Genealogy Chat

Hello Everyone, Since the original message I have seen the 1851 image and SJ Hardwick is indeed the grandson of David and Alice Smedley but I am still stuck!! I am guessing that his father will have been Joseph Smedley b1813, David and Alice's son. There is a death for a Joseph Smedley in 1843 which may be him - will send for the certificate when I feel more confident about my theories. I have found SJ Hardwick's mother, Elizabeth, married to a John Taylor at Belper in 1847 and she lives happily ever after with him and their children including a Martha Caroline Hardwick ch to Elizabeth at Ashover in 1846 - I have sent off for the marriage certificate. I am sure that she is the daughter of William and Mary Hardwick from Northedge. I have now got the marriage certificate (13/09/1859 - Sheffield) of Joseph Samuel Smeadley (20 - engine driver) and Mary Ann Hopkinson (18) who are the 1861 couple living in Brightside Bierlow. It states that Joseph's father was Joseph Smeadley, Pumpwright and Mary Ann's as William Hopkinson, Labourer. Witnesses are Charles Godfrey and Hannah Hopkinson. Joseph Hardwick appears in 1871 in Wakefield 'married' to Elizabeth Wragg but I cannot find Mary Ann Smeadley nee Hopkinson in 1871 or 1881, even though I believe that she did not die until 1886 in the Sheffield district. It seems as though Joseph ran off with Elizabeth and never married her as he was still married to Mary Ann!! I have searched high and low for Mary Ann on 1871 and 1881 but cannot find her - can anybody help? Sorry for the longwindedness of the message but I am very confused. Russell

Hello Robin, Sue in Suffolk looked up the Smedleys and Hardwicks on the 1841 census and Samuel HARDWICK is living with David and Alice SMEDLEY (as in 1851), no sign of Elizabeth or a possible father. I need to see the 1851 image! Thankyou for you help. Russell

Thankyou Robin, I will try to find the Smedleys in 1841 as well as the 1851 - a great idea!! Thanks Russell

don't know if I've missed something, but apart from the names, is there any particular evidence that Samuel Smedley and Joseph Hardwick aren't the same person? You need that 1851 census entry, and maybe it's worth looking for Smedleys in 1841. But if the unknown father were a Smedley then it all seems to fit? PS I think we were both typing at the same time...

Hello Nell, Thankyou for your time., yes I have him in 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 but no before. I think the first thing I need is to see the 1851 Derbyshire census to find out the relationship of the Smedleys to SJ Hardwick. I have also found a marriage of a Joseph Samuel Smedley in 1859 at Sheffield, which possibly tie together the SJ Hardwick and the Samuel Smedley as possibly being the same person!! I may be going slightly mad but it seems all a bit coincidental. Thanks again Russell

Not sure about Samuel Smedley - there are 2 on 1881 but neither born Ashover. It looks as though he might be a cousin to Joseph, but you would need to get their parents' details to confirm this. nell

This is Joseph on 1881, which presumably you have: Household Record 1881 British Census Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability Joseph HARDWICK Head M Male 39 Ashover, Derby, England Engine Driver Elizabeth HARDWICK Wife M Female 36 Sheerbrook, Derby, England Mary Ann HARDWICK Dau U Female 18 Woodhouse, Nottingham, England Domestic Servant Eliz.Ellen HARDWICK Dau U Female 9 Tingley, York, England Scholar John Joseph HARDWICK Son U Male 6 East Ardsley, York, England Scholar Eliza HARDWICK Dau U Female 3 East Ardsley, York, England Samuel HARDWICK Son U Male 6 m East Ardsley, York, England Annie Maud HARDWICK Dau U Female 6 m East Ardsley, York, England Source Information: Dwelling Bainhams Buildings Census Place East Ardsley, York, England Family History Library Film 1342106 Public Records Office Reference RG11 Piece / Folio 4584 / 21 Page Number 40 nell

I have the birth certificate for my gg grandfather Joseph Hardwick. He was born on 23rd of January 1839 at Northedge, Ashover. His mother was Elizabeth Hardwick, no father listed. The birth was registered on the 14th of January 1840 and the Registrar was George Allen. There is no christening of a Joseph Hardwick on the BVRI2 and the IGI at the correct time, but there is one of a Samuel Joseph Hardwick to mother Elizabeth on the 9th of February 1840 at Ashover. Susanne Good has looked at Northedge and Ashover on the 1841 census and not found either Joseph, Samuel Joseph or Elizabeth. The only Hardwick family to be found is that of William and Mary (old enough to be Elizabeth's parents - they had a daughter Bettey baptised in 1828 along with 2 other siblings so Bettey may be old enough to be Elizabeth!). Brenda Borrows has looked at the 1851 Derbyshire census index and not found a Joseph Hardwick of the correct age (around 11). However there is a SJ Hardwick (male) living with a David and Alice Smedley. Unfortunately I have not been able to see the census image, so I do not know the relationship between the Smedleys and SJ. REF: Piece 2147 Folio 84 Schedule 38. The Smedleys are old enough to be SJs grandparents. The next I know of Joseph is the 1871 census return when he turns up married to an Elizabeth Wragg, with daughter Mary Ann Wragg in East Ardsley, WR of Yorkshire. He is an engine driver. He is then easy to find up until his death. I cannot find his marriage at all either (checked 1837online). Recently, I have had a look on Ancestry at the 1861 census and cannot find him either but there is a Samuel Smedley of the correct age, born Ashover living in Brightside Bierlow, Sheffield. He is an engine driver but married to a Mary Ann, one year his junior (b Chesterfield). I have not found a christening in Ashover for a Samuel Smedley! Samuel Smedley seems to have disappeared on the 1871 census (via Ancestry) any suggestions as to where to look next?? Thankyou for taking the time to read this. Russell

Please see below and have patience with me as I cannot see the wood for the trees. Russell