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I'm trying to find a birth record for my GGGrandfather Reuben Philip Shirley born 1849 in Kidlington, Oxfordshire.
I have a marriage certificate for his second marriage to Jane Catherine Richards in 1873, but can't find any trace of his birth being registered, his first marriage or the death of his first wife, supposedly a Mary Ann Williamson.
In the 1841 census his mother and her family were in the Woodstock Union Workhouse, by 1851 they had left there. Does anyone know if it's possible to view the workhouse records online?
I do know that Reuben was illegitimate and that his mother Alice (Eliza) Shirley married Albert McPherson in 1850. I have him on all the censuses, but just can't find his birth anywhere. I'd be very grateful for any advice.
Thank you
Kay
PS - there is another Reuben Shirley born in 1847 but I've tracked him through the censuses and records and he's nothing to do with my Reuben.

1851 census
There is a Reuben Philip Shirley living with an Alice MacPherson married to Albert MacPherson (born sussex) The head of house if Thomas Shirley who is a widower . Is this them?

Could he have been registered under a different first name? I know after registration people use different names when baptised or for whatever reason. There is a William Shirely born Woodstock Dec 1849.

Just for reference

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Household:1881

Rueben SHIRLEY Head M Male 32 Hidlington, Oxford, England Coal Miner
Jane SHIRLEY Wife M Female 30 Uttoxeter, Stafford, England
Ellen SHIRLEY Daur Female 9 Mountain Ash, Glamorgan, Wales
Alice SHIRLEY Daur Female 7 Mountain Ash, Glamorgan, Wales
Lydia SHIRLEY Daur Female 5 Mountain Ash, Glamorgan, Wales
Osman P. SHIRLEY Son Male 3 Mountain Ash, Glamorgan, Wales
Reuben SHIRLEY Son Male 1 Holywell, Flint, Wales

Dwelling School St
Census Place Ashton In Makerfield, Lancashire, England
30

----------------------------------------------------
and this is the other one ... which has been eliminated.


Births Jun 1846
SHIRLEY Reuben - Banbury 16 15


Household:1881

Reuben SHIRLEY Head M Male 34 Barford St Michael, Oxford, England Greengrocer & China Dealer
Mary A. SHIRLEY Wife M Female 30 Bloxham, Oxford, England
Hannah SHIRLEY Daur Female 8 Barford St Michael, Oxford, England
Albert SHIRLEY Son Male 6 Ecclesfield, York, England
Martha E. SHIRLEY Daur Female 3 Ecclesfield, York, England
Elizabeth SHIRLEY Daur Female 4 m Ecclesfield, York, England

:
Dwelling Hillsbro
Census Place Ecclesfield, York, England

looks like, Barbara

just for info

Marriages Dec 1850
BROOKS Richard Woodstock 16 367
Macpherson Albert Woodstock 16 367 <<<
Parish Emily Woodstock 16 367
Shirley Alice Woodstock 16 367 <<<

The marriage


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Marriages Dec 1873

Davies Thomas Merthyr T. 11a 897
Evans Sarah Merthyr T 11a 897
************Richards Jane Catherine Merthyr T. 11a 897
***********Shirley Reuben Philip Merthyr T. 11a 897
WATKINS MARY Merthyr T 11a 897

Kiddlington comes under Woodstock.
Running with Barbara's idea that he may have been given another name, these are the 2 possibles.
Was hoping to find them on IGI to see if mother was Alice but neither are listed.

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Births Dec 1849
SHIRLEY William - Woodstock 16 145

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Births Sep 1850
Shirley Richard - Woodstock 16 149

Ruben Shirley on original - born Kidlington

1871


SLASKEY, Ruben Visitor M 22 1849 Oxfordshire VIEW (brn Kidlington)
SLASKEY, Mary A Visitor F 23 1848 Herefordshire VIEW (born Weobley)
WAKEFIELD, George Head M 35 1836 Gloucestershire VIEW
WAKEFIELD, Elizabeth Wife F 27 1844 Glamorgan VIEW
WAKEFIELD, Elizabeth J Daughter F 1 1870 Glamorgan VIEW

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RG number:
RG10 Piece:
5378 Folio:
52 Page:
38

Registration District:
Pontypridd Sub District:
Pontypridd Enumeration District:
17 Ecclesiastical Parish:


Civil Parish:
Llanwonno Municipal Borough:
Address:
Strand St, Llanwonno County:
Glamorganshire

Many thanks for all the help and advice. Regarding censuses I do have all that information, I just can't find any record for his birth or first marriage. The Reben Shirley born at Barford St. Michael is definitely not him, but I'll certainly follow up the suggestion of another name - William or Richard Shirley.

Many thanks
Kay

From Parish Register transcripts
Reuben Philip Shirley baptised Kidlington 25/3/1849 son of Alice singlewoman
22/12/1850 Albert MacPherson bachelor labourer of this parish
Alice Shirley spinster servant of this parish daughter Thomas a labourer
witnesses Charles Butler, Rosetta Woodley in Kidlington
If Reuben was born in a workhouse as was possible, the master of the workhouse would have registered him, with perhaps the incorrect christian name.

this could well be him but the record won't open fully for me!!

Rueben Shirley

England and Wales Census, 1881
birth: 1849 — Hidlington, Oxford, England
residence: Ashton In Makerfield, Lancashire, England

ah, this is it - 1881

Rueben SHIRLEY Head M Male 32 Hidlington, Oxford, England Coal Miner
Jane SHIRLEY Wife M Female 30 Uttoxeter, Stafford, England
Ellen SHIRLEY Daur Female 9 Mountain Ash, Glamorgan, Wales
Alice SHIRLEY Daur Female 7 Mountain Ash, Glamorgan, Wales
Lydia SHIRLEY Daur Female 5 Mountain Ash, Glamorgan, Wales
Osman P. SHIRLEY Son Male 3 Mountain Ash, Glamorgan, Wales
Reuben SHIRLEY Son Male 1 Holywell, Flint, Wales


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Source Information:
Dwelling School St
Census Place Ashton In Makerfield, Lancashire, England
Family History Library Film 1341905
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 3785 / 17
Page Number 30

Osman P. Shirley

England and Wales Census, 1881
birth: 1878 — Mountain Ash, Glamorgan, Wales
residence: Ashton In Makerfield, Lancashire, England

record title: England and Wales Census, 1881
name: Osman P. Shirley
age: 3
gender: Male
birth year: 1878
birthplace: Mountain Ash, Glamorgan, Wales
relationship to head of household: Son
address: School St
census place: Ashton In Makerfield, Lancashire, England
record type: Household
family history library film: 1341905
the national archives reference: RG11
piece / folio: 3785 / 17
page number:

sorry Mike - just noticed you had posted that one!!

Reuben Shirley

England Marriages, 1538–1973
birth: 1880
parents: Reuben Shirley
spouse: Elizabeth Winrow
marriage: 23 Dec 1899 — St. Thomas, Ashton-In-Mackerfield, Lancashire, England

record title: England Marriages, 1538–1973
groom's name: Reuben Shirley
groom's birth date: 1880
groom's age: 19
bride's name: Elizabeth Winrow
bride's birth date: 1880
bride's age: 19
marriage date: 23 Dec 1899
marriage place: St. Thomas, Ashton-In-Mackerfield, Lancashire, England
groom's father's name: Reuben Shirley
bride's father's name: William Winrow
groom's marital status: Single
bride's marital status: Single
indexing project (batch) number: M00717-9
system origin: England-EASy
source film number: 1885661

Alice M. Shirley

England and Wales Census, 1881
birth: 1866 — Kidlington, Oxford, England
residence: Woolvercot, Oxford, England

record title: England and Wales Census, 1881
name: Alice M. Shirley
age: 15
gender: Female
birth year: 1866
birthplace: Kidlington, Oxford, England
relationship to head of household: Grandaur
address: Village St Farm House
census place: Woolvercot, Oxford, England
record type: Household
family history library film: 1341365
the national archives reference: RG11
piece / folio: 1512 / 15
page number: 1

1881

Albert MC PHERSON Head M Male 56 Brighton Coal Miner
Alice MC PHERSON Wife M Female 55 Hidlington, Oxford, England
Walter MC PHERSON Son U Male 17 Hereford, England Coal Miner
Albert T. SHIRLEY Grandson Male 10 Mountain Ash, Wales
Edward POWELL Boarder U Male 21 Mountain Ash, Wales Coal Miner
Alfred MC PHERSON Son Male 15 Hereford, England Coal Miner
Albert MC PHERSON Head M Male 24 Hereford, England Coal Miner
Hannah MC PHERSON Wife M Female 24 Mountain Ash, Wales
Ellen MC PHERSON Daur Female 5 Mountain Ash, Wales
Alice MC PHERSON Daur Female 1 Holywell, Flint, Wales


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Source Information:
Dwelling School St
Census Place Ashton In Makerfield, Lancashire, England
Family History Library Film 1341905
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 3785 / 17
Page Number 29

Hello Margaret Rose and Ann of Green Gables. I'm sure the Reuben you have found on parish transcripts( christened 25/3/1949 son of Alice) is my GGGrandfather Reuben Shirley. His mother subsequently married Albert McPherson in 1850.

I'm amazed you've found him, as I've been searching for ages. I couldn't find him on the BMD index and he doesn't appear on the parish records somebody passed to me.
Please can you tell me how to get onto the parish register transcripts (I'm not brilliant on the computer) or does it involve me going down to Oxford?
Many thanks
Kay