Find Ancestors

Hi!
We're trying to find out more about a member of our family who was born around 1850, find related ancestors and build our family tree. We don't have an older family member to ask about it and I have hit a wall regarding censuses and other records. All that I can think of is to buy a birth certificate to find previous relatives...any more suggestions?
Hope that made sense!
Thanks
Katie

Hi Katie, and welcome to the boards. Tell us more about the person (name, year & place of birth, parents, spouse - whatever you know) and we'll see what we can find.

Hi,
His name is John William (possibly just John or William on some records) Robinson. He was born around 1850. We know he lived around the Port Clarence area of Middlesbrough when he had a family but I am unsure of where he was born - possibly Middlesbrough/Stockton/Durham area. We think he married a woman named Elizabeth who was born around 1858. Through census records, we think she died before the 1901 census as he was listed as a widow. We think he had 10 children between 1877 and 1893. Some records show him as a blast furnace worker. However, we also have some thoughts that he was a shoe maker. We don't know anything about his parents which is where our search has stopped. Hope that's enough info! Thanks again!

Hi Katie,

Could you please post a census that you know is definitely him and his family? Or failing that, can you tell us some of his childrens' names and birth years.

Sarah, I guess it's not impossible but would be very unusual to switch from blast furnace worker to shoemaker.

The trouble with names like Robinson is it's easy to get waylaid along a wrong line.

As alviegal says, you need to work back from known hard facts.

Is John William Robinson a direct ancestor? If so, which of his children are you descended from?

Katie or Sarah,
I cannot see either of them in Middlesborough either.
Could you post some definite details?
With a name like Robinson you need birth and marriage certificates.
Thanks

I'm just posting this 1901 as an example:

ROBINSON, John Head Married M 51 1850 Steelworker Manchester Lancashire
ROBINSON, Elizabeth Wife Married F 50 1851 Middlesbrough Yorkshire
ROBINSON, Charles Son Single M 15 1886 Middlesbrough Yorkshire
ROBINSON, George Son Single M 14 1887 Middlesbrough Yorkshire
ROBINSON, Thomas Son Single M 10 1891 Middlesbrough Yorkshire
ROBINSON, Hilda Daughter Single F 8 1893 Middlesbrough Yorkshire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Registration District: Middlesbrough
Civil Parish: Middlesbrough

Address: 7, Samuelson Street, Middlesbrough County: Yorkshire (North riding)

This one lives Middlesbrough, is married to an Elizabeth, works in steel (blast furnace?). You weren't sure where he was from, so why not Manchester?

I'm not saying this is your chap, just trying to illustrate how we need to establish the hard facts.

I think it might be this one???
1901 census transcription details for: 7, Samphire Street, Cowpen Bewley, Port Clarence
RG number: RG13 Piece: 4629 Folio: 101 Page: 4

Reg. District: Stockton Sub District: Stockton
ROBINSON, William Head Widower M 51 1850 Blast Furnace Labourer
Middlesbro
Yorkshire
ROBINSON, John Son Single M 24 1877 Engine Stoker At Iron Works
Middlesbro
Yorkshire
ROBINSON, Jane Daughter Single F 22 1879
Middlesbro
Yorkshire
ROBINSON, Elizabeth Daughter Single F 20 1881
Middlesbro
Yorkshire
ROBINSON, Sarah Daughter Single F 17 1884
Middlesbro
Yorkshire
ROBINSON, Ada Daughter F 15 1886
Middlesbro
Yorkshire
ROBINSON, Lily Daughter F 10 1891
Port Clarence
Durham
ROBINSON, Robert Son M 8 1893
Port Clarence
Durham
MITCHELL, Robert Boarder Single M 23 1878 Blast Furnace Labourer
Whitehaven
Cumberland
FITZSIMMONS, Bernard Boarder Single M 22 1879 Slagger (Iron Works)
Whitehaven
Cumberland


Maureen

This one?
1881 England Census
John Robson
Age: 25 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1856
Relation: Head Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Robson
Gender: Male Where born: Middlesbro, Yorkshire, England
Civil parish: Middlesbrough County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England
Street Address: 23 Norton St
Condition as to marriage: Married
Occupation: Labourer At Iron Wks
Registration district: Middlesbrough Sub-registration district: Middlesbrough
ED, institution, or vessel: 20 Piece: 4850 Folio: 39 Page Number: 24

John Robson 25
Elizabeth Robson 23 Stockton
Robert Robson 2 Middlesborough

Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 4850; Folio: 39; Page: 24; GSU roll: 1342168.

Maureen - you've just proved my point! Katie/Sarah says he was John on some records and William on others.

Or this:
1891 England Census
John Robinson Age: 46 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1845
Relation: Head Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Robinson
Gender: Male Where born: Bishop Middleham, Durham, England
Civil parish: Middlesborough Ecclesiastical parish: All Saints
Town: Middlesborough County/Island: Yorkshire Country: England
Occupation:
Registration district: Middlesbrough Sub-registration district: Middlesbrough
ED, institution, or vessel: 16 Piece: 4006 Folio: 51 Page Number: 28
John Robinson 46
Elizabeth Robinson 46
William T Robinson 22
Sarah A Robinson 20
John Edward Robinson 16
George Robinson 12
Edith M Robinson 10
Source Citation: Class: RG12; Piece: 4006; Folio 51; Page 28; GSU roll: 6099116.

Maureen's looks like being the right one. Didn't realise Port Clarence was in Durham.
Anyway please Katie, tell us your direct ancestor.



Whoops!!! Here is the 1891 for that family. Wrong wife.


ROBINSON, William Head Married M 38 1853 Engine Driver
Middlesbrough
Yorkshire VIEW
ROBINSON, Jane Wife Married F 36 1855
Middlesbrough
Yorkshire VIEW
ROBINSON, John W Son M 15 1876 Brick Chipper
Middlesbrough
Yorkshire VIEW
ROBINSON, Margaret Daughter F 13 1878
Middlesbrough
Yorkshire VIEW
ROBINSON, Elizabeth Daughter F 11 1880 Scholar
Middlesbrough
Yorkshire VIEW
ROBINSON, Sarah A Daughter F 7 1884 Scholar
Middlesbrough
Yorkshire VIEW
ROBINSON, Ada Daughter F 3 1888
Middlesbrough
Yorkshire VIEW
ROBINSON, Lilly Daughter F 0 (3M) 1891
Middlesbrough
Yorkshire VIEW
Piece:
4054 Folio:
69 Page:
4 Registration District:
Stockton

Civil Parish:
Cowpen Bewley Municipal Borough:
Address:
18, Cottage, Cowpen Bewley, Port Clarence County:
Durham



1881???


ROBINSON, William Head Married M 34 1847 Engineer On Steamboat (Seaman)
Middlesbough
Yorkshire VIEW
ROBINSON, Jane Wife Married F 23 1858
Stockton on Tees
Durham VIEW
ROBINSON, Mary Jane Daughter Single F 6 1875 Scholar
Middlesbough
Yorkshire VIEW
ROBINSON, John W Son Single M 5 1876
Middlesbough
Yorkshire VIEW
ROBINSON, Elizabeth Daughter Single F 0 1881
Middlesbough
Yorkshire VIEW
ROBINSON, Margaret Daughter Single F 2 1879
Middlesbough
Yorkshire VIEW
ROBINSON, Robert Brother Single M 20 1861 Fireman On Boat (Seaman Mariner) ((Engineer))
Stockton on Tees
Durham VIEW
ROBINSON, Thomas Brother M 35 1846 Railway Engineer
Stockton on Tees
Durham VIEW
Piece:
4847 Folio:
91 Page:
15 Registration District:
Middlesbrough

Civil Parish:
Middlesbrough Municipal Borough:
Address:
21, Robert St, Middlesbrough County:
Yorkshire (North riding)

Sarah said Port Clarence is Middlesborough?

Added:
My google map says Port Clarence is Stockton-on-Tees, which is North Yorkshire and Durham.

Free BMD marriage

William Robinson to Jane Rowell Q3 1875 Stockton ref 10a 95

An Ancestry tree has this couple without any DOBs or places but lists one child, Elizabeth born 1880 who married Robert Stainsby Wright in 1901 in Haverton Hill which adjoins Port Clarence
There are 3 children to this marriage
Olive Rabia b1903
Mabel b 1912
Edna b 1915
This info is from the Clarkson family tree

Does any of this mean anything to you Katie ?

For the researchers' info Port Clarence is part of Stockton on Tees which is in County Durham
Middlesbrough is south of the Tees and therefore in North Yorkshire

Hello! Thanks for so many replies!
Sorry I haven't replied sooner but I have been at work all day!

MaureeninNY is right. The 1901 census is the one we're looking at for John/William:
1901 census transcription details for: 7, Samphire Street, Cowpen Bewley, Port Clarence
RG number: RG13 Piece: 4629 Folio: 101 Page: 4

Reg. District: Stockton Sub District: Stockton
ROBINSON, William Head Widower M 51 1850 Blast Furnace Labourer
Middlesbro
Yorkshire
ROBINSON, John Son Single M 24 1877 Engine Stoker At Iron Works
Middlesbro
Yorkshire
ROBINSON, Jane Daughter Single F 22 1879
Middlesbro
Yorkshire
ROBINSON, Elizabeth Daughter Single F 20 1881
Middlesbro
Yorkshire
ROBINSON, Sarah Daughter Single F 17 1884
Middlesbro
Yorkshire
ROBINSON, Ada Daughter F 15 1886
Middlesbro
Yorkshire
ROBINSON, Lily Daughter F 10 1891
Port Clarence
Durham
ROBINSON, Robert Son M 8 1893
Port Clarence
Durham
MITCHELL, Robert Boarder Single M 23 1878 Blast Furnace Labourer
Whitehaven
Cumberland
FITZSIMMONS, Bernard Boarder Single M 22 1879 Slagger (Iron Works)
Whitehaven
Cumberland

Robert Robinson (the youngest son) is my great grandad.
Port Clarence is Stockton now but I think it used to be counted as Cleveland...which doesn't exist any more!

You need to get Robert Robinson's birth certificate - this will have his Mother's name on it.
Do you know his exact date of birth?
Thanks

It's 7th August 1893. We don't have Robert's birth certificate but we know his mother was called Elizabeth.
Thanks again!
Katie

1911. William had 10 children, 8 still living. Elizabeth Wright had 2 children, 1 still living.

ROBINSON, William Head Widower M 59 1852 General Labourer Yorkshire Middlesbrough VIEW
ROBINSON, John William Son Single M 31 1880 General Labourer Yorkshire Middlesbrough VIEW
ROBINSON, Robert Son Single M 17 1894 General Labourer Durham Port Clarence VIEW
ROBINSON, Ada Daughter Single F 22 1889 House Keeper Yorkshire Middlesbrough VIEW
ROBINSON, Sarah Ann Daughter Single F 25 1886 House Keeper Yorkshire Middlesbrough VIEW
WRIGHT, Elizabeth Daughter Married
10 years F 28 1883 House Keeper Yorkshire Middlesbrough VIEW
WRIGHT, Robert Stainsby Son-In-Law Married M 29 1882 General Labourer Yorkshire Brompton VIEW
WRIGHT, Oliv E Rabia Grandchild F 7 1904 Yorkshire Middlesbrough VIEW
RG number:
RG14 Piece:
29597 Reference:
RG14PN29597 RG78PN1717B RD544 SD1 ED51 SN157

Registration District:
Stockton Sub District:
Stockton Enumeration District:
51 Parish:
Cowpen Bewley

Address:
15 Tees Street Port Clarence Middlesbrough County:
Durham


This man appears to have married a Jane (from census records above) Why are you so definite that he married an Elizabeth? I do think you need Robert's birth certificate.

I agree with alviegal.
You need the birth certificate, then you will confirm the mother as Elizabeth, and find what her maiden name was.
Particularly as you appear to have little consistency between the censuses.
Late registration, this one?:
Births Dec 1893
Robinson Robert Stockton 10a 40