Find Ancestors

My Great Grandparents were David Smith and Harriet Jennings. Funnily enough I'm OK on the Smith side for the moment but I'm having horrible doubts about the Jennings.

They married in Gloucester 29/11/1875, Harriet's age was 22 and her father is down as John Jennings, Labourer.

Through all the censuses her age is consistent with an 1853 birth, she gives her birthplace as Gloucester and her name as Harriet L or Louisa.
I sent off for the only birth certificate that fitted the bill. Back it came with her father's name entered as Charles. Completely forgetting about the John on her marriage certificate I tracked Charles Jennings line back to 1670ish thanks to the wonderful Forest of Dean site. For some reason I went back to the marriage certificate a couple of days ago and spotted the discepancy so now I'm in a panic.

Have I gone horribly wrong? Did Harriet get her father's name wrong on her marriage certificate? Or was he perhaps Charles John or John Charles?

Pam

The birth cert may not be for the girl who married David Smith

There were no penalties until 1875 for not registering births, so 'your' Harriet may not have been registered

What was the address on the birth cert?*************************

Where was Harriet living in 1861?

What were the occupations of the two "fathers"?

??????

Harriet Louisa Jennings

Christening: 31 JUL 1853 St Mary-De-Lode'S Church, Gloucester, Gloucester, England

Father: Charles Jennings
Mother: Harriet Jennings

1861 so this could match the birth
Name: Harriett L Jennings
Age: 7
Estimated birth year: abt 1854
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Charles
Mother's Name: Harriett
Gender: Female
Where born: Gloster, Gloucestershire, England

Civil parish: Barton St Michael
Ecclesiastical parish: St James
County/Island: Gloucestershire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage: View image

Registration district: Gloucester
Sub-registration district: South
ED, institution, or vessel: 13a
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 82
Household Members: Name Age
Charles Jennings 31
Harriett Jennings 26
Emma E Jennings 9
Harriett L Jennings 7
Alice Jennings 6
Clara Jennings 3



What is mothers name on cert you got

Hi this looks like her in 1861
1861 census

Name Harriett Jennings
Age 7
Estimated Year of Birth 1854
Relationship to Head of Household Daughter
Occupation Scholar
Address Victoria Street
District Gloucester, South Hamlet
Parish
Administrative County Gloucestershire
Birth Place Gloucester
Birth County Gloucestershire
in house
charles head 31 labourer
harriett wife 26
emma e 9
harriet l 7
alice 6
clara 3
RG 9 / 1768

Marriages Dec 1851 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Harris George Gloster 11 499
Hawkes Mary Ann Gloster 11 499
Jennings Charles Gloster 11 499
Kaylock Harriet Gloster 11 499 *********Probably KEYLOCK - a Glos name.
Kaylock Maria Gloster 11 499
Morriss Mary Ann Gloster 11 499
Price Herbert Gloster 11 499
Sallabank James Gloster 11 499

The fathers on both certificates are Labourers.

Charles Jennings did indeed marry Harriet Keylock and all those census returns are the ones that I have found for Charles Jennings and family. I'm pretty sure I've got Charles's family correct just not sure if he's the father of my Harriet.

Forgot to say that the Smith's, David and Harriet, moved from Gloucester to Derby (via Birmingham) and Harriet continues to be either Harriet L or Harriet Louisa.

PS I think that census return says Corn Porter

whats the address on the birth cert?

The address on the birth certificate is Mitre Street and the bith was registered in the St John the Baptist district of Gloucester

Can I please start from basics?

You have a grandparent for whom you have the birth certificate, to enable you to know that his or her parents were David Smith and Harriet Jennings - is that right? Or perhaps a marriage certificate of that grandparent with his or her father as David Smith. Which, or both?

Where was that grandparent born/living during their life/married?

What censuses have you found him/her on for certain that they are the right person?

Morning Meg

I went to bed last night so sorry for the delay in replying.

Working backwards

I have my grandfather's birth certificate giving his parents as David and Harriet Louisa Smith, formerly Jennings. He was born in Derby in 1887.
1901 Class: RG13; Piece: 3217; Folio: 105; Page: 1.
1891 Class: RG12; Piece: 2735; Folio 28; Page 1; GSU roll: 6097845.
1881 Class: RG11; Piece: 3403; Folio: 134; Page: 30; GSU roll: 1341814.
(on the 1881 David is Daniel, although both him and his father seem to alternate between being David or Daniel)

David's occupation is Railway Coach Body Builder

I then have the marriage certificate of David Smith and Harriet Jennings.
David is 21, a coach maker, father David, a clerk and Harriet Jennings, aged 22. Her father, from the certificate is John Jennings, a Labourer. The marriage took place in Gloucester on 29/11/1875.

I have not been able to find Harriet on the 1871 but in 1861 there is only one Harriett L Jennings of the right age born in Gloucester. She is with her parents Charles and Harriett -
Class: RG9; Piece: 1768; Folio: 115; Page: 15; GSU roll: 542865.

It will be her birth certificate I have
3/7/1853 at Mitre Street, Gloucester. Harriett Louisa daughter of Charles Jennings, Labourer and Harriett Keylock.

Everything fits with this Harriett being my Great Grandmother
1853 Birth Year
Gloucester birthplace
Harriett Louisa whether single or married
Usually spelling Harriett with a double 't'
Father, be it John or Charles, a Labourer (although there were a lot of them about)

In fact if it all hangs together very nicely apart from the discepancy in the Father's names between the marriage and birth certificates.

Pam

I have to go out shortly but back after lunch.

Any ideas anyone?

I'm still thinking about it!

Thanks - I do appreciate it.

I'm 90% convinced that I've got the right Harriett, either that or there's some amazing coincidences going on. It's just the John/Charles question mark.
There don't seem to be any other Harrietts born in the right place at the right time.

We're off to Gloucester next month and I'd hate to waste time verifying information for the wrong family.

This looks like her in 1871.....the name is Jennings on the image.

What is her address on her marriage cert?

1871 England Census
about Harriett L Lemmings
Name: Harriett L Lemmings
Age: 17
Estimated birth year: abt 1854
Relation: Servant
Gender: Female
Where born: Gloucestershire, England
Civil parish: Kings Norton
County/Island: Worcestershire
Country: England
Registration district: Kings Norton
Sub-registration district: Kings Norton
ED, institution, or vessel: 14a
Household schedule number: 35
Household Members: Name Age
Frank B Hart 35
Rosa Hart 36
Mary C Hart 8
Clara B Hart 7
Rosa J Hart 4
Harriett L Lemmings 17

RG10; Piece: 3079; Folio: 88; Page: 6

I wonder if it is her - 1871's the only one where I haven't been able to find her - clever you
What a shame she's working in Worcester.
In 1871 David is living with his parents in barton St Mary Gloucester

The address on the marriage certificate is Foundry Street, Gloucester for both David and Harriett but no number.

Is the marriage cert you have a photocopy of the original, or a hand written copy?

Just wondering if his name had been entered as Chas and mistranscribed as John?

Long shot I know, but as you say all the other details you have fit.

I found all these too - and nothing any better.

It seems quite likely to be the right family throughout.

I can find no John Jennings with a daughter Harriet or Louisa.

So, that mariage certificate, it might be worth querying it with the local register office, to see if the father's name has been recorded wrongly.

I would say from it's appearance that the certificate is a photocopy.
Is there anything on it that will tell me? - it came from the GRO.

I know that in England you can't just go to the local register office and view certificates as you can over here but if I phone them will they double check the original for me?

An interesting discussion. GRO certificates are photo/fiche copies of the entries sent to them, which have been copied each quarter(ish) and sent by the local Registry Office.

It might be better to send a copy of the GRO cert to the local registry office and ask them to double check with the original information. Mistakes do happen. Of course, they might want to charge you for the privilege.