Genealogy Chat

I think ggg granddad may have been overseas during the 1891 census - William Hood born abt 1860 in Christchurch (Hampshire or Dorset depending what they felt like using that time!) I know he was in the army in 1881, and didn't have kids until 1892. (I've searched for his marriage but there seem to be several possibles and I don't know the misses' surname to check, and none of the locations ring any bells either so not sure about the single status thing). But how would I find him if he was posted overseas? Could anyone tell me please? Thanks again to all

Hello Heidi, If he was overseas in 1891 there will be no way of knowing unless you get his army records from Kew. The army records may well have his wife's name on (amongst a lot of other information) and is extremely helpful in telling you what they were like eg: has height, weight, hair colour etc. But first of all you need to know what regiment he was in!! Snowdrops

Oh Schucks, I've only just found out he was in the army! Thanks anyway.

Is this him in 1901?: Alverstoke Hampshire: William Hood abt 1861 Christchurch, Hampshire, England Head Emma Hood abt 1871 Beaulieu, Hampshire, England Wife Arthur Hood abt 1892 Christchurch, Hampshire, England Son William Hood abt 1893 Bournemouth, Hampshire, England Son Beatrice Hood abt 1894 Bournemouth, Hampshire, England Daughter Lillian Hood abt 1898 Gosport, Hampshire, England Daughter If so, then all his kids were born in England apparently. Any of the birth certs will give you Emma's maiden name, which will help you to confirm which is his marriage. They will also have William's occupation - he was a bricklayer in 1901, but maybe on the earlier birth certs he will still have been in the army, and if you're lucky it might even say which regiment. Richard

Could you get the birth certificate for one of his children and then search for a marriage using the mother's name. Where was his wife from ( on census)? Did they marry perhaps in her home area?

Hi Heidi If you don't know ggg grandmother's name, then it would be useful to get gg grandparent's birth certificate. This should give you her name and her husband's occupation.

nb if you get hold of the army records, they will also tell you where he was posted and when, which may explain why you can't find him on a census.

Hi everyone, thanks for the advice. I'll be down amongst the parish registers again to find the births as soon as I can. p.s. yes that is them in 1901

Heidi - the parish registers probably wont help as these rarely give the mother's maiden name on baptisms. You'd be better off getting the birth cert of one of the children. Richard

Ok, thanks for that I didn't know.