Hello everyone - I have hit a huge Brick Wall with my Great Grandfather John Smith [ yes , I know, I can hear you groaning]. The certificates I have give me the following information:
He married Mary Ann Cox 9th Oct 1871 in Canterbury Register Office [ Kent]. I have all the info I need about Mary Ann and her family.
John's address is given as High Street, Tunbridge Wells, his occupation is a Tailor and his father is James Smith[ deceased] also a Tailor.
John & Mary Ann had only 2 sons, as far as I know, John James b.1872 in Denny Bottom and Thomas George b.1874 in Tunbridge Wells.
Mary Ann died in 1879 in Tunbridge Wells [ I have her death cert.]
I have no idea where John Smith was born so it makes it difficult to locate him on any census. His age is given as 32 when he married. There are no records of him being born 1838/39 in Tunbridge Wells.
Neither can I find out what happened to him after his wife died. The boys turn up in the 1881 census in an Orphanage in Greenwich run by a Mr Toye and his family [ Plymouth Brethren]
I have been able to follow the boys in 1891 & 1901 census - they ended up in West Ham with wives and children. John was alive when John James got married but it's not clear whether he was deceased on Thomas' marriage or not.
If anybody can offer suggestions how I can proceed I would be really grateful, so far everyone who has tried to help [ I've asked different sources] has hit the same brick wall - so I'm in a bit of despair.....
Surely he must be on apprentice records somewhere ? Did he remarry ? He married late but he was a 'Bachelor' on the cert. Did he and Mary Ann have other children after Thomas in 1874?
With not much hope - but thanks anyway ..... Eileen

Hello Eileen!

What a puzzle you have challenged us with! We shall have to put on our thinking caps for this one. I wonder whether your local record office holds any apprentice records?

Gillian

Thanks Gillian,
How do I find a Record office ? - I think Tunbridge Wells may come under Canterbury, but I don't even know where John would have served his apprenticeship anyway - a process of elimination I guess. It was suggested to me some time ago that he could have been apprenticed to his father as he was a Tailor as well. Eileen

http://www.ancestor-search.info/CRO-Kent.htm

Eileen try this website and see whether there is anything that might be helpful.
Gillian

Thank you Gillian - I've sent them an email re- apprentice records .... Eileen

Eileen

If you go to the LDS website and select the IGI search then enter the following info:
Name John Smith
Father James Smith
Births 1838+/- 2
British Isles, England, Kent
You will get about 8 results 1 of which is:

John Smith b 5th June 1836 at Meopham, Kent to James and Jane Smith.

Meopham seems to be not so very far from Tunbridge Wells?
Anyway you could have a look at them all and see if there are any other clues. It may be worth a look. :idea:

Gillian

Thanks again Gillian - I've had a look and there are other possibilities too aren't there? It's a matter of establishing if any of them were Tailors so I think I'll try to find them on the 1841 census. Eileen

Good luck with the search! Gillian