William Smith.....

David Wells · Post by **David Wells** » Thu May 05, 2005 12:14 am

Hi,

I have a William Smith born in Scotland between 1797 and 1799. William was married in Bradford, Yorkshire in 1820 and lived there until his death in 1872. On each Census, he is listed as being born in Scotland (no other indication of where). There are too many William Smiths born during this period to even guess at which is the correct one (especially as I do not know either his place of birth or his parent's names).

But conversely, there may be someone out there that has a William Smith born during this period but cannot find any other trace of him. If you are such a person, please let me know. It certainly wouldn't prove anything but may give me a place to start looking for other connections.

William's daughter, Nancy, married Charles Wells (also from Bradford). Two of their sons (Jonas and James) ended up settling in Motherwell and Hamilton, but I suspect that was due to employment rather than any family connection.

Regards,

David Wells
Sydney, Australia

snowwhite77 · Post by **snowwhite77** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 9:09 pm

Hi

Do you have his death cert at all.
If not there is a possible match for you on freebmd site.

Deaths Mar 1872
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Smith William 73 Bradford, Y. 9b 43

The 73 refers to his age.
There was another around the right age in Bradford but that was Dec quarter 1871.
You can order the cert online. It costs £7.00. If you tell them the name of his spouse so that if it doesn't match that cert they don't send the wrong one out to you.
Hope this helps you
Regards
Amanda

David Wells · Post by **David Wells** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 12:17 pm

Hi Amanda,

That is the correct entry. I have his Death Certificate, but being English, it didn't tell me much more that I already knew. Now, if he had arranged to die in Scotland, I would in a much better position.

In looking at my William Smith entries (Census, Marriage and Death) I am led to believe that it is likely that he was born between April 1798 and Mid January 1799.

Looking at William and Catharine's children:

James Smith bapt 19/2/1823
Ann Smith bapt 13/8/1824
Nancy Smith bapt 13/11/1825
Martha Smith bapt 21/5/1828
John Smith bapt 16/1/1831
Joseph Smith born 1833
Thomas Smith bapt 24/3/1833
Hannah Smith bapt 17/5/1838
William Smith borm 1837
Elizabeth Smith born 1842

it is likely that John and Elizabeth were named after Catharine's parents, so it is also a possibility that two of the children were named after William's parents.

One possiblility for William's birth is:

WILLIAM SMITH
Birth: 07 OCT 1798
Christening: 21 OCT 1798 South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
Father: JAMES SMITH
Mother: ANNE SMITH

This is pure conjecture but interesting all the same. I am sure there will be other combinations.

I may have to identify all William Smiths and try to eliminate them one by one.

Regards,

David

snowwhite77 · Post by **snowwhite77** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 1:15 pm

Did you get their marriage cert? The fathers name at least will be on there and an occupation. Not much i know but it may help the proces of elimination.

I have the same probem with a Robert Bell. All these common names are a nightmare. Still could be worse could be John Smith!
Hope you solve your puzzle
Regards
Amanda

mesklin · Post by **mesklin** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 1:21 pm

Amanda

You would be amazed. I have a whole tribe of Smiths on my father's side, and yet it proved to be the simplest line to trace and the only one that runs to another line of living relatives. Even finding their move across the Atlantic was easy.

It's the rarer names that often prove the hardest.

Mesklin

David Wells · Post by **David Wells** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 1:46 pm

Hi,

William Smith was born in 1820 prior to Statutory Registration. I have his marriage entry from Bradford Parish Church but it does not mention either the bride or groom's Father.

Not having must luck with this one.

Regards,

David

snowwhite77 · Post by **snowwhite77** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 1:54 pm

Hope you have better luck with them soon David,
It does get very frustrating at times doesn't it!
But then that makes it all the sweeter when we solve it!

Regards
Amanda