Surnames: Cronshaw, Dean, Foster/Forster, Bright, Brewer ++

[sue1]

I thought I should make my first post now I have worked out how to do it!!

My surname interests are:

Cronshaw .......................Accrington, Lancs
Dean .............................Accrington, Lancs
Foster/Forster..................Congleton/Portsmouth/Essex/London/Wiltshire
Bright..............................London/Worcestershire
Baldwin............................Norfolk (Catfield, Swaffham, Kings Lynn)
Anderson .........................As above
Brewer ............................Somerset (Timberscombe/Templecombe)
Ansty/Anstey.................... Exeter, Devon

Sue

[sue1]

Susan Ann Dean (nee Cronshaw) died age 100 in 1971 - she was my grandmother. I am told she was hailed as the oldest person in Accrington at the time. I am sure this will have been covered by newspapers - what are the names of the local papers and is it possible to get access to these old papers on line?

I think/hope that most of my research is done now on the Cronshaws (my line of them) and the Deans - I wish I could say the same for the Fosters - elusive lot they are.|banghead|

Sue

[sue1]

I would be delighted if you can spare the time to do that - I really appreciate it. She was originally Susan Ann Cronshaw and was born in Plantation Cottages in Accrington in 1861, the daughter of Sarah Ellen Sutcliffe and Christopher Cronshaw - she died age 100/101 in 1971. She was my grandmother. She was married to Joseph Dean at the age of 18 and they married on 26th December 1887 at St. James Church, Accrington.

I never knew her and I would like to think that if an article was done it may talk about her life working in the Mills.

Gratefully, Sue

[janbooth]

Hi Sue,

Can I help with your FOSTER family at all. They are nothing to do with me but I actually live in Congleton so my interest was aroused. Is one of your lot the Emma FOSTER who is living in Milk St with daughter & son in law George & Emma WOOD?? Again it caught my eye that they were to do with the Silk Industry and Milk St still exists today and is dominated by an old mill that has now become an retail outlet for carpets & curtains, etc.

Also a lot more FOSTERs in the 1881 census so if I can help in any way, do let me know.

Janet

[sue1]

Susan Ann Dean (nee Cronshaw) dob was 28th May 1869. I don't have an exact dod other than 1971.

Sue

[sue1]

Hi Janet,

Thank you so much for responding. The Fosters are driving me round the bend! George Foster (and could it have been Forster that far back?) is identified on the 1861/71/81/91 and 1901 census quite readily. Each time he says he was born in Congleton - Astbury is sometimes on there. [Astbury was on the, I think, 1871 census, transcribed as Audlem as it was not written clearly at all and this has caused enormous confusion but it is very clear on 1901 census in particular] I understand in 1840 Astbury was the parish and Congleton, along with such places as Odd Rode and Mow Cop were townships.
I have been through the untranscribed 1841 census person by person recently, for Congleton and all the townships available (I have no idea if it was complete or not as I don't know the area but it took three days!) My earliest info on GF is from his military paperwork. He joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1860, signing on at Newcastle-under-lyne. He gave his actual dob as 4.10.1840. I cannot find him on the Cheshire online parish records nor identify him (since he was born after 1837) on normal Cheshire births. He did not return to Cheshire it would appear. Family "talk" suggests this was a farming family - this has not been proved. I have his wedding cert (he married in Alverstoke, Portsmouth in 1868 to a Mary Ann Rowland b 1849 Cape of Good Hope, SA) and he says his father's name was William on the cert. I know who his children were, one of whom was my grandfather but I do not know who his mother was (I suspect it was Mary or Adelaide since their first daughter was called Adelaide Mary). Other than this I can find out absolutely nothing about him. I suspect, if he was really born in 1840 (and he may have told porky pies to get into the navy underage - but it says he is 19 and 3 months on his paperwork when he joined which would be correct for 1840 birth) the family must have left the area before the 1841 census or worked on the canal boats which I gather no attempt was made to census in 1841. I have been through the Congleton, St. Peter and Astbury, St. Mary baptisms on the relevant IGI batch and cannot identify him there (although they were all Forsters on there - not Fosters and there must be a Foster batch).

One line of enquiry I don't know how to pursue is that his father was in the military - I understand there is/was a Barracks in Newcastle-under-lyne or thereabouts. I wonder this because one of his eventual wife's relatives (a Rowland) was Superintendent of the barracks - I get the impression that the Rowlands and Fosters were known to each other prior to George Foster's marriage to a Rowland. Perhaps he was born in barracks. He is not on the 1841 workhouse list.

I gather the 1910 census came on line yesterday - maybe I will be able to find out when he died, if nothing else!

Any suggestions would be extremely gratefully received.

Sue

[sue1]

Janet, I forgot to mention I also checked the census for Congleton Edge which I understand was/is in Staffs. Sue

[sue1]

Hi Finbar,

Yes, I do have a subscription to the site you mention. Some of the info on her is because I have the family tree on there - it is a public one. I did try to check newspapers on there but was unsuccessful. I have actually got quite a bit on her - I even have a picture - it just that I would be interested to hear what they say about her in a local paper. Sue

[janbooth]

Sue,

What was the occupation of William as shown on George's marriage certificate?? Was it in fact something to do with the army or something else? There is only one William FOSTER shown on the 1841 census of Astbury/Congleton of the correct age to be the father of George and he is shown as a Silk Steward living in Astbury with wife Mary and daughter Ann - no son George but then George may have been telling porkies about his dob anyway.

Will have another think later on - lunchtime now!!

Janet

[sue1]

George Foster's marriage certificate shows him as a Sergt. RM - this is correct as I have his military record which shows him as a Colour Sergeant Royal Marine Light Infantry. His father, William Foster, is down as an "Engineer" - not at all sure about that.

I still wonder if William Foster was military himself and George was born in a military barracks somewhere - in this case he may also have been born overseas - if he was I bet it will be South Africa - Mary Ann, George's wife was born there because her father, serving in 78th Essex Foot was on a Prison Ship in the Cape of Good Hope - I also have wondered for a while if there wasn't some connection between the Fosters and the Rowlands. I wonder how I can find out about army births that far back.

Sue

[janbooth]

Sue,

According to FreeBMD, there are 5 birth registrations of a George FORSTER at Congleton registration district between 1839 and 1844. If his actual dob is October 1840 (although in latter census records his year of birth is shown as 1842), the birth registrations in 1841 and 1842 are more likely. When ordering any birth certificates, you could stipulate that you only want to purchase if father's name is William which might help cutting down on the cost. The other option is to hire the parish registers/bishops transcripts for Astbury/Congleton from your local LDS Family History Centre and look through them there for George's baptism. Of course, if he was born in October 1841/2, he would not be on the 1841 census which might explain why we can't find him!! Other than that, I'm afraid I don't have any other suggestions. Sorry not to be more help.

Janet

[sue1]

Janet,

Many thanks for that - I think I will take your advice and go for the Mormon info. I understand these may be on microfiche and that I may have to read them there but if a disc is available I will hire it.

I really appreciate the help you have given me.

Sue:D

[Pigling]

Hello All

I am looking for birth, death and parents of Thomas FOX who married Hannah ALBISTON in 1793. Hannah's mum and dad were Ann FORSTER & Joseph ALBISTON.

Has anyone any news of Thomas?

Pigling

[sue1]

Hi Pigling,

My family which I thought were connected to the Albistons were not at all - they were Fosters not Forsters. Before I realised this I was in touch with a gentleman with the name of Albiston from America - I also have a copy of some of the IGI records from a disc on Forsters/Albistons. I can't access it on this computer (for some obscure reason) but will try to do so shortly on my own computer. Off the top of my head I have to say I do not recognise Hannah Fox's name but given that I was not looking for it, it may just be there.

I think there is a Forster page on Rootsweb which may be helpful and the albistons are on there also.

Will be in contact very soon.

Sue

[sue1]

Hi Pigling,

I have found what I have on the Albistans - what it actually is is from 1500circa the Bishops Transcrips for Congleton and Astbury in Cheshire. In 1795 a child called Elizabeth, who had been born to Thomas and Hannah Albiston was buried on 13.4.1795. This may of course not be your Hannah and Thomas but you will know better than I.

I will pm you about how I am going to get this info (the transcripts to you) because I suspect I am not allowed to put them on here. I also have the E-mail address somewhere of the Mr. Albistan who is researching this family. The transcripts really refer to Albistans only as I have received them and Thomas Fox may not of course be on here at all.

Sue

[ChristineR]

I will pm you about how I am going to get this info (the transcripts to you) because I suspect I am not allowed to put them on here.

It all depends on how the transcripts came about. If the transcripts were taken from records by you, or another person and given to you, then that is okay (if the person who did it doesn't mind.)

If the transcripts are originally from purchased copyrighted material then it is not allowable. Some copyrights might allow a very small portion to be used. In this case, just Thomas' details - if he were there.

If the latter is the case, thanks for making other arrangements to get the information to Pigling. :)

[sue1]

Thank you for your advice on this. It seemed best not to put it on here.
It was sent to me by someone who had taken it from an IGI disc which he had on loan from a Mormon Centre - I think possibly there would be copyright involved here.

Sue

[SLFoster]

Hi, I am also researching Fosters in London. I am trying to find the details for William Thomas Foster, d.o.b 1842, who is shown on the 1861 census as living at 9 Cross Keys Square, Cripplegate, East London but when I look at the census image for this entry he is not shown. Can anyone help or suggest what I can try next?
Thanks.

EDITED BY MODERATOR

Welcome to the BG Forums SLFoster, I thought it best to copy your post to the London Census forum for some help - else there could be too much unrelated stuff on this thread.

Can you please go to the new post, and add a reply giving the census reference from 1861, and perhaps some other details about your William which might locate him - any family and his occupation, and especially his birthplace. It is most likely a indexing error if the chap is not on the census page quoted.

http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48587

Good luck with your research. :)

[ChristineR]

I have copied the above post to a new thread in London census. :)

[esdel]

Hello Sue

I have 7 Forster and 9 Foster in my tree.
One is a John Foster Forster, but his Mother's name is Smith!
These are from 1764 to 1896 and from places like Cumberland and County Durham.

So a bit far north for you.
But if yours were military types they may have moved around a lot.

Both Audlem and Audley are real places in Cheshire. Boy that writing must be bad!
Glad to help you if I can

[sue1]

Hi Esdel,

I have found my FORSTER!!! George Forster was b 29.7.1844 Whetstone Edge, Congleton, Cheshire and Bap at Astbury, St. Mary. His mother was Keziah Bailey b 1823 Biddulph and father William Forster b 1817 Congleton - died 1848 Congleton. George had a sister Ellen b 1847 - have not found out anything about her.

William Forster b 1817 had a father called ..................George. Have not attempted to look for this George!!!

I wonder when George 1844 decided to change his name to Foster?

Thank you for your offer of help and to all others who have helped - I have really appreciated it.

Sue|jumphappy

[janbooth]

Great news, Sue and well done. Persistence pays off sometimes doesn't it. The 1851 census entry might help you as well - no wonder we could not find them easily before as the children are only under their initials. You may already have this info, but in case not:

HO107/2167, folio 283, page 33
Spragg Street

Kesia FORSTER Head Wid 29 Silk Staffsh
G do Son 6 Scholar Whetstones Edge Cheshire
E do Daur 4 do do do
Sarah BROWN Gd Mother Wid 72 Staffsh

I'm not sure whther this could be your Ellen or not as I can't find the family in the 1861 census, but there is a marriage on FreeBMD in the June qtr 1869 at Congleton reg district, vol 8a, page 383 of an Ellen FORSTER and one of the other names on the page is that of a John BRATHERTON. In the 1871 census of Sandbach (RG10/3707, folio 115, page 9) is the following:

Middlewich Rd

John BRATHERTON Head Mar 27 Brick maker Sandbach Chesh
Ellen do Wife Mar 23 Astbury do
George do Son 6 months Sandbach do

Perhaps worth further investigation??

Janet

[Ed Bradford]

Sue, I have Deans in Sandbach, Cheshire during the late 1700 and early 1800. I don't know where they came from nor where they went except for one who relocated to America in 1811. They seem to just appear, live in the area for about 50 years and then disappear. If you think that there might be a connection please let me know. ..............Ed

[v.wells]

Sue I have Anstey in Devon. If you have a tree on A* then you should hit some "leaves".

[Aislin]

Sue, I don't know if it helps at all, but I have some Fosters from Surrey if you'd like to compare notes.

[sue1]

Hi Vanessa,

I have indeed picked up some information from A* including a photograph!
Mine is the Brewer/Ansty tree - the Brewers originally came from Somerset.

I have done very little to this tree recently as I am already trying to do two other trees and am in a terrible muddle!!! Senility has probably set it.

If I can help with Ansty at all please let me know.

Sue:)

[sue1]

Hi Aislin,

Would be delighted to compare notes - many thanks. I am not sure any of mine come from Surrey but of course Surrey went right into London that far back. However, my first Foster was born Forster (he was the one who changed his name and caused all the problems). A lot of his children, and presumably their children, none of whom I know of, would be in Essex, Hampshire or London or maybe they emigrated. I do know of some Surrey Fosters who were greengrocers and originated from Hampshire but as far as I know they are not mine.

Sue

[sue1]

Great news, Sue and well done. Persistence pays off sometimes doesn't it. The 1851 census entry might help you as well - no wonder we could not find them easily before as the children are only under their initials. You may already have this info, but in case not:

HO107/2167, folio 283, page 33
Spragg Street

Kesia FORSTER Head Wid 29 Silk Staffsh
G do Son 6 Scholar Whetstones Edge Cheshire
E do Daur 4 do do do
Sarah BROWN Gd Mother Wid 72 Staffsh

I'm not sure whther this could be your Ellen or not as I can't find the family in the 1861 census, but there is a marriage on FreeBMD in the June qtr 1869 at Congleton reg district, vol 8a, page 383 of an Ellen FORSTER and one of the other names on the page is that of a John BRATHERTON. In the 1871 census of Sandbach (RG10/3707, folio 115, page 9) is the following:

Middlewich Rd

John BRATHERTON Head Mar 27 Brick maker Sandbach Chesh
Ellen do Wife Mar 23 Astbury do
George do Son 6 months Sandbach do

Perhaps worth further investigation??

Janet

Hi Janet, Many, many thanks for the info on Ellen - I will certainly follow that up - I must admit I didn't think I had a hope of finding her once she married.

I have seen the census with Kezia, GF and EF. When Kezia's husband died in 1848 she left George and Ellen aged 6 and 4 with her mother and very rapidly increased her family to vast numbers with a Thomas Hall who she eventually married in 1860 which is the year in which he died.

Apparently Kezia's mother who was originally, before both of HER marriages, Sarah Brown, daughter of Solomon Brown and Hannah Brough. Hannah Brough is related to the large family of Brough's in Staffordshire about whom a lot of research is ongoing. I have a copy of it but it is not really my direct line being the female side.

The 1861 census for George Foster (this is his first time of using his name officially as Foster rather than Forster) is Forton, Alverstoke, Hampshire. He had joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry in Jan 1860. Again on this census he is listed only by initial - some kind person found it for me and believe it or not, I can't find it now either.

Thank you so much for the info - I shall get stuck into that today. I should mention that since I found George FORSTER I have found someone who is researching him on A* - it is so nice to know at long last I am not researching entirely on my own.

Sue

[Aislin]

Hi Aislin,

Would be delighted to compare notes - many thanks. I am not sure any of mine come from Surrey but of course Surrey went right into London that far back. However, my first Foster was born Forster (he was the one who changed his name and caused all the problems). A lot of his children, and presumably their children, none of whom I know of, would be in Essex, Hampshire or London or maybe they emigrated. I do know of some Surrey Fosters who were greengrocers and originated from Hampshire but as far as I know they are not mine.

Sue


As far as I've found (so far) my Fosters came from Esher. Thomas Foster b. 1764 d. January 1848 married Sarah Wheatley b. 1176 d. January 1854.
Children include:
William b. 1789
Thomas b. 1793 married Mary Ann Pisley
John b. 1794 married Charlotte Burrell
James b. 1797 married Ann
Charles b. 1802 married Ann
Sarah b. 1805
Louisa b. 1814 married John Bristow b. abt. 1811 d. December 1882 in December 1832 (my line)
Benjamin b. 1815
Richard b. 1816
David b. 1818 married Maria Comfort
Samuel b. 1820 married Susan Dash Graig
Elizabeth b. 1822

I don't know if any of these names will ring a bell, but I thought I'd put them out there and see if they sound familiar.

[sue1]

Hi Aislin,

I have had a good look at my Foster/Forsters and compared them with yours and there is definitely no apparent connection.

The other Foster family I came across does not have any of the names that are on the list you gave me and on looking more closely, although they come from Brighton, Arundel etc (which are both Sussex), there is also a Camberwell connection (Camberwell was Surrey in those days). George Foster b 1838 who I thought might be one of mine (he is in this tree) was born in Portsmouth and was a Master Grocer. He married Caroline. On looking right back in this tree I note the Fosters in it originated from Cannock and places close, in Staffordshire - I am still not entirely convinced they are not in some way connected to my lot!!!

I don't honestly think there is a connection with your Fosters.

Sue

[sue1]

Hi again Janet,

The Ellen Forster you found who married Bratherstone is MINE!!! Can't believe it. She, born 1847, was George Forster b1844's younger sister. They were the only children of Keziah Forster and William Forster b1817 - 1848). Keziah had many more children and eventually married Thomas Hall - all Georges half brothers and sisters were "Halls". Ellen and George were living with their grandmother quite soon after their father died and, as far as I can tell, never lived with their mother again. Ellen had four children from her marriage, 2 of whom were called George so presumably the elder George, who was her first child, died. I have no idea whether George and Ellen ever met again, probably not but Ellen and her husband seem to have disappeared after the 1891 census - perhaps they moved to Epping, Essex where George was then living. It was interesting to see that Ellen actually named a child George and also that George 1844 named his second daughter Grace Ellen - who sadly died age 6.

I cannot find their grandfather, yet another GEORGE (beginning to dislike this name!). I did, however, find an 1871 census with a widower George Forster age 74 b Wybunbury, Audlum and a farmer of 24 acres. He has an unmarried daughter called Harriet living with him and 2 grandchildren visiting, Eliza and Thomas Hall. I have no way of proving if there is a connection or not. His age would be about right but so would many other peoples - also there are many Halls and many Forsters/Fosters. The census was RG10/3716 (not sure how to find the volume and page).

Further down on the page of this census are more Forsters. The reason I am so very wary of the ones above on the page is that the lower family is the one I got terribly mixed up with earlier on in my researches. They also live at Woolfall, Audlem and all their names fitted with the ones I already knew were my Fosters but they were not the correct family!

Thank you so much for finding Ellen and George.

Sue