Genealogy Chat

There is also this on the IGI - it's a ''member submission'' though, not a transcribed record, so be wary and check the original register. The christening would tie in with your Reatilda - not sure about the marriage though! Reatilda or Retilla Clark Christening: 19 NOV 1809 Marriages: Spouse: James Jordan Marriage: 1850 Lower Mitton, Worcester, England Richard

Helen - it might be worth looking at the parish registers for the baptisms listed above - Reatilda is a very unusual name, and it may be that this has been mistranscribed on the IGI. Would be odd if the same mistake had been made four times, I agree - but Matilda does sound like the most likely interpretation of Reatilda, if someone was trying to read a first name. Richard

Thank you everyone for your replies. I don't have any of those baptisms from IGI, as I've been looking for Reatilda, not Matilda, but they certainly seem to fit. I have Reatilda's death certificate - another mystery as they were back in Quarry Bank after 20-odd years in Droitwich. As I said, her name on the censuses has been transcribed as Matilda & Migtilda - curious about the Sarah. On the '41 census both Samuel & 'Sarah's ages are given as 35. I thought the 1842 marriage would fit IF Sam had originally been married to Sarah, widowed - possibly when Emily was born - and remarried. Sam jnr was b in Oct 1843 (he's another complete mystery as well). One other thing I have found is a marrige in Rowley Regis in 1830/1 between Samuel Clarke & Matilda Clarke - Reatilda's maiden name was Clark, according to the birth cert I have for Sam jnr. Thanks again Helen

Eliza & John are also on the IGI, parents Samuel & Matilda: ELIZA ANN CLARKE Christening: 02 NOV 1834 Saint Thomas, Dudley, Worcester, England JOHN CLARKE Christening: 14 OCT 1832 Saint Thomas, Dudley, Worcester, England

Helen You've probably seen it already, but in case not - there's this death on FreeBMD: Name: Clark, Reatilda Druscilla Record Type: Deaths Age at death: 77 Quarter: March Year: 1881 District: Stourbridge Volume: 6c Page: 113

I just re read your posting. What is it about the 1842 marriage that makes you think it is your Samuel?

I would think that they are the same family as the names of the children fit so well. Perhaps Sarah could have been Samuel's sister or even his mother who was visiting, but that would not explain the absence of his wife when he already had a number of children. If only the 1841 had stated relationships, things would be so much easier!!

IGI has a Brierly Hill baptism for Ann on 18 October 1837, the daughter of Samuel and Matilda. Matilda and Sarah could even be the same person. My great grandmother changed between 2 names quite frequently.

With the names and ages matching, it seems like the same family. It is possible that the Sarah on the 1841 is not Samuels wife, as relationships were not listed on 1841.

Hope you dont mind, but I have paragraphed your post for easy reading Hello. I'm after opinions, please, as to whether or not I've found the right family in 1841. My 2xgrGrandfather Samuel Clarke was b in Quarry Bank, Brierly Hill nr Stourbridge in 1843. His parents were Samuel & Reatilda. I have found his family on the 1851, 61 & 71 censuses in Hadzor nr Droitwich (mother is variously Matilda, Migtilda, and finally Reatilda.) The children on the 1851 census are John, 19: Eliza Ann, 16 both born Holly Hall: Ann, 13: Harriet, 11: Emilia, 9: Samuel ,7 William, 4 all b Brierly Hill. I have found a family in 1841 in Mount Pleasant, Brierly Hill which consists of Head Samuel Clarke, wife Sarah and children Emma, 15: John, 9: Eliza 6: Ann, 3 Harriot, 1. Do you think this is the same family, but obviously Sarah died & Sam snr remarried Reatilda? Or just a coincidence. I know it seems an easy answer, but I've not found anything out about Reatilda yet - and this just seems too lucky, that I finally might - there's a Samuel Clarke marriage in 1842 that would fit. Thank you Helen

Hello. I'm after opinions, please, as to whether or not I've found the right family in 1841. My 2xgrGrandfather Samuel Clarke was b in Quarry Bank, Brierly Hill nr Stourbridge in 1843. His parents were Samuel & Reatilda. I have found his family on the 1851, 61 & 71 censuses in Hadzor nr Droitwich (mother is variously Matilda, Migtilda, and finally Reatilda.) The children on the 1851 census are John, 19: Eliza Ann, 16 both born Holly Hall: Ann, 13: Harriet, 11: Emilia, 9: Samuel,7 & William, 4 all b Brierly Hill. I have found a family in 1841 in Mount Pleasant, Brierly Hill which consists of Head Samuel Clarke, wife Sarah and children Emma, 15: John, 9: Eliza 6: Ann, 3 & Harriot, 1. Do you think this is the same family, but obviously Sarah died & Sam snr remarried Reatilda? Or just a coincidence. I know it seems an easy answer, but I've not found anything out about Reatilda yet - and this just seems too lucky, that I finally might - there's a Samuel Clarke marriage in 1842 that would fit. Thank you Helen