General Chat

To carry out a search for my family tree b'ham registrry office suggested that I trace the wedding of my great grandfather Edward holmes and I found a wedding in birmingham in 1852 which looked possible so I therefore tried to find the family in the 1961 census but again as with my grand father alsoEdward holmes there appeared to be no trace on the census records and I am at a loss to understand this can anyone please explain why this is likely, Thank you,Frank

The name could have been mistranslated - might be worth looking for just Edward with a father called Edward on the census. (I'm guessing you mean the 1861 census, as the 1961 one won't be out for years yet.) Or putting " Hol* " in the search box, then it should come up with all the men/boys called "Edward Hol* ".

Also possible that Edward the father could have died between 1852 and 1861 and his wife remarried, in which case little Edward may be noted under a stepfather's name.

When was your grandfather born?

Could this be your great-grandfather in the 1861 census:-

Name: Edward Holmes
Age: 31
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1830
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Ann
Gender: Male
Where born: Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England
Civil parish: Aston
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation: Stoker at Gas Works

Condition as to marriage: married

View image
Registration district: Aston
Sub-registration district: Deritend
ED, institution, or vessel: 21
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 127
Household Members:
Name Age

Edward Holmes 31
Ann Holmes 26

Source Citation: Class: RG9; Piece: 2173; Folio: 15A; Page: 24; GSU roll: 542930.

There is an Ann Brooks on the same page on the 1852 marriage record.

Kath. x

Is one of these records your grandfather's birth? :-

Name: Edward Holmes
Year of Registration: 1874
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: West Bromwich
County: Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire
Volume: 6b
Page: 827

or:-

Name: Edward Holmes
Year of Registration: 1874
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Birmingham (1837-1924)
County: Warwickshire
Volume: 6d
Page: 149

or:-

Name: Lawrence Edward Holmes
Year of Registration: 1873
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Solihull
County: Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire
Volume: 6d
Page: 512

If you buy his birth certificate it will have his mother's name which will help find the right family in the census.

Kath. x

I am afraid my previous attempt to obtain help was garbled and I will try to tidy it up. I have my fathers birth certificate which shows his father was Edward Holmes and since I knew that his wife was Kate I obtaind their wedding certificate in 1895 which showed his father as Edward. Ithen looked at the census of 1891 bu there was no trace of Edward. I traced the birth of Edward in 1874 and found that the only marriage ( presumably ( my great grand fathers ) in Bimingham was in 1852 but again the 1861 census showed no trace.I have over the past few years been trying to make sense of these few facts and wondered if a more disciplined mind could make more sense of this,Thank you Frank

Do you know the name of your grandfather Edward's mother?

Could it have been Sarah Ann? She could then have been named Sarah Ann, Sarah or Ann on his birth certificate.

There is another marriage of an Edward Holmes in Birmingham in 1872 possibly to a Sarah Ann. Could this couple be your great grandparents?

I will check the 1881 Census for this couple and get back to you.

Tess

Have found edward and Sarah A. Holmes on the 1881 Census.
(sorry I can't do the cut and Paste Thing).

they are living in no 8, 16, Court, Burford Street, Birmingham

Edward is 49 a Stock ---- Fitter from Birmingham
Sarah A is 38 also From Birmingham
their son Edward A 8 ditto
dau Mary A 4 ditto
dau Sarah A 9 months ditto

I can't find a birth of Edward (or Edward A Holmes) in Birmingham in 1872/3 The most likely is Edward born 1874 in Birmingham.

1891 Census
Sarah Ann is a Widow aged 48 a charwoman.
No sign of Edward, but she is living with daughters - Mary Ann 14, Sarah 10, son Charles 8 and dau Issie? aged 4.

I have not yet been able to find a positive match for your Edward.

What are the names of the witnesses to the marriage of Edward and Kate?

Do any of these possible siblings names appear on the cert.

Have to go out now, will be back in a few hours.