: Torpenhow Black Bull Inn
Education:

Employment status: View Image
Occupation: Apprentice Blacksmith

Registration district: Wigton
Sub-registration district: Abbey Holme
ED, institution, or vessel: 13
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
William T. Maxwell 17
Isabella Railton 26 Daughter-in-law
Margaret Railton 19
Richd. R. Railton 33 Son
William Railton 63 Blacksmith, Widower
William Railton




it does look like a T on the image, definately NOT a J


sylvia

Hi Sylvia

I've investigated the William T Maxwell from the 81 census, but he turns out to be called William Turner Maxwell son of Thomas and Mary Ann.

I have a feeling our William James is the one just named William on the 71, son of Betsy Maxwell, widow, at 8 Catherine Street, Crosscanonby.

Dianne xx

Baptism from IGI, extracted record so it's ok.

William Maxwell (no middle name of James mentioned though)
Baptised 16 September 1863, Maryport, son of Robert & Betsey.

I thought finding an apprentice blacksmith was too easy!!!

Birth ref to match above baptism

William Maxwell, September Quarter 1863, Cockermouth, 10b 487

There is only one Georgina born ca 1864 Nailsworth Gloucester that I can find, and that is Georgina Harrison, daughter of Arthur and Mary A.



BUT I cannot find a William Maxwell/Georgina Harrison wedding (not even a Maxwell/Harrison wedding!).


sylvia

I couldn't find a marriage for those two either. Maybe they didn't bother and just lived together, you never know.

I found this marriage for Robert and Betsy/ey though, although by the time they marry they already have a few little children.

Robert Maxwell & Betsy Cunningham
Sept quarter 1863, Cockermouth, 10b 637.

Anyway I will have to pop off now and get my bath and bed as I have to be up early tomorrow.

Dianne xx