My great grandparents' (James Reid and Elizabeth Smith) marriage certificate tells me that they married on 13 October 1870 @ The Parish Church of Liverpool. James was FULL age whilst Elizabeth was MINOR and their father's are named as Alexander Reid, cooper and Thomas Smith, labourer.

Is it possible to obtain any further information from this at all? You see, I still have no idea where either of them were born, or exactly when, for that matter.

Also both are down as living in Furlong Street, Liverpool, so you would think this would make them easier to find but it doesn't help me at all.

I've been sitting here for a couple of hours now trying to do a search on Ancestry - again - by just using the Furlong Street, Liverpool but nothing comes up.

I want to determine where both my grandparents and their parents were born.

:ck-sad: it's driving me crackers!

HI Earth2smiths

Try looking at the census. The census tell you where people were born and what year.

JFS

Hi earth2smiths & JFS,

earth2smiths....
I've just been on the LDS 1881 Census Database, so thought would check for your James & Elizabeth Reid whilst at it.

The one I've copied below is the only one possible as far as I can see, especially in view of their son's name Alexander, & I'm sure you've mentioned before that the name Martha is in your family.

The only discrepancy is Elizabeth's age - if she was a "Minor" at her marriage 11 years earlier. But this is from the transcription - so if check original copy - I wouldn't be surprised if you find this should be 25 not 35 ????

Here they are.............
1881 Census
FHL Film 1341862 PRO Ref RG11-3600 / folio 133 page 68
Census Place Liverpool, Lancashire
Hankin St 70

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
James REID Head M Male 36 b.Glasgow Boilermaker
Elizabeth REID Wife M Female 35 b.Scotland
Alexander REID Son U Male 11 b.Scotland Scholar
Andrew REID Son U Male 9 b.Scotland Scholar
Martha REID Daur U Female 7 b.Liverpool,Lancashire Scholar

So your Smiths might have been from Scotland then - if these prove to be yours!! But if so, why would they get married in Liverpool, then go back to Scotland, then return to Liverpool later (for birth of youngest). So maybe a long-shot after all - :ck-sad: but still very possible.

Let me know what you think Maureen - & if you can check the original for Elizabeth's age. You might be able to seek it out on Ancestry?

Carole

Hi Carole, thanks ever so much for looking for me. Yes, I found that family too but, if that is my lot, then why is my grandfather - who would be their eldest born - not living with them in 1881 at the age of 9. He's living with his Irish uncle and aunt with no sign of either parents.

I'm fairly convinced that James was away at sea - he was a fireman on board ship - which is why I was wondering if ther was any way I could find out more details of them from their marriage certificate.

The 1871 census for 33 Walmsley St, St Aidans Parish, Liverpool shows:- Elizabeth Reed, Lodger, aged 18 Wife b. Ireland (abt 1853) but no husband for her.

And again in 1871 census this time for Sub Dist. St Martin

Elizabeth Reed, Lodger, Wife, 18, born Ireland

This leads me to think that our Smith's on Dad's side were from Ireland and possibly our Reid's too!

Unfortunately, Reid was a common name too in Liverpool, as Smith was.

I do appreciate your help though. Thanks again.
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Links below, inserted at a later date by Carole, Admin:
Other related genealogy topics posted by earth2smiths....
>> Smith/Reid-Liverpool & Ireland >>
>> Smiths of Liverpool (and Cheshire) >>
>> ??Irish connection re Smith m Reid 1870 Liverpool >>
>> LUCAS family - Ireland to Liverpool >>