John R.Martin (birth 1835 aprox +/-)

[Arthur.j]

Hello to anyone who could or can help me,I am trying to trace my G.G.Grandfather,Born Middlesex about 1835,and any kind of details regarding him.I have sparse details of him living in manchester around 1881(aged 44 then)so the date I have given is my own deduction.I have limited information about any of my family history so any little snippet would be most helpful-Arthur.j

[Trish]

Hello to anyone who could or can help me,I am trying to trace my G.G.Grandfather,Born Middlesex about 1835,and any kind of details regarding him.I have sparse details of him living in manchester around 1881(aged 44 then)so the date I have given is my own deduction.I have limited information about any of my family history so any little snippet would be most helpful-Arthur.j

Arthur,

Do you have any more information about your 2x great grandfather? Do you know the names of his wife and/or children or his occupation? Do you have him on the 1881 census or any other censuses? Knowing a few extra details may help us help you trace him...

Trish

[Geoffers]

I take this is the family from the 1881 census:

RG11/3998 f72 p12
71, Oldham Road, Manchster
John R Martin, hd, mar, 44, tin worker, bn London, Middlesex
Eliza Martin, wf, mar, 44, bn Manchester
Edward Martin, son, 11, bn Manchster
Arthur Martin, 9, bn Manchster
Emma Martin, dau, 7, bn Manchester

You don't have a lot to go on in locating the birth of John Martin - London is a big place. So I'd suggest proceeding slowly to give yourself the best chance of finding him.

continued........

[Geoffers]

part 2......
First would be to search the General Register Office (GRO) indexes to see if you can find a birth of one of the children. You can do this either using the pay-per-view web-site 1837 online which is complete, or freebmd which is not complete, but free.
I'd suggest beginning with teh latter, and using 1837online to confirm that the entry has been correctly transcribed. You can apply for certificates online via
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

Using freembd I found two Edward Martins born in Manchester in 1870 and 1871. One of these may be the eldest son in the census entry, but it's impossible to say for sure which one. So, move onto Arthur Martin, freebmd has only one born in Manchester about the correct time, so it might be better to try getting his certificate to begin with.

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[Geoffers]

part 3.....

Getting this certificate is important.

It will give you his mother's maiden name from which you can search the GRO marriage index with more confidence to locate the marriage of John + Eliza, which is most likely to have occurred sometime before 1870 (but don't discount them maryring after the bith of their first child as a follow-up if the marriage remains stubbornly hidden).

If you can locate a marriage certificate for John + Eliza, this should hopefully show John's father's name and his occupation, plus there will be witnesses listed, who hopefully may be related.

continued........

[Geoffers]

part 4......

With the name of John and his father, and his fathers occupation you might be able to trace them in an earlier census. Another census may give a more specific birthplace for John Martin. The 1861 census can be searched at 1837 online.

Did John Martin survive to the 1901 census? Does he appear there with a more definite birthplace (e.g. there's a John Martin aged 65 shown born in Covent Garden and living in South Manchester; there may be others who match).
The 1901 census can be searched at http://www.1901census.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
I appreciate that you might want to move straight to John's birth and keep your research moving quickly - but - from experience, it's better to move at a slower pace and get proof of links before advancing further; that way you're less liekly to follow the wrong path.
Good luck
Geoffers