George Bird

[Tuppence]

Hi all,
My first on this board and could use some help. Broke through one brick wall only to hit another. Found great grandfather was born in Two Gates Warwickshire in 1849, but as I live in Canada I am limited to what is on the net for my info. I found that he married in Lambeth Dec 1/4 1884 and have found them and their children on the 1891 Paddington census. He had died by the 1901 Paddington census and I have not been able find him on any of the other census reports or the BMD. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Tuppence

[kazrbutler]

Dear Tuppence,

The only Two Gates I could find is in the Tamworth area. The following link should take you to a map site. Imput Two Gates in the town, and it should bring up the relevant map:

http://www.multimap.com/static/sitemap.htm

Tamworth is currently in Staffordshire, close to the Warwickshire border. I don't know the details about border changes in the past, but the outline of many counties have changed significantly over the years, including Warwickshire. Hopefully someone else may know more about the Warwickshire / Staffordshire border changes and.

Whatever the details, I have found that where someone has lived near the border of a county, it is worth searching for any possible counties for birthplace on sites such as Family Search. My Gt Gt Gt Grandmother for instance was listed as being born in the same village, but 3 different counties in the censuses I have found for her! The advantage was that it clearly identified which of two villages with the same name in one County she was born in.

I haven't found anything that is definately your George BIRD, and I only currently have access to the 1881 census for Staffs and Warks on Family Search. If you can let me have details of parents, brothers and sisters for instance who he might have been with in 1881, I can have another look and see if I can find anything relevant. Names, age and possible occupations are all helpful. The same information will also be of use to others who have access to other resources.

Best wishes,
Karen

[Peter Goodey]

"but as I live in Canada I am limited to what is on the net for my info"

I'm not sure that that conclusion necessarily follows.

"Found great grandfather was born in Two Gates Warwickshire in 1849"

What was your source for that? Baptism? Was there a church in Two Gates? Would that be Tamworth? Do you have parents names?

"he married in Lambeth Dec 1/4 1884 "

What was his status at the time of his marriage? Single? Widower?

Occupation?

These are all things that might help someone else in searching other censuses.

[jeeb]

Hi Tuppence,
Though this information is not quite as you stated in your original thread I think this is likely to be your George Bird in 1861. It gives his place of birth as Wigginton Staffs but that is only slightly north (2 miles) of Tamworth and Wilnecote where they are in 1861 is next to Two Gates (slightly south of Tamworth)

RG9/1970 Folio 40 Page 10
Wattling street, Wilnecote, Warks
Joseph Bird 47 Blacksmith Born Wigginton Staffs
Catherine wife 45 Born Comberford Staffs
Thomas son 21 Miner Born wigginton
Joseph son 17 Miner Born Wigginton
Jane dau. 15 Born wigginton
George 12 Works in Brickyard Born Wigginton
Catherine dau 10 scholar Born Wigginton
Charles son 6 scholar born Wilnecote

Cheers Jeremy.

[Tuppence]

Thank you Karen, Peter & Jeremy for so much effort and info that you have sent it is all starting to come together. I have just got the census at Ancestry last week and I seem to be getting the same info and it is good to have confirmation that others have found the same thing. Recently a cousin [in Canada] was going through his late mothers papers and came up with a thread to other cousins in UK who I found and phoned. He grew up with the Cardiff part of the family and was able to add some things and will be doing some checking too. None of what I am finding is like the 'story' that we were all told and I have spent many hours chasing up the wrong roads.
I am so grateful for all the help that you have given and if there is anything that I can look-up on all uk census returns while my subscription lasts please do not hesitate to ask.
Tuppence