Genealogy Chat

Just received my birth cert for William Henry Eastwood born Sheffield 1869. Father William Henry Eastwood and mother Elizabeth Eastwood formerly Fowler. It is the mother that i am confused by. On all censuses, i have her called Harriet and not Elizabeth. In 1871 she is Harriet Eastwood living with a Fowler family and is down as daughter, no sign of hubby. Child William is with her but called Harry which he is on most censuses. I have found a marriage of William Henry Eastwood to Harriet Fowler in Sheffield 1866 and the only births i can find are for Harriet and not Elizabeth. Would i be wrong to assume that Harriet/Elizabeth are the same person? Claire x

As child William's middle name was Henry, he could have been known under that name, and I've just heard that Harry is another name for Henry. As for mother Harriet / Elizabeth - thats a bummer isn't it, any idea what her middle name was? My hubby's grandmother was always known as Florence, Florence Harriett is on her marriage cert & death cert but guess what's on her birth cert - it's Harriett Florence.

Hmm. I think you need to see if the Fowler parents had two daughters, Elizabeth and Harriett or only one. nell

deffo sounds like same lady,people are always changing names, my Dad all his life was known as Kevin James, i believe there was a dispute over who was to register his name, i don't know who won, but his birth Cert has him named as James Kevan. One of his brothers who had always known him as Kevin didn't even know his other name was James. Families do make things confusing.

Claire was Elizabeth/Harriet also born in Sheffield? and what year was she born?

Hi all, I am sory i never saw your replies yesterday. Elizabeth/Harriet was born in Sheffield around 1844 according to census records and there is a Harriet born Mar Q of 1845 which looks good. I dont want to assume that the Harriet on census is my woman now but it is abit too much of a coincidence that my William Henry (Harry) is living with a mum called Harriet Eastwood who is with her parents who have the surname of Fowler. I didnt look at the birth certificate properly when it first came, i saw the formerly Fowler part and thought bingo got her then saw the name as Elizabeth! Thanks for all your help. Claire

I spent months looking for a marriage of John Ingram to Sarah masters. sent for the certificate I was sure was the right one but it was refused, wrong bride. i tried several times, then just sent under thegrooms name (didn't add Sarah Masters to the application form. When it came, there was a note attached. 'Bride's name is Elizabeth but she has signed Sarah'. i was so cross and they refunded the money I'd lost on the first application. But she was born Elizabeth and always known as Sarah. So it could well be the same person. I also spent ages looking for the birth of Henry Riggs, as he showed up on censuses and marriage cert. Then got one earlier census where he was called Harry. Sure enough he was registered as harry on his birth certificate then always called himself Henry. Ann Glos

thanks for that Ann, makes me happier that other people have got this in their family as well. I have found a marriage of a William Henry Eastwood to a Harriet Fowler in 1866 which would fit as their first child would be born a year later but the Elizabeth has thrown me. Claire x