Find Ancestors

Looking for a Smith is like looking for a needle in a haystack especially when I dont know if he was christened Henry or Harry both popular at the time and I dont know where to start.Al I know is that he was Headmaster of St Leonards school in Bilston in 1858 and presumably would appear in the 1861 and possibly 1851 and 1871 census as a schoolmaster.So far I have not been able to make a match.Can anyone please help?

Thanks
Ian Crichton

Try what I did on your Pirt thread - look at 1881 for possibles as teacher or school master and work backwards

At least from the Pirt thread I know the Ecclesiastical parish: St Leonard

Got him

1861
Name: Harry Smith
Age: 29
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1832
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Sarah Smith
Gender: Male
Where born: Gosport, Hampshire, England

Civil parish: Bilston
Ecclesiastical parish: St Leonard
Town: Bilston
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage: View image

Registration district: Wolverhampton
Sub-registration district: Bilston
ED, institution, or vessel: 27
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 73
Piece: 2006
Folio: 86
Page Number: 13
Household Members: Name Age
Harry Smith 29
Sarah Smith 25 Sedgley, Staffordshire
W George Smith 3 Silsoe, Bedfordshire
Albert Smith 2 MO Bilston, Staffordshire
M Ann Bate 18
Martha Johnson 12


Schoolmaster

St Leronards National School, School Masters House


Class: RG9; Piece: 2006; Folio: 86; Page: 13; GSU roll: 542901

Hi is this him

1861 census

Name Harry Smith
Age 29
Estimated Year of Birth 1832
Relationship to Head of Household Head
Occupation Scohol Master
Address Green Croft
District Wolverhampton, Bilston
Parish Bilston
Administrative County Staffordshire
Birth Place Gosport
Birth County Hampshire
in house
harry smith head 29
sarah wife 25
wm george son 3
albert son 2 months
mary ann bate servant 18
martha johnson servant 12
RG 9 / 2006

1871 moved but still a teacher

Name: Harry Smith
Age: 39
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1832
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Sarah S Smith
Gender: Male
Where born: Gosport, Hampshire, England
Civil parish: Kings Norton
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
County/Island: Worcestershire
Country: England
Registration district: Kings Norton
Sub-registration district: Kings Norton
ED, institution, or vessel: 10b
Household schedule number: 210
Piece: 3078
Folio: 60
Page Number: 48
Household Members: Name Age
Harry Smith 39
Sarah S Smith 35
Albert Smith 10
Ada Smith 8
Adela Smith 6
Alfred M Smith 4
Rupert H Smith 3
Emily B Smith 1

Class: RG10; Piece: 3078; Folio: 60; Page: 48; GSU roll: 838891.

1881 census

Name Albert Smith
Age 20
Estimated Year of Birth 1861
Relationship to Head of Household Son
Occupation School Masters Assistant
Address Alcester Road
District Kings Norton, Kings Norton
Parish Kings Norton
Administrative County Worcestershire
Birth Place Bilston
Birth County Staffordshire
in house
harry smith head 43
sarah wife 40
albert son 20
ada daughter 18
adele daughter 16
alfred m son 14
rupert h son 13
emily b daughter 11
sydney son 6
arthur w son 4
edith f s daughter 3
RG 11 / 2994


there are a few boarders at school

possible for sarah living with daughter ada


1911 census

Household information
Address Beech Lawn Beech Lane Solihull
Parish Solihull
Town Solihull
Type of Building Private House
Number of Rooms Seven
Inhabited Y
Reference RG14PN18642 RG78PN1115 RD392 SD1 ED4 SN69
Administrative County Warwickshire
Registration District Solihull
Registration Sub District Solihull
Enumeration District 4

Householder 1
Name Howard Oliver Davis Lowe
Relationship to Head of Household Head
Condition / Years Married / Years
Gender M
Age 50
Estimated Year of Birth 1861
Occupation Solicitor's Clerk
Employed Y
Working at Home N
Place of Birth Dicrsons Green Dudley Worc
Nationality British Sub: By Parentage

Householder 2
Name Ada Lowe
Relationship to Head of Household Wife
Condition / Years Married / 21 Years
Total Children Born Alive 3
Children Still Living 1
Children Who Have Died 2
Gender F
Age 48
Estimated Year of Birth 1863
Employed N
Working at Home N
Place of Birth Bilston Staffs
Nationality British Sub: By Parentage

Householder 3
Name Sam Wilfred Davis Lowe
Relationship to Head of Household Son
Gender M
Age 13
Estimated Year of Birth 1898
Occupation School
Employed Y
Working at Home N
Place of Birth Swingfield Kent
Nationality British Sub: By Parentage

Householder 4
Name Sarah Smith Smith
Relationship to Head of Household Mother In Law
Condition / Years Married / Years
Gender F
Age 75
Estimated Year of Birth 1836
Employed N
Working at Home N
Place of Birth Sedgley Staffs
Nationality British Sub: By Parentage

Householder 5
Name Edith Butler
Relationship to Head of Household Servant
Condition / Years Married / Years
Gender F
Age 16
Estimated Year of Birth 1895
Occupation General Servant Domestic
Employed Y
Working at Home N
Place of Birth Wednesbury Staffs
Nationality British Sub: By Parentage

Ian

Are you researching the school as second request to find the head teachers

Maureen

Many thanks once again to all who have taken an interest..I'd given this one up.Yes I am researching the history of St Leonard's school in Bilston.Harry was the first Head in the "new" building in 1858. Other heads I am looking for up to 1911 census are :

James Smyth c1845 George Parker c 1851
Richard Linnell Bliss c 1854 John Pirt c1869-1875
James Taylor Palmer 1878-1888
Henry John Beards 1888-1900
Birt Palmer 1900-1915

Mistresses in the best sense of the word
Hannah Lowry c1858 Annie Yates c1868
Annie Jones c1872 Emma Fox 1884-1900
Andree Marshall 1900-1904
Thanks,
Ian Crichton

Hi found emma fox

1901 census

Address 30 Wellington Rd
Civil Parish Bilston
Rural District
Town or Village or Hamlet
Ecclesiastical Parish Bilston St Leonard
Parliamentary Borough or Division South Division Of The Borough Of Wolverhampton
County Borough, Municipal Borough or Urban District Bilston U D
Administrative County Stafford

Householder 1
Name Emma L Fox
Relation to Head of Family Head
Condition as to Marriage Single
Age Last Birthday 48
Sex Female
Profession or Occupation School Teacher Elementary
Employment Status
Where Born Staffs Bilston
Language
Infirmity

Householder 2
Name Rebecca Tranter
Relation to Head of Family Servant
Condition as to Marriage Single
Age Last Birthday 24
Sex Female
Profession or Occupation Gen Servant
Employment Status
Where Born Staffs Bilston
Language
Infirmity

1891 census

Name Emma Fox
Age 40
Estimated Year of Birth 1851
Relationship to Head of Household Daughter
Occupation Schoolmistress
Address Town Hall, Church Street
District Wolverhampton, Bilston
Parish Bilston
Administrative County Staffordshire
Birth Place Bilston
Birth County Staffordshire
in house
william fox head 74 widower
emma l daughter 40
mary a daughter 36 ( schoolmistress )
martha m daughter 33 ( librarian books )
RG 12 / 2243

1881 census

Name Emma Fox
Age 30
Estimated Year of Birth 1851
Relationship to Head of Household Daughter
Occupation School Mistress
Address 9, Lichfield Street
District Wolverhampton, Bilston
Parish Bilston
Administrative County Staffordshire
Birth Place Bilston
Birth County Staffordshire
in house
william fox head 64
mary a wife 65
emma l daughter 30
martha m daughter 22 ( school mistress )
RG 11 / 2815

Thanks Polly.

Great detective work.Do you think Hannah was dead by 1911.She was certainly no longer at the school.

Best wishes,
Ian

more info for you
she may be i cant find her at all

1901 census

Address 116 Wellington Rd
Civil Parish Bilston
Rural District
Town or Village or Hamlet
Ecclesiastical Parish Bilston St Leonard
Parliamentary Borough or Division South Division Of The Borough Of Wolverhampton
County Borough, Municipal Borough or Urban District Bilston U D
Administrative County Stafford

Householder 1
Name Geoffrey P Beards
Relation to Head of Family Son
Condition as to Marriage
Age Last Birthday 1
Sex Male
Profession or Occupation
Employment Status
Where Born Staffs Bilston
Language
Infirmity

Householder 2
Name Henry J Beards
Relation to Head of Family Head
Condition as to Marriage Married
Age Last Birthday 40
Sex Male
Profession or Occupation Schoolmaster Elementary
Employment Status
Where Born Stafs Bilston
Language
Infirmity

Householder 3
Name Minnie Beards
Relation to Head of Family Wife
Condition as to Marriage Married
Age Last Birthday 29
Sex Female
Profession or Occupation
Employment Status
Where Born Staffs Bilston
Language
Infirmity

Householder 4
Name Annie Sheregold
Relation to Head of Family Servant
Condition as to Marriage Single
Age Last Birthday 22
Sex Female
Profession or Occupation Domestic Serv Gen
Employment Status
Where Born Staffs Wall Heath
Language
Infirmity

Householder 5
Name Ella Wood
Relation to Head of Family Visitor
Condition as to Marriage Single
Age Last Birthday 22
Sex Female
Profession or Occupation Assist School Mistress
Employment Status
Where Born Staffs Kingswinford
Language
Infirmity

1881 census

Name Henry Beards
Age 20
Estimated Year of Birth 1861
Relationship to Head of Household Son
Occupation Assist School Master
Address Green Lanes
District Wolverhampton, Bilston
Parish Bilston
Administrative County Staffordshire
Birth Place Bilston
Birth County Staffordshire
in house
emanuel beards head 44
charlotte wife 43
henmry j son 20
harriet daughter 16
minnie daughter 12
joseph son 8
samuel son 3
joseph aston visitor 36
harriet aston visitor 35
RG 11 / 2815

Henry John Beards died a couple of months after the 1901 census.I wonder what happened to his one year old son, Geoffrey.

Thanks,
Ian

1881 census

Name James Palmer
Age 46
Estimated Year of Birth 1835
Relationship to Head of Household Head
Occupation Certified Teacher (Schlastic)
Address Arthur Street
District Wolverhampton, Bilston
Parish Bilston
Administrative County Staffordshire
Birth Place Cambridge
Birth County Camb'Shire
in house
james taylor palmer head 46
harriet wife 37
sidney son 13
minnie daughter 9
brit son 2
eliza walton servant 18
emily silvester servant 15
RG 11 / 2816

1851

Name: Richard Lonnell Bliss
Age: 26
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1825
Relation: Lodger
Gender: M (Male)
Where born: N Chirches, Northamptonshire, England

Civil parish: Bradford
Town: Bradford
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability: View image

Registration district: Bradford
Sub-registration district: Bradford East End
ED, institution, or vessel: 23
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 19
Household Members: Name Age
Thomas Hood 35
Susannah Hood 35
Mary Ann Hood 12
Sarah Jane Hood 10
Richard Lonnell Bliss 26

Class: HO107; Piece: 2306; Folio: 404; Page: 5; GSU roll: 87517.

Occupation of National Schoolmaster


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

BAXENDALE Thomas Preston 21 551
BLISS Richard Linnell Preston 21 551
Elliott Stephen Preston 21 551
FOWLER Mary Preston 21 551
HEAPS Martha Preston 21 551
READ Jane Preston 21 551
SMITH Robert Preston 21 551
STONES Margaret Preston 21 551


Deaths Mar 1907 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BLISS Richard Linnell 81 S. Stoneham 2c 35




1861
Name: Richard Lionell Blias
Age: 36
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1825
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Mary Blias
Gender: Male
Where born: Stowe Nine Churches, Northamptonshire, England

Civil parish: Bugbrooke
County/Island: Northamptonshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage: View image

Registration district: Northampton
Sub-registration district: Bugbrooke
ED, institution, or vessel: 1g
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 192
Piece: 941
Folio: 19
Page Number: 32
Household Members: Name Age
Richard Lionell Blias 36
Mary Blias 36
John Cary Blias 8
Rich Heywood Blias 7
Adolphus Fowler Blias 5
Mary Adams 14

Class: RG9; Piece: 941; Folio: 19; Page: 32; GSU roll: 542724

1901

Name: Harriet A Palmer
Age: 52
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1849
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Clifton, Gloucestershire, England

Civil parish: Bilston
Ecclesiastical parish: St Leonard
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Wolverhampton
Sub-registration district: Bilston
ED, institution, or vessel: 19
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 36
Piece: 2690
Folio: 146
Page Number: 6
Household Members: Name Age
Harriet A Palmer 52 -widow
Bert Palmer 21 born Bilston
Chas W Thompson 35

Living at the School House

Both listed as Assistant Teachers


Class: RG13; Piece: 2690; Folio: 146; Page: 6




1881
Name: James Taylor Palmer
Age: 46
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1835
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Harriet A. Palmer
Gender: Male
Where born: Cambridgeshire, England

Civil parish: Bilston
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street Address: Arthur Street
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status: View image
Occupation: Certified Teacher (Schlastic)

Registration district: Wolverhampton
Sub-registration district: Bilston
ED, institution, or vessel: 27
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 2816
Folio: 17
Page Number: 29
Household Members: Name Age
James Taylor Palmer 46
Harriet A. Palmer 37 born Clifton, Glos.
Sidney Palmer 13
Minnie Palmer 9
Birt Palmer 2
Eliza Walton 18
Emily Silvester 15

Class: RG11; Piece: 2816; Folio: 17; Page: 29; GSU roll: 1341674.

So the same family as 1901




1911 - image is Palmer so have done a name correction on FMP
PLAMER, Birt Head Married M 32 1879 School Master Bilston Staffs VIEW
PLAMER, Ella Wife Married
8 years F 32 1879 Kingswinfow Staffs VIEW
PLAMER, Doreen Daughter Single F 2 1909 Bilston Staffs VIEW
PLAMER, Harriet Annie Mother Widow F 64 1847 Clifton Gloucestershire VIEW

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RG number:
RG14 Piece:
17123 Reference:
RG14PN17123 RD369 SD7 ED12 SN94

Registration District:
Wolverhampton Sub District:
Bilston Enumeration District:
12 Parish:
Bilston

Address:
Arthur St Bilston



1891
Name: Annie Palmer
Age: 46
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1845
Relation: Head
Where born: Clifton, Gloucestershire, England

Civil parish: Bilston
Ecclesiastical parish: St Leonard
Town: Bilston
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: Assistant School Teacher

Registration district: Wolverhampton
Sub-registration district: Bilston
ED, institution, or vessel: 27
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 2244
Folio: 38
Page Number: 25
Household Members: Name Age
Annie Palmer 46
Minnie Palmer 19
Birt Palmer 11 - Bilston
Annie Yandle 14
John McGregor 20

Class: RG12; Piece: 2244; Folio 38; Page 25; GSU roll: 6097354.




1871
Name: Taylor Palmer
Age: 36
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1835
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Annie Palmer
Gender: Male
Where born: Cambridgeshire, England
Civil parish: Bilston
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
Town: Bilston
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England
Registration district: Wolverhampton
Sub-registration district: Bilston
ED, institution, or vessel: 12
Household schedule number: 198
Piece: 2951
Folio: 47
Page Number: 37
Household Members: Name Age
Taylor Palmer 36
Annie Palmer 28 - Clifton
Sidney Palmer 3
Mary Walton 13

Class: RG10; Piece: 2951; Folio: 47; Page: 37; GSU roll: 836423.

Certified School master

Great news.No wonder I couldn't find Birt Palmer in 1911.Who'd have thought of looking for Plamer.The only Heads I am clueless about now are George Parker (Head 1851) and James Smyth (Head 1845) I have nothing else but these dates to go on.

Many thanks once again,
Ian