Genealogy Chat

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I cannot find the birth and therefore cannot find the mother of my Great Grandfather Thomas Edward Hewins. Here is everything that I have found so far Married Mary Anne Probert in South Wales on 06/04/1904. Certificate ordered and due any day. We know that he worked for GWR and my grandfather wrote down before he died a sketch tree which may well be inaccurate but which states that Thomas Edward was born in London Terrace, Harts Hill, Kingswinford , Nr Stourbridge on 06/06/1875. At this time Kingswinford was in Staffordshire. (There is another Harts Hill further north in Staffordshire). He also said that the mother of Thomas was Deborah Nona Hewins who lived at Harts Hill. (This may be completely wrong – I think from census that he had a sister Deborah ) I have looked at census to try & establish if this year of birth is correct & it seems to be. I have searched all the free indexes plus 1837 & Family Relatives from 1872 – 1878 and have found nothing. What should I do next to find his birth? 1901 Census Thomas Hennis (image looks like Hewins), single, living Homeend Street, Ledbury, born 1876, Brierley Hill, Staffs. Railway Porter. I’m sure this is him – his future wife was a few doors away. 1891 Census Thomas E Hewins , Age 15, labourer, born Staffs, Hartshill. Living with father Thomas Hewins who is widowed & siblings in Welland, Worcestershire. I have also found him in 1881 with his family & think I have his father in 1871 but single as a lodger. Thanks, Helen

What about this birth reg? For sister, Deborah??? Name: Huens, Maria Deborah Record Type: Births Quarter: December Year: 1876 District: Stourbridge County: Shropshire Staffordshire Warwickshire West Midlands Worcestershire Volume: 6c Page: 230 and with the same spelling!!! Name: Huens, Thomas Edward Record Type: Births Quarter: September Year: 1875 District: Stourbridge County: Shropshire Staffordshire Warwickshire West Midlands Worcestershire Volume: 6c Page: 208 Hooray!!! Sarah

Elizabeth Broadhead abt 1865 Hartshill, Staffordshire, England Sister in Law Birtsmorton, Worcestershire, England Alfred Hewins abt 1881 Birtsmorton, Worcestershire, England Son Birtsmorton, Worcestershire, England Deborah M. Hewins abt 1877 Hartshill, Staffordshire, England Daughter Birtsmorton, Worcestershire, England George Hewins abt 1821 Powick, Worcestershire, England Father Birtsmorton, Worcestershire, England Mary A. Hewins abt 1844 Hartshill, Staffordshire, England Wife Birtsmorton, Worcestershire, England Thomas Hewins abt 1849 Castlemorton, Worcestershire, England Head Birtsmorton, Worcestershire, England Thomas E. Hewins abt 1876 Hartshill, Staffordshire, England Son Birtsmorton, Worcestershire, England Walter G Hewins abt 1879 Birtsmorton, Worcestershire, England Son Birtsmorton, Worcestershire, England As the sister in law is unmarried, odds are that his mother was a Broadhead before marriage Beth :)

Sarah Thank you so much. I really have been struggling with him for months. Do you mind me asking where you found them - just so I can perhaps learn from my mistakes. I really appreciate your time & effort so thanks again. Best Wishes, Helen

Beth Thanks for that - I will follow up the Broadhead lead & see if any more are lurking in Hartshill. Thanks for your help - I do apprciate it. Best Wishes, Helen

Hi Helen, You mentioned he had a sister, Deborah, so I looked them up in 1881 to see where she was born. I know that Hartshill is in Stourbridge district so I did a search on Ancestry for ''Deborah'' born in Stourbridge district with a three year date spread. Result - only three matches - one was Huens!! It was a good job I did Ancestry rather than FreeBMD, as Ancestry finds a match even if it's not the first forename. Had I tried on FreeBMD I would have to have known that her first name was Maria, which clearly I didn't!! To find Thomas I just tried the same spelling on the offchance. So it was because you gave ALL the info you had - if his sister hadn't had an unusual forename I would still be sitting here looking!! Sarah

Sarah, That's brilliant - it's fantastic to find them but even better to gain a bit more experience & find out how. Thanks again for your time, Helen