Genealogy Chat

Joanne, just to advise on that huge list that Flick gave early on, it is a list of all the towns and villages that come under the registration district of Wallingford, with details of what years of, say, Aston Tirrold came under Wallingford (1837-1974) and what disrict the town came under in other years (Aston Tirrold came under Oxford from 1974 onwards).

You can find all this on a website. I can't be bothered putting it in my favourites, but if you just google "registration districts" it comes up first.

No such person as Martha Weavens.

EDIT - not true, see later.

Going back on the thread Joanne, you say the death records show her dying June 1912. So presumably you have that death certificate? Who reported the death? Can you ask the GRO or wherever you got the certificate from to check out the age at death without any charge? Or did you already have this death certificate from your g grandmother's papers?

Thinking again. She was born in Berkshire. She died in Berkshire. Her family were from Berkshire. Why would she be buried in Didcot, Oxfordshire? Ignore that. As a Northerner my geographical knowledge south of Derby is a mess. Didcot is right next to Wallingford, Berkshire.

Marriages Dec 1887 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**** BOLTER Henry Wantage 2c 694
FERRIS Martha Wantage 2c 694
POUNDS Henry Wantage 2c 694
**** RIVERS Annie Wantage 2c 694

Henry born 1863, Annie born 1865.

EDIT Probably the Annie living with Emily in 1881. Sort of confirms that Joseph is her sister's son. So where did these 10 years go at her death?

Joanne, have we got the right death of Emily? Was she only 44 at death? Bigger mistakes have happened.

Hi Cynthia

Thanks, I think Joanne has gone to do some housework - maybe we should do the same! We'll perhaps have to wait till she gets back, I think my post overlapped with her last one.

Yes I saw the Martha Weavens marriage, not sussed out who she is or where Prior came from.

Still concerned about this death in 1912 of Emily age 54.

Hope Joanne can answer my questions soon.

Hi Meg, I have pm'd Joanne to let her know you are still here but I wonder if she has shut down for the day. I have also advised her that it is FREEbmd and easy to use. Did you see the marriage on there - 1863 Faringdon, Alfred Rivers to Martha Weavens? What do you think? Cx.

I'm still worried.

Your grandfather is Joseph E Rivers, died in Bideford in 1960 age 71. So I agree born abt 1888/89. This could be his birth:

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
about Joseph Edward Rivers
Name: Joseph Edward Rivers
Year of Registration: 1889
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Wantage
County: Berkshire, Oxfordshire
Volume: 2c
Page: 311 (click to see others on page)

And could be the Joseph we have found on the 1891 census. In 1911 he is with aunt and uncle Henry and Annie Boulter in Faringdon, Berkshire. I cannot find him in 1901 though.

Can I ask, do you have his marriage certificate (to Mabel E Harris) to confirm there is no father on it (assuming Emily was unmarried and he did not lie)?

Wow my head hurts !! You are amazing. funny but in 1891 martha has stated her surname as Prior but says wife on the census. I have now ordered birth and death certs for her so hopefully it will shed a little light on it. Maybe she didnt actually marry Alfred? I have been on bmd.org but for some reason I cannot view the info its sooooo small, I've tried everything I can think of to enlarge but to no avail.
As for Alfred I have rung and emailed the berks record office as I cannot requestcert for birth if I apparently do not have the relevant info, all i know is what I have gleaned from the 1871 census which states he is 30 its the earliest I can find him. And WHY were so many people named Rivers Ha! my Dad is about the only 1 in the whole of DEVON, which is where we are. Thanks again. I think I might just give my brain a reat today, although I so want to find this out for my Dad and hes not well so watch this space. I am glad though that you made me realsie that you have to be exact ish. thanks a lot hope you got your housework done. Jo

I'm concerned we're looking for the wrong Emily Rivers. Joanne says she died in 1912. The only death in Berkshire is the Emily age 54, making her born 1857/8 - unless the age is wrong.

The Emily age 54 in 1911 is a married woman (so is the one age 53), but your posting here implies your g grandmother died unmarried.

How do you know that the Joseph born 1890 is your grandfather?

Hi. Vol 2c page 270 refers to the register entry. If you look at freebmd, you will see that all births, marriages and deaths have a number beside them. It's best to quote this when ordering certificates. I can't actually find an Alfred Rivers born 1841 in Berkshire as yet.


1861 Census
Name: Alfred Rivers
Age: 20
Estimated birth year: abt 1841
Relation: Servant
Gender: Male
Where born: East Garston, Berkshire, England

Civil parish: Kingston Lisle
County/Island: Berkshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage: View image

Registration district: Faringdon
Sub-registration district: Buckland
ED, institution, or vessel: 3
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 20
Household Members: Name Age
Joseph Baron Empson 48
Francis Ann Empson 30
Frances Joseph Reeves Empson 3
Amy Mariam Marklyne 25
Sarah Cox 25
Hannah Taylor 22
Eliza Green 15
John Hasse 15
Richard Day 14
Alfred Rivers 20


1881
Name: Alfred Rivers
Age: 40
Estimated birth year: abt 1841
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Martha
Gender: Male
Where born: East Garston, Berkshire, England

Civil parish: Letcombe Regis
County/Island: Berkshire
Country: England

Street Address: Langdon Cottages
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status: View image
Occupation: Ag Lab

Registration district: Wantage
Sub-registration district: Wantage
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Alfred Rivers 40
Martha Rivers 38
Ann Rivers 15
Emily Rivers 14
Henry Rivers 12
Percy Rivers 10
George Rivers 7



1891
Name: Alfred Rivers
Age: 50
Estimated birth year: abt 1841
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Martha
Gender: Male
Where born: East Garston, Berkshire, England

Civil parish: Wantage
Ecclesiastical parish: Wantage
Town: Wantage
County/Island: Berkshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Wantage
Sub-registration district: Wantage
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Alfred Rivers 50
Martha Rivers 45
Emily Rivers 23
Pierce Rivers 20
George Rivers 16
Minnie Rivers 7
Joseph Rivers 1

Take a look at marriages on freebmd. Put in 'Rivers' , 'Alfred' and 'Martha'. Put the years between 1860-70 and you will see one come up but it is not Martha Prior!

Cx.

Hi Cynthia. Thanks you so much. I have spent all day so far with my Dad who is 83 trying to find the correct information. so far I have martha prior born 1843 wantage, and martha Rivers died 1900 Wantage aged 57. Yippee . I have now sent for both certificates. How can you find out what VOL 2c page 271 means . is this a reference to which cemetery. Also just in case you are bored Ha! how can I get Alfreds birth certificte if I can only find him by his first appearance on a census, I have checked everywhere but I stll only get his year of birth to be 1843. Please don't worry if you cannot assist me anymore, i realise ghow time consuming this is, and myself and my dad are delighted with some help. thanks again Jo

For reference:

1871

Name: Emily Rivers
Age: 3
Estimated birth year: abt 1868
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Alfred
Mother's Name: Martha
Gender: Female
Where born: Woolstone, Berkshire, England
Civil parish: Woolstone
Town: Woolstone
County/Island: Berkshire
Country: England
Registration district: Faringdon
Sub-registration district: Shrivenham
ED, institution, or vessel: 6
Household schedule number: 43
Household Members: Name Age
Alfred Rivers 30
Martha Prior 27
Ann Rivers 5
Emily Rivers 3
Henry Rivers 1

Okay. If you look at freebmd, you will find a death for a Martha Rivers in 1900........and I have seen an Alfred Rivers in a Berkshire workhouse in 1901. So, a possiblity is that the family broke up on the death of Martha. Just a thought.

Cannot find either Emily or her son Joseph on 1901 as yet.


Cx.

Well, this is her birth reg

Births Jun 1867 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rivers Emily Faringdon 2c 260

Woolstone came under the Faringdon registration district.


This information has come from freebmd.org which is a free site to search and is fun to use. If you wish to send for any certificates to verify information, then go to the GRO site and you can order online. Use the reference numbers you find on the freebmd site. Certificates cost £7 at the moment but are due to rise on 5th April to £9.25.

Any census information found for you is from members who use their own subscriptions to either Ancestry or FindMyPast.

I'll go and have a little mooch for you - but others are much more adept at this than I am!

Also, take a look on the Tips boards for any advice on how to do research.

Back later. Cx.

Edit.. ps. Genes don't hold any records, they simply direct you to other sites.....!

Hi Cynthia this is so addictive, blow the housework ha! I suddenly see my mistake, I got carried away with the thrill of it. ok how did you find that is it on genes or some other site. thanks. Jo

Hi again. I have no actual birth record of her nor can I find one but she is on the 1871 census as 3 years old so that makes it 1868. I was so excited because I thought I had found her. Never mind back to the drawing board.

Aahh. Joanne, 1858 or 1868??? Cx.

Right, before moving on to housework!


If your Emily was born in 1868 then it won't be the one who died in 1912 aged 54 because that means she would have been born in 1858.



There is this other death from freebmd::

Deaths Dec 1915 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rivers Emily L 47 Reading 2c 491

This one would have been born in 1868.

What do you think? Cx.

Thanks C. I am very grateful for any assistance. Emily was born in 1868 at woolstone Berks. I am going to do some checking today of all my dates and get back to you. Thanks agin Jo