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  1. #1
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    Default No Maiden Name ?

    My wife is trying to trace her paternal grandmother, and it is testing

    A GRO search of her name bought up a couple of probables, one of which has no mother's maiden name.

    Any ideas why?

    I'm intrigued, because family rumour has it that she was born in a workhouse in Birmingham, and no one knows her mmn. I understand that some workhouse records are kept at Birmingham library, but can only be accessed by a visit.

    Elsie Smith
    DOB 07/02/1899
    Married - 13/03/1921 St. Pauls. Lozells, Birmingham
    Spouse - William Newey
    Father - William Smith - Silver polisher. Deceased by 1921

    The GRO that I found :

    Elsie Smith yob 1899 M Q Kings Norton Vol. 06C Page. 525


    Steve.

  2. #2
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    If there is no mother's maiden name it usually means that the mother was not married, and so therefore the father listed on the marriage certificate may have been a father of convenience or "half truths". In other words he was a William and he was a silver polisher, and for all we know he could even have been called Smith, but in all probability he would not have been married to Elsie's mother when she was born.

    The only way to know for sure would be to buy Elsie's birth certificate.

    Nobody ever asked a bride and groom in those days to produce birth certificates.

  3. #3
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    #1
    The GRO that I found : Elsie Smith yob 1899 M Q Kings Norton Vol. 06C Page. 525
    Mothers maiden names were not included in the index until 1911.

    If you check this site with the information above you will see that there is no mmn https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/c...cates/indexes_

    You may need the birth certificate to confirm the mother's forename and actual place of birth

    By the 1901 census the mother could have married Elsie being under another surname, retaining her own when she married

  4. #4
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    Mothers maiden names were not included in the index until 1911.
    I think Steve is talking about the new index.

    Elsie Smith yob 1899 M Q Kings Norton Vol. 06C Page. 525
    It's a direct ancestor. You definitely need to get the birth certificate.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Goodey View Post
    I think Steve is talking about the new index.



    It's a direct ancestor. You definitely need to get the birth certificate.

    Peter, I thought so last night, so a BC has been ordered.

    Steve.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by NOTSHARP View Post
    Elsie Smith
    DOB 07/02/1899
    This is from familysearch.org. It would fit with the birth date. I believe the register can be viewed on Ancestry.

    Elsie SMITH. Christening Date, 22 Feb 1899, St. George's, Birmingham, Warwick
    Parents William SMITH and Clara

  7. #7
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    #6
    Elsie SMITH. Christening Date, 22 Feb 1899, St. George's, Birmingham, Warwick
    Parents William SMITH and Clara
    Original parish register is on line at ancestry, this Elsie Smith was 13 years old when baptised

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by geneius View Post
    #6

    Original parish register is on line at ancestry, this Elsie Smith was 13 years old when baptised
    Yes, I found that one.

    Steve.

  9. #9
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    Not saying this is the correct Elsie but interesting

    RG13/2841/F119/p6
    Back of House Court 83, Tower Court, Birmingham

    Austin Dixon 33
    Kate Dixon 31
    Thomas Harvey 30 Boarder
    Alice Harvey 23
    George Wilson 1 Adopted Child
    Elsie Smith 2 Adopted child Birmingham

    Unfortunately not sure which couple had adopted the children and can't find them in 1911

    Emeltee

  10. #10
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    A year on, and I am fairly sure that I have the answer.

    The GRO that I found :

    Elsie Smith yob 1899 M Q Kings Norton Vol. 06C Page. 525, was indeed correct.

    Her mother married in 1900, but not to a Smith. However, on the 1901 census it states that she had given birth to seven children, six of whom were still living, and one listed as dead.

    I found Elsie Smith, 12 years old, on the 1911 census, living with her Grandmother, her daughter being the mother of Elsie.

    It could well be that the father of Elsie was not the man that her mother married in 1900, and why she lived with her Grandmother.

    The six children of the marriage were either half or full siblings to Elsie, and one of them was a witness to the marriage of Elsie to William Newey in 1921. The marriage certificate states that Elsie's father was William Smith, deceased. Interestingly, her mother's husband was a William, albeit, not Smith, and he died in 1920.

    Incidentally, the 1929 Electoral Roll, shows William Newey at the same address that Elsie was recorded as living at with her Grandmother in 1911, and Elsie's sibling who was witness to the wedding, living just around the corner.
    The 1930 ER shows both Elsie and William there.



    Steve.

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