Richings & Ellery - Wickwar

[Bex28]

Hi there. I'm very new to this so you will have to bear with me!

I'm trying to research my family in Wickwar, but am hitting dead ends and was wondering if there was anyone out there who could possibly help at all.

My Great-Grandfather, Edward Richings was born around 1877 and lived in Wickwar, Gloucestershire. I have traced him on the 1901 census and there he is, caskworker at the Wickwar Brewery. I know that he married my Great-Grandmother, Lilly Rosina Ellery (he was previously widowed; he married Ruth Packer who died, I assume in childbirth, as they had a daughter in the same year, Joyce Mary who was brought up by her grandparents) and had 10 children; John (my Grandad), Harry, Stanley, James, William, Irene, Joan, Mildred, Margaret (Peggy) and Gertrude.

The problems that I am having is finding an accurate listing for Edward's birth, depite looking on the BMD records and so on, it is all a bit sketchy and I don't want to apply for a certificate to find out that it's the wrong one.

If there is anyone out there who is researching either of these names and has any information I would be grateful if you would be able to throw me a lifeline as I feel that I am sinking here! Also if anyone has any information on Joyce Richings/Packer, the child of my Great-grandfather's first marriage, I would be very happy to recieve it.

Many thanks in advance for any help.

Kind regards
Becky

[Ron Leech]

Hi Becky and welcome

I assume you have not found him in the 1881 Census. Here is a simple method for looking up him and the rest of the family.

If you use the URL below this will take you to the LDS (Latter Day Saints) web site.

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Sear...set_search.asp

Once the page has loaded look in the gold section down the left hand side and click on Census. On the next page just start filling in the boxes.

The top box is titled "Census" click on the drop down menu and select 1881 Britsh Census.
Put in his "names" in the next row down, then under "birth place" select England.
Enter his birth year 1877 and I would allow + or - 5 years.
Census Country select England.
Lastly click on search.

I think you will find him listed on the page displayed, click on the appropriate name.

One the next page look across to the right of the screen opposite the persons name and click on "Household" this will show all the members of the family at that address. Quite a large family in this case.

FreeBMD lists an Edward Richings whose birth was registered at Dursley in the December quarter of 1896 volume 6a page 246. The names fit and so does the timescale and place. I would order the birth certificate on the provision that the mother is Ruth Richings. If this should prove to be the wrong one you will at least get part of your money back.

[Andrew Mead]

Ron's posting above should have said 1876, not 1896!

Here are the FreeBMD listings for his two marriages and Joyce's birth - getting the marriage certificates will give you his father's name (and possibly his age)

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages Jun 1897
Packer Ruth Chipping S. 6a 411
Richings Edward Chipping S 6a 411

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages Mar 1905
ELLERY Lilly Rosina Chipping S. 6a 323
Richings Edward Chipping S. 6a 323
Rickings Edward Chipping S. 6a 323

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Births Jun 1900
Richings Joyce Mary E B District Vol Page
Marriages Mar 1905
ELLERY Lilly Rosina Chipping S. 6a 323
Richings Edward Chipping S. 6a 323
Rickings Edward Chipping S. 6a 323

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Births Jun 1900
Richings Joyce Mary E Chipping S. 6a 267

Andrew

[Andrew Mead]

Here he is in 1881 census:
Newington Cottages, Kingscote, Gloucestershire
RG11/2551; Folio 32; Page 13; Sch 64
William Richings Head Mar 45 Agricultural Labourer Shepherd Newington Cottages Cuberly, Gloucestershire
Ruth Richings Wife Mar 46 Hawkesbury, Gloucestershire
Charles Richings Son Unm 21 Agricultural Labourer Bisley, Gloucestershire
John Richings Son Unm 19 Agricultural Labourer Uffculme, Devon
William Richings Son Unm 17 Agricultural Labourer Sopworth, Wiltshire
Caroline Richings Daughter 15 Didmarton, Gloucestershire
Albert J. Richings Son 13 Didmarton, Gloucestershire
Sarah Ann Richings Daughter 10 Leighterton, Gloucestershire
Ellen Richings Daughter 7 Scholar Wotton Under Edge, Gloucestershire
Edward Richings Son 4 Scholar Wotton Under Edge, Gloucestershire
Arthur Richings Son 9 mo Newington, Gloucestershire

Andrew

[Andrew Mead]

and in 1891 (indexed as 'RICHARD' on Ancestry)
Cottage on Bowldown Farm, Westonbirt cum Lasborough, Gloucestershire
RG12/2030; Folio 8; Page 9; Schedule 43
William Richen Head Mar 53 Shepherd Coverley, Gloucestershire
Ruth Richen Wife Mar 53 Tresham, Gloucestershire
James Richen Son Unm 23 Carter Didmarton, Gloucestershire
Edward Richen Son Unm 14 Agricultural labourer Wortley, Gloucestershire
Arthur Richen Son 10 Scholar Newington, Gloucestershire

[Andrew Mead]

I wonder if Bex28 ever saw the replies, or did we just waste our time?
Andrew
It was an interesting challenge, though, to search for yet another mistranscription!

[Bex28]

Hi there,

No, I did look back on this, I've just been delving into another part of the family and dealing with a teething baby (!) and decided to come back to the Richings side. Thank you so much for all your work on this, greatly appreciated; I've now got some more to go on!

Becky