Genealogy Chat

Hi Tess. My dad already tried that a long time ago, he was told unfortunately 60% of those records perished in a fire in London. Maybe I will look into it again thanks.

If you can find Joseph's service records, it should give the next-of-kin, which would be his mother Emily, unless she had died. (or he had fallen out with her big time).

I hope that the certs arrive soon. All your helpers on here will be eagerly waiting to see what you find out.

As others have said, it is better to take things slowly (especially at the start). To check info on one cert, before sending for another.

Tess

Just add something to this thread when you have some news Joanne and we will see it because it will pop up in our threads box. Cx.

Hi. Meg. Wow you are so good. Now I have looked and looked again for Emily and still as you say find no trace of her. I think it is best if I wait for Emils birth cert. to come through because looking at Josephs it will give me mothers maiden name etc. I didn't realsie that you were not supposed to do your tree until you had all the facts right, I guess it was because we thought we had! ever been fooled Ha! i am going to spend the next few days or so trying to get some order to what seemed initially a simple quest- to find where my grandfather had come from, and where his mother ended up. Dad seems to think that for some reason when he met my Nan he MAY have told her he had no living parents? now whether that was true or no who knows. I am still having much trouble getting my head around Prior, weavens, weaven weaver. But I honestly believe its better to wait. please please can I get back in touch with you and Cynthia and annabel as soon as I have Emilys FACTS. thanks again you have all been wonderful. Jo

We had a Sophie/Sophia in our tree that was called Sissy.

I AM bearing in mind that you've had a lot to absorb in the last week or so, and you need to get it into order, but I had my suspicion that Minnie Rivers was also a grand-daughter of Alfred and Martha, so I had a little search for her:

1901 England Census
about Minnie Rivers
Name: Minnie Rivers
Age: 19
Estimated birth year: abt 1882
Relation: Sister
Gender: Female
Where born: Lebcombe, Berkshire, England

Civil parish: Stanford in The Vale
Ecclesiastical parish: Goosey All Saints and Stanford in the Vale St Denys
Town: Stanford in The Vale
County/Island: Berkshire
Country: England

Registration district: Faringdon
Sub-registration district: Buckland
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 137
Household Members: Name Age
Henry Batter 38 (Says Balter on the form - Boulter?)
Annie Batter 35 (Boulter) (born Woolstone)
Louisa Batter 13 (Daughter)
Minnie Rivers 19 (Sister)
John Rivers 12 (Nephew)

This nephew must be your grandfather Joseph cos there is no John Rivers, and he's born in Wantage.

So, it begs the question, was he an orphan by then?

Jo, it was Joseph Edward who was with his aunt Annie Boulter in 1911.

Births Jun 1912 (>99%)
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Richings Ellen M Rivers Swindon 5a 81

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Births Mar 1915 (99%)
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Richings Violet M Rivers Swindon 5a 44

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Births Sep 1917 (>99%)
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Richings Joseph E Rivers Swindon 5a 6

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Births Mar 1921 (>99%)
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RICHINGS Ernest G Rivers Swindon 5a 14

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Births Jun 1924 (>99%)
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Richings Ivy G Rivers Cricklade 5a 84

Not sure which one would be called Sissie.

Alfred is with the Richings in 1911, as posted by Annabel, so rescued from the Workhouse in his old age. My knowledge of "proper" history is rubbish, but 1901 seems to have been a popular year for people landing in the workhouse temporarily. Wonder what happened to cause that?

Hi Cynthia, I have missed you. Yes I know what you mean about writing things down, but I am now sat under a mass of paperwork Ha!! I ordered Emilys birth certt. last night so hopefully as you have all said we will then hopefully be able to find out whether she was Martha Prior? Weavens? or whomever.until then I was just browsing around,. but am going to give ourselves a break for now and get some air. please keep in touch we wouldn't have got started without you. Jo

Am still watching this with interest and letting those with more experience work their way through it. I think it would help you though Joanne, if you took one thing at a time because it's so easy to get confused with so many names etc. There is an excellent thread on the Tips board about how to fathom things out.

When I am confused with my tree, I find it helpful to write things down and methodically work my way backwards, clarifying as I go before beginning to add to my tree.

Will continue to watch how this develops. Cx

Hi Meg. cant thank you enough for all your efforts you have been amazing. At dads now, witnesses A.Harris and W.J.Copp and E.Copp.Joseph was 31 and Mabel was 30.on birth cert. it says father unknown on marriage cert says Joseph Rivers Dec'd Labourer!!! Just found Alfred Rivers and George in the 1901 census RG13/1135. Alfred was 69 at the time, is it likely if he was in the workhouse then that he would then be in the 1911 census as stated living with his daughter Annie Boulter at the age of 77? . Could you tell me if I would benefit from subscribing to any other particular site please. thanks Jo

Hi annabel. Thats great thanks so much. I honestly believed Minnie had died as could not find her. Hope that is MY Minnie. I am still well confused. But its funny as Dad always talked about neices or cousins he had no idea which that used to visit called Ivy and Sissy Richings , maybe they were Minnies grandkids???? I guess its not being able to understand all the info I am given. Going to go back over it all now. thanks again Jo

Still been going though my cd, found the marriage for Minnie Rivers Emily's sister

Standford in the Vale Berkshire marriage oct 8th 1901

Minnie Rivers 21 father Alfred

Harry Richings 21 father James

in the 1911 census


Address: Lotmead Cottages Wanborough Swindon
County: Wiltshire

RICHINGS, Harry Head Married M 31 1880 Miler On Farm Littleworth Faringdon Berkshire
RICHINGS, Minnie Wife Married
10 years F 30 1881 Wantage Berkshire
RICHINGS, Louisa Daughter Single F 8 1903 School Stanford in the Vale Berkshire
RICHINGS, James Son Single M 4 1907 Stanford in the Vale Berkshire
RICHINGS, Mary Daughter Single F 6 1905 School Stanford in the Vale Berkshire
RICHINGS, Martha Daughter Single F 1 1910 Wanborough Wiltshire
RIVERS, Alfred Father In Law Widower M 77 1834 Labourer On Farm East Garston Berkshire

Annabel

Oh, I see what you mean about spellings. Yep. Weavens, Weaving, Wavens, Wevens, any variaion. I would like it to be Weaver, cos I am a Weaver!!! I think I already said that. Sorry.

I'm not sure I had any questions, Jo. That birth cert will tell us that the mmn was Weavens or similar (I'd like it to be Weaver, I am a Weaver). I am certain she is the mother.

I admit to being shell-shocked by the Prior name. What a blooming red herring, I hope, and we must notify Ancestry as soon as we are sure.

Anybody still involved here. Do you have any idea what happened to Emily? It is bothering me. I've tried everything I can think of. Marriages, deaths, emigration. Nothing is coming up. She didn't disappear off the face of the earth. There must be something.

Love to all

Margaret

Hi Cynthia. Just ordered the birth certificate for Emily. Can't answer all megs questions till tomorrow as I will need to go to my dads for them. Am certain though that nothing mentioned about fathers occupation on Josephs birth certificate. Sleep well thanks. Jo

Hi again and thanks for all that still confused about spellings etc but I will have a good look tomorrow and reply to you again. thanks so much for all your time and effort. Jo

Goodness me, well done our Meg! You have been busy!

Joanne, do send for that birth certificate in order to avoid any future errors. Meg has given you the GRO reference numbers so it should be easy. Cx.

Oxford records office have confirmed that the person who died Q2 1912 is aged 54, so it's not our Emily. That person did not die on 5th May, so nor is it the person buried at Didcot.

EDIT, if you can construct a sob story, which I did (and am good at, it seems), it can work!

Still going...

JOHN WEAVIN Pedigree
Male Family

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Marriages:
Spouse: ANN PALMER Family
Marriage: 10 OCT 1824 Lambourn, Berkshire, England

This is the best birth I can find:

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
about Martha Weavers
Name: Martha Weavers
Year of Registration: 1844
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Faringdon
County: Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire
Volume: 6
Page: 186 (click to see others on page)