Genealogy Chat

I am trying to trace parents of a Grandmother. Jane Pope b. 1874 Brentford Middlesex.b,July 4th registered Sept 4th. Father Thomas Pope occ. lighterman. Mother Jane Pope formerly Newsham. Ican find no trace of birth,marriage or death for either. On 1881 census: Thomas Pope listed as lodger,age 30 b.March Cambridgeshire.(March is a place) Jane Pope age 6 listed as niece b.Brentford Middx. Family they are living with name Giles.Head Jane Giles Widow with young children.b. St. Osyth Essex. If she is the niece of J. Giles, why is father not a relative also? or is she his niece? I am totally confused. Any help much appreciated. Sylvia

This is rather tricky! Possible deaths for Thomas: View Record Thomas Pope abt 1852 1886 Apr-May-Jun Brentford Middlesex This is the only one coming up so looks to me as though it might be the one. In 1891 your Grandmother is a servant so that may explain that. Do you have her marriage cert to say whether her Father was deceased?

and then looking for Mother jane death this is all there is in a ten mile radius: View Record Jane Pope abt 1856 1878 Jul-Aug-Sep Brentford Middlesex . I can get you the references for these two if you would like,

Dear Tom, thanks for that, I will check them out. Unfortunately Gran did not marry (much easier if she had!) she gave birth to my dad at age 26 in 1899. (he didnt marry until he was nearly fifty!)

They're just trying to make it difficult for you! lol, I would check out those two death certs though - might give you some clues. Good luck!

Update. While trawling 1837 I found a Thomas Pope b.1852 1st.q. Reg. St. Thomas. I cant find this in atlas. Is it an old redundant district or a mistake by registra? Record is hand written but quite clear. Sylvia.

Sylvia - i've just looked. The Thomas was registered in Blandford. There was a Robert born in St Thomas. From googling - BLandford looks as though it is in Dorset.

Sorry Tom, I put in wrong year it`s 1851. Thomas in St. Thomas. Do you know where St. Thomas is or was? Thanks Sylvia.

Just did a search n ancestry for all births registered in the year 1852 in St Thomas. It is in Devon.

Many thanks for your help Tom, I dont think its who I`m looking for. He was born in Cambs. For some reason birth not registered. Nor marriage. Maybe they didnt get married. I will just have to have only one set of grtgrandparents in my tree. Sylvia.

1861 census has this entry Thomas Pope abt 1847 Servant Thorney Cambridgeshire (no place of birth given) Thorney quite close to March. His occupation is groom and general servant.

I am going to splash out £14 on the two most likely death certs and see if I get any clues. Thomas` entry is very unclear regarding age at death and copy of original may tell me more. It does seem very odd that both these people are missing from birth and marriage index. Many thanks,Sylvia.