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Be warned this is difficult. I have been searching for these for over 2 years Prize awarded for the first to find the following; Death of ROBERT FERGUSON born 1842,Middlesex, last heard of in 1871 census in Bradford Death of MARY ANN FERGUSON (nee Guest) born 1839, Nottingham last heard of in 1874 in Bradford Also if you like 2 of their children ROBERT FERGUSON born 1867 Blackburn and ROSE ANN FERGUSON born 1869 Blackburn. Both last heard of in 1881 census for Bradford Any news on these, Marriage or death. I have the births for all four and marriage for ROBERT and MARY ANN. Thank you John F

Have you discounted this one (right age) Deaths Mar 1874 FERGUSON Robert 32 Stockton 10a 72 Georgina.

I have seen that one and sent for the cert. There is a branch of Ferguson's there as well as Lake District area. They are not related unless in the dim and distant past It is possible he may have gone back to London? But where is Mary Ann? Oh by the way there is a Mary Ann dying in 1878 in Sheffield and that is not her Thanks for trying, keep going

John can you post the details of the children in 1881. Georgina.

Was Rose Ann born Rose Hannah? Possible marriage... Marriages Mar 1890 Bond Thomas Blackburn 8e 505 Ferguson Rose Hannah Blackburn 8e 505 Holden Betsy Hannah Blackburn 8e 505 TAYLOR James Blackburn 8e 505 TAYLOR Mary Ann Blackburn 8e 505 Georgina.

I have seen that Rose HANNAH before and checked. It is not her I am afraid Rose Ann's reference in 1881 is as follows RG 11 Piece / Folio 4465 / 96 Page Number 6 She is in Bradford Union W/house. Just above Riley Roban..... my g/grandfather ( yes a mistranscription) I had to see the original to check if it was him and it is. Robert is in another Bradford W/house It is so strange as Robert snr and Mary Ann always registered the children and after 1875 it was compulsory Keep trying Georgina no one else seems to be taking up the challenge John

John I think a little family background is needed as your family are getting very complicated. This is how I understand it so far (please correct me if I am wrong) This is the family in 1871... Harriet Fergusion, abt 1863 Preston, Lancashire, England Daughter Bowling Yorkshire Mary Ann Fergusion abt 1839 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England Wife Bowling Yorkshire Robert Fergusion abt 1841 London, Middlesex, England Head Bowling Yorkshire Robert Fergusion, abt 1867 Blackburn, Lancashire, England Son Bowling Yorkshire Rose Anna Fergusion, abt 1870 Blackburn, Lancashire, England Daughter Bowling Yorkshire I have found Harriet as a servant in 1881. You are not sure if Robert senior & Mary Ann have died by 1881 as the children are in the workhouse, you say that Riley Roban/Ferguson is your g grandfather (name mistranscribed) There is also a Richard Roban/Ferguson born 1874 so the parents must have been alive until 1874 is this all correct so far? Georgina.

Could this be Riley's birth? Births Mar 1873 Ferguson Ripley Bradford, Y. 9b 142 And Richard's? Births Jun 1874 Fergusson Richard Bradford,Y 9b 56 Georgina.

Forget the Ripley birth above... Deaths Dec 1873 Ferguson Ripley 0 Bradford Y 9b 102 Georgina.

I was hoping I didn't have to do this.....lol Yes that's the family in 1871. I have Harriet up to 1901 and think she died in Doncaster around 1940s I have the birth certs of Robert snr and Mary Ann and their marriage You can imagine the fun I had finding Riley and Richard until I saw the original 1881 in Bradford a few years ago. To make it more complicated Riley was born Lionel and was buried as Ripley Ferguson....... work that one out lol (I have a theory) The Ripley you mention is not Riley. Do you want to know my theory on that? Don't want to bore you All the children are registered for births and I have some christenings. What I am trying to say is this family seemed to conform and Robert snr was a tailor by trade. I have found him in the 1878 (but not the 1879) electoral roll either renting or owning 2 properties, so he seemed to be doing ok. (1878 but the list could have been compiled a year or two before) So how can a family doing reasonably well suddenly have 4 kids in the w/house in 1878 ( I have the w/house records but they don't say why they were there, incidentally the w/house was a hospital as well) I originally just wanted the death certs of the 2 of them to complete the collection so to speak Then why do 2 of the children 'disappear' You are right in the fact he must have been around at least up to say October 1873 as Richard was born 5th May 1874. Keep going Georgina. I told you it was complicated. I was hoping a fresh pair of eyes might help I wonder if this is why no one else is trying John

Sorry Brenda, thanks for trying but I have that cert and it is not her. I thought I had put that in my message but I can't see it now. Sorry I thought that was her so imagine my disappointment when it arrived. It is so annoying as after 1875 all BMDs had to be registered so where are they? Thank you

Well not too many fancied the competition. Thanks to Brenda and Georgina for trying. I was hoping a fresh pair of eyes would help Cheers John

I can't come up with any answers I'm afraid, but wondered if you'd tried looking for a Will for any of them? Much easier than going through the deaths index, and if they did leave a will, much more informative!

John, could it be that they emigrated? I spent ages and ages looking to find out what happened to one of my rellies and it eventually turned out he had gone to live in France! Kate.

Ann thanks for the idea but I have checked for wills........nothing as far as I can findout.....thanks Kate, that is my theory...... Robert became bankrupt and went abroad and later sent for the 2 eldest??? Is possibly the only explanation Thanks all for help .........sorry slow in replying but PC probs. Anyone fancy trying also?

John I am intrigued now!!! Have no real information to offer. Have you tried burial records? I found a couple of my relatives as I knew roughly where they were buried and some kind person ran a check and found seven that were buried in the same church with a date of burial! I was having real problems trying to track them down. In addition with the emigration thought, that seems entirely plausible. I 'lost' a relative until I had a chat with my aunt last week, who is in her seventies. She remembers he was in the merchant navy and got bored after a couple of crossings so decided to stay in New York for a few years!! He came back eventually, no wonder I couldn't find him. Have you run checks on US census' to see if they show up? Good luck Laura

Hi Sorry re slow response........PC problems I have checked burial records fro the likely churches with no joy, but they should be on the GRO If they have gone abroad why only send for 2 children. This however seems to be the only explanation Unfortunately iI have no family to ask. I have found 2 distant rellies but they are not interested and probably don't know Cheers

I've had a quick look for you in the States of Victoria, WA and NSW, Australia, and on the Ellis Island site, and I can't see them.

Thanks for that Mary. This is the problem I have if they went abroad, where and when? I was hoping someone could tell me as I have run out of ideas John