Hi, I’m Martin recently joined. I’ve been researching my Bradford and Shropshire relatives for about four years and have collected some good information via ancestry.co.uk. However, I’m stuck finding details of the birth of my grandfather - Alfred Smith.
I know he was married on 15th November 1891 to Selina Davies at Madeley Parish church. I’ve got the marriage certificate.
Alfred’s father is listed on the marriage certificate as Joseph Smith, Butcher. I know Joseph was born in Southam, Warwickshire and had a shop on Constitution Hill, Birmingham in 1861.
Joseph was married to Ann Hayward who came from Sutton Maddock. I’m pretty sure that George Hayward died shortly after 1851 as the family was split up around that time with the various girls going off to be servants. Ann Hayward was working in Birmingham, in Union passage, a few streets away from Joseph’s shop in 1861.
In April 1891, Alfred Smith was living with his uncle and aunt - George and Catherine Hayward - in Ironbridge. Alfred’s place of birth is given as Sutton Maddock.
Alfred Smith was born in 1857 or 1858 but I can’t seem to track down a birth certificate.
I have his death certificate - Alfred Smith, died in 1936 aged 78 in Queensbury, West Yorkshire.
It seems like Alfred began life as Alfred Hayward with his mother Ann Hayward being unmarried. At some point he must have taken Joseph Smith’s surname.
I’ve found an Alfred Hayward born at Wrockwardine Wood and another born at Leighton.
I wonder if an unmarried mother would have given birth at home or in a workhouse? Could Ann have been sent out of the area by her parents?
Also, Alfred Hayward/Smith does not appear on 1871 or 1881 census. Could he have been sent somewhere as an apprentice? He’s an engine fitter shortly before his marriage in 1891.
Can anyone suggest a way forward to track down more information about Alfred Smith.
Thanks for ploughing through this.
Thanks for the info morrisonman, I'll investigate ...
Unfortunately the Wolverhampton birth wasn't my grandfather Alfred Smith.
However, I have looked further into his background
Definite good information - in 1861 Alfred Hayward was living with his aunt Susannah Sharman in Wellington, Shropshire. Place of birth given as Leighton, Shropshire.
In 1871, aged 13, Alfred Hayward was living with Ann Hayward - now married to Joseph Smith, butcher. Listed as step-son with place of birth given as Rockwardine. ( I assume Wrockwardine)
Can't find him so far in 1881, but he appears in 1891, listed as Alfred Smith aged 31 living in Coalbrookdale, prior to getting married. This time his place of birth is listed as Sutton Maddock.
I'm guessing that as he was born out of wedlock, his birth could have been ' away from his home village'. Does anyone know of a place, possibly a workhouse, where the little chap could have been born? I know some workhouse births had a 'respectable address' assigned.
Or, would it be possible that his birth wasn't actually registered??
I'd love to get to the bottom of this so I can obtain a birth certificate.
Hi Martin, this is a long shot but if you go to the top of this site called "PARISHES" you will see that SUTTON MADDOCK is part of BRIDNORTH, so I went onto FREEBMD and this COULD be the one. Remember that on the census where he is living with his aunty and uncle, he is stated that he was born 1860 ?? I have a SMITH in my family also and currently have tried 3 certs and STILL having found my G-Granddad death !!
Good luck !
Ang
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Births Sep 1860 (>99%) |
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| SMITH | Alfred | Bridgnorth | 6a | 105 | |
Hey thanks for that. I'll check up. I thought I'd cracked it earlier -- had a possible on 1861 census living with his aunt Susannah when aged three. I knew his aunt was married in Middlesex at St Martins in the Fields and there was an Alfred Hayward registered at the right time. But it was a bad hunch, totally unrelated.
Martin
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Well, checked FreeBMD & as you say, not much luck: at least this is NOT him:
Births Sep 1856 (>99%)
Hayward Alfred M* Drayton 6a 659
because you can see him in IGI and parents names are NOK.
Only one other, for Salop:
Might be along shot, but why not try getting this b/c ?
Otherwise, have you considered other spellings such as HEYWOOD, HAYWOOD etc.
Good luck otherwise (-:
mm