Genealogy Chat

I watch people on this board ask for a look-up and get lots of responses in seconds. Yet I spend ages trawling along through masses of stuff on Ancestry and often without success. I am clearly doing something wrong and need an 'idiots guide' to doing a look-up, to make my subscription worth it. So, can any kind soul please 'talk me through' this look-up? Where would you start? Jane Kirby born 1861 in Clerkenwell, London. I have found her in the 1891census (unmarried with three sons). She could have married after this - but where was she before?? All help appreciated. Linda

Linda Hallo. I'll have a look for your Miss Kirby in a minute, but generally if you can't find someone on a census, you need to assume they are either mistranscribed, or that they've changed their mind about where they were born, or the age is out. It's just a question of tweaking the age range, or thinking what Kirby could be misread as - perhaps Kirkby or Rirby. nell

Another thing is that Clerkenwell (I have rellies there too, so this is from experience) might be changed to St Lukes, or Holborn or just London!

For ref, 1891 17 Hinton Road Lambeth London Jane Kirby abt 1861 Clerkenwell, London, Head Charles Kirby abt 1887 Lambeth, Son Thomas Kirby abt 1888 Lambeth, , Son Albert Kirby abt 1890, Lambeth, son There's no occupation for Jane, so I am wondering how she supported herself. Have you got the boys' birth certs?

Personally I would start the search by using wildcards: ie. Jan* Kir* birth year 1861 +/- 2 years Born Middlesex or kir* (no first name) birth year 1861 +/- 2 years Born London

Could this be her in 1871? Jane Kirby Age: 9 Estimated birth year: abt 1862 Relation: Daughter Where born: Shoreditch Civil Parish: Bethnal Green County/Island: London Reg district: Bethnal Green Sub-reg district: Hackney Road RG10/477 Folio: 11 Page: 16 Shoreditch isn't that far from Clerkenwell. Rest of household: Joseph Kirby abt 1817 Thirsby, Gloucestershire, Head Ann Kirby abt 1821 Hampstead, Middlesex, Wife Joseph Kirby abt 1841 Kingsland Son William Kirby abt 1843 Shoreditch Son Edwin Kirby abt 1845 Shoreditch Son Charles Kirby abt 1847 Shoreditch Son Ann Kirby abt 1850 Shoreditch Daughter Thomas Kirby abt 1857 Shoreditch Son Jane Kirby abt 1862 Shoreditch Daughter

I'd look for a birth reference for one of the children to make sure they were Kirbys. Jane may have been living with a man who was absent on census night and taken his name. The birth cert may be revealing or the absence of a reference mean that they children were born under another name. Gwynne

This looks like the birth ref for the Jane I found: Jane Kirby 1861 Jan-Feb-Mar Shoreditch Volume: 1c Page: 178 There's a Mary Jane Kirby born 1864 in Clerkenwell reg district, but I don't think this is yours. These were from Freebmd, if you went through the beta images you might well find another Jane who fits better. nell

Possible births for children Charles Robert Kirby 1886 Jul-Aug-Sep Lambeth Volume: 1d Page: 491 or Alfred Charles Kirby 1888 Jan-Feb-Mar Lambeth Volume: 1d Page: 505 Thomas Quick Kirby 1888 Jan-Feb-Mar Lambeth Volume: 1d Page: 538 or Thomas Henry Kirby 1889 Oct-Nov-Dec Lambeth Volume: 1d Page: 393 Albert Quick Kirby 1890 Jan-Feb-Mar Lambeth Volume: 1d Page: 515 or Name: Albert William Kirby 1890 Jul-Aug-Sep Lambeth Volume: 1d Page: 381 I wonder if Jane was really married and her maiden name was Quick? nell

my london geographt is poor - but could this be her in 1881 Emma Kirby abt 1842 Woodford, Essex, England Wife Bethnal Green London Jane Kirby abt 1863 Bethnal Green, Middlesex, England Sister Bethnal Green London Joseph C. Kirby abt 1841 Islington, Middlesex, England Head Bethnal Green London

Wow! Thanks for all that. I know that one of her sons was my g.dad and was born July 4th 1890. Maybe I should gamble £7 on a cert and go for the on the 1891 census. It may even give Dads name, although mum, Jane was listed as Head of household at that time. Linda