Hi, I'm new to the Forum and so far like what I see! I am researching my great grandparents from "near Preston". James Smith b. 1849 who then married Alice Fidler and immigrated to the U. S. around 1872-73. Would love any information or connections. Thanks much.

Hi Cain,

I don't know if this is the correct family but the only one that I came up with on familysearch.org

James Smith married to Alice Fidler on the 2.9.1872 at Cathedral Manchester. If you go to the link below it will take you to the page.
Familysearch

mattycat

Thanks for getting back to me! I'm really just starting the Smith family research and was quite daunted at the number of Smith's in the world! And the number that immigrated to the U. S. You'll also have to forgive any blunders I might make initially since I'm in the U. S., sometimes I get lost in the difference in words in the U. K. Most of the time I do ok, but every once in awhile I'll get stumped.

I have little information about the Smith's I'm looking for that were near Preston. In fact I always thought Manchester until I found a note by my Grandfather on his Father's U. S. naturalization papers that referenced "near Preston". I have even less information about the Fidlers other than an old photo of a house titled "Fidler House". It's a large brick house in the middle of nowhere and the picture is fast loosing quality.

Any information anyone has I would love to know! While I live currently in the U. S., I have had extended stays in the U. K., always wonderful by the way, and would really like to know the family history. Unfortunately my Mother, who was a Smith, was not interested and is now deceased. All of her relatives are also deceased and there is not much of a paper trail.

Lovely to chat with you and anything I can supply from this end, please do let me know.

Hi Cain,

I know what you mean about the Smith's! lol I was Smith before marriage and live not to far away from where they all lived .. but I have still come unstuck. Like you I didn't ask enough questions before my parents died .. now too late.

You may have more luck with Alice Fiddler .. that's how I found that marriage, in those days marriages took place ot the Mother Church so people did travel to get married. Now the names I have found may not be your family .. but I would keep them just in case.

I searched on familysearch.org but also you may like to have a look in our links cabinet for more information about web sites .. one .. worth looking at is
www.lan-opc.org.uk for Parish Records.


LinksCabinet

Keep in touch and we will see if we can help at anytime.


mattycat

Hi Cain

Looks like Mattycat has already got you on your way

Have a Great Day

Chellin

You would be surprised at what you can find once you know where to look. I am also in the the US and have found a wealth of information available online. With a little bit of information, the pieces start to fit together.

I started in June 2007 with only my Smith and Leigh families and have connected the dots to a dozen others.