I've been helped before ...

[RickHosking]

I've been rather preoccupied with details about one great-grandfather, Edwin Hosking; for decades we have assumed was born 25 May 1838 in Cornwall. A cousin employed a genealogist in the UK came up with this date in the 1980s, but supplied no documentation.

I have been checking all the details again, and I assume he found ADM 139/15/1468 (National Archives, Kew), an Edwin Hosking volunteering for the Royal Navy 1 July 1853, to serve on HMS Impregnable. However, I cannot find any birth record for any Edwin Hosking on this date.

Am I missing something?

[Dundee10]

The birth date on that record is 25 December, not 25 May.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.go...ils/r/C9522685

Civil registration only began in Sep 1837 and many births were not registered. It was not compulsory to register a birth until 1874.

This is the 1841 census that I gave you previously:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQYR-B4X

[almach]

Here's a link to the other thread re: Hoskings

https://www.british-genealogy.com/th...Die?highlight=

[RickHosking]

The birth date on that record is 25 December, not 25 May.

Indeed. 25 May is MY birthday!

https://discovery.nationalarchives.go...ils/r/C9522685

Civil registration only began in Sep 1837 and many births were not registered. It was not compulsory to register a birth until 1874.

Most of his brothers and sisters are christened, at least. Not Edwin, it seems. It may be that when he was born he was given the name John.

This is the 1841 census that I gave you previously:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQYR-B4X

We were in Gwennap a month ago, as it turns out. No trace to be found!

[RickHosking]

Here's a link to the other thread re: Hoskings

https://www.british-genealogy.com/th...Die?highlight=

Thanks for this: that was my first attempt to track down the elusive great-grandfather.