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My great grandmother, Ada Ellen Wright - Im trying to find her on the 1881 census and I think I have narrowed it down to two in the Lincs area. How can I be certain which one it is?

I think I have her on the 1901 census, in service at the age of approx 15. I dont have access to the 1891 census at the moment.

Any thoughts, anyone?

Thank you

If she was 15 in 1901 she won't be on the 1881 census or do you mean the 1891.

You really need her marriage cert to find her age and father's name.

Christine

I presume this is the 1901

1901 England Census
about Ada Wright
Name: Ada Wright
Age: 15
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1886
Relation: Servant
Gender: Female
Where born: Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England

Civil Parish: Marsden
Ecclesiastical parish: Marsden St Bartholomew
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View Image

Registration district: Huddersfield
Sub registration district: Slaithwaite
ED, institution, or vessel: 9
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 36
Household Members: Name Age
Elizabeth Firth 46
Frank Firth 8
Jessie J Firth 3
Samuel Firth 42
Mary Watkin 20
Ada Wright 15

Source Citation: Class: RG13; Piece: 4092; Folio: 126; Page: 7.

If she is definitely Ada Ellen then here is her birth reg, found on Free BMD

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com


Births Sep 1885 (>99%)
Wright Ada Ellen Boston 7a 405

This will give you both her parents names and then you will be sure you are tracing the correct one.

Christine

This could be her but there is also an Ada Wright born Boston. Only way to prove it is to get either marriage or birth cert.

1891 England Census
about Ada E Wright
Name: Ada E Wright
Age: 5
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1886
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Edward
Mother's Name: Sarah
Gender: Female
Where born: New Leaker, Lincolnshire, England

Civil Parish: Toynton St Peter
Ecclesiastical parish: Toynton St Peter
Town: Toynton St Peter
County/Island: Lincolnshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View Image

Registration district: Spilsby
Sub registration district: Spilsby
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Ada E Wright 5
Edward Wright 45
Julia M Wright 3
Matha Ann Wright 13
Sarah Wright 45
Waldin Wright 16

Source Citation: Class: RG12; Piece: 2603; Folio 29; Page 1;

Christine, youre a star, thank you. And yes, you are right, of course she wouldnt be on the 1881 - I dont know what i was thinking!!

I think the one you have here is definitely her. She had my grandfather in Toynton St Peter, so its very likely thats where she came from herself. She also called her son Francis Edward - and the Edward ties in nicely with her father's name!

Ironic that she had a sister Julia - my maiden name was Julie Wright....!

Does it say what Edward did for a living?

Thanks again

Hi Julie,

Sorry for the delay, I went out soon after I posted the details.

Edward was an ag lab.

Here they are in 1901
1901 England Census
about Edward Wright
Name: Edward Wright
Age: 55
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1846
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Sarah
Gender: Male
Where born: Heckington, Lincolnshire, England

Civil Parish: Toynton St Peter
Ecclesiastical parish: Toynton St Peter and All Saints
Town: Toynton St Peter
County/Island: Lincolnshire
Country: England

Street address: Fen Road.

Occupation: Ag Lab

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status

Registration district: Spilsby
Sub registration district: Spilsby
ED, institution, or vessel: 3
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 15
Household Members: Name Age
Edward Wright 55
Julia Wright 13
Sarah Wright 55

Source Citation: Class: RG13; Piece: 3075; Folio: 34; Page: 3.

No need to be sorry, you are doing me a favour!!

Thank you for all this info. Im pretty sure this is my g grans family and its so satisfying to find out more on this side.

If only I could trace my grandfather's father. Any suggestions? Hes not on the birth cert

If there is no father named on the cert then it's virtually impossible to trace him. Your grandfather was obviously registered in his mother's maiden name.

I have that problem with a gg grandmother so have just had to trace her mother's family.

I haven't been able to find them as yet in 1881 but have found this possible marriage
Surname First name(s) District Vol Page

Marriages Dec 1873 (>99%)

Barker Ann Spilsby 7a 1210
DAY Robert Spilsby 7a 1210
<<Orrey Sarah Spilsby 7a 1210
<<Wright Edward Spilsby 7a 1210

And this Sarah in 1851 who has the same birthplace as she gives in 1891


1851 England Census
about Sarah Orrey
Name: Sarah Orrey
Age: 5
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1846
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Samuel
Mother's Name: Susanna
Gender: Female
Where born: Halton Holgate, Lincolnshire, England

Civil Parish: Halton Holgate
County/Island: Lincolnshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability: View Image

Registration district: Spilsby
Sub registration district: Stickney
ED, institution, or vessel: 3
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 100
Household Members: Name Age
George Orrey 3
John Orrey 11
Mary Orrey 8 Mo
Samuel Orrey 42
Sarah Orrey 5
Susanna Orrey 42
Susanna Orrey 8

Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 2109; Folio: 331; Page: 23

In 1871 she is in the workhouse, a domestic servant. Haven't listed all the other names but directly under her name is a John Francis Orrey age 1.

1871 England Census
about Sarah Orrey
Name: Sarah Orrey
Age: 26
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1845
Relation: Pauper Inmate (Pauper)
Gender: Female
Where born: Halton, Lincolnshire, England
Civil Parish: Hundleby
County/Island: Lincolnshire
Country: England
Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability: View Image
Registration district: Spilsby
Sub registration district: Spilsby
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Household schedule number: 1

Christine

presumably the John on the 1871 census, aged 1, is her son. I understand that sometimes girls went to the workhouse to have their baby, they worked in exchange for food and board.
so this Sarah would be Ada's mother? have I got that right? And she married Edward shortly after. I wonder what became of little John Francis then?
I cannot find him on the 1881 census at all....

Just been on the phone for ages, but just before that I found them in 1881 on Familysearch, couldn't find them on Ancestry.

I need to look at the image though as Edward is listed as David, the child John Francis is with them as Francis Wright.

Be back shortly when I've got them on ancestry and checked the image

Household:

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
David WRIGHT Head M Male 35 Heckington, Lincoln, England Agric Labr
Sarah WRIGHT Wife M Female 35 Halton, Lincoln, England
Francis WRIGHT Son Male 11 Hundleby, Lincoln, England Scholar
Walr. WRIGHT Son Male 6 Wainfleet, Lincoln, England Scholar
Mary E. WRIGHT Daur Female 5 New Leake, Lincoln, England
Martha A. WRIGHT Daur Female 3 Butterwick, Lincoln, England
Will. H. WRIGHT Son Male 2 Butterwick, Lincoln, England
Edw. WRIGHT Son Male 3 m Butterwick, Lincoln, England

Source Information:
Dwelling Butterwick Now Leake
Census Place Leake, Lincoln, England
Family History Library Film 1341766
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 3215 / 61
Page Number 4

In answer to your question, yes I think that Sarah will be Ada's mother but nothing is certain without the certificates.

Christine

The image definitely says David, maybe he had a middle name. It has to be the same family as the birthplaces and children's names of Waldin, Martha A and the Frances fit.

Maybe he was David in 1871 too as I didn't find him as Edward.

Christine

All years except 1871

1861 England Census
about Edward Wright
Name: Edward Wright
Age: 14
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1847
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Michael
Gender: Male
Where born: Heckington, Lincolnshire, England

Civil Parish: Howell
County/Island: Lincolnshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage: View Image

Registration district: Sleaford
Sub registration district: Heckington
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 27
Household Members: Name Age
Anna Bruley 39 housekeeper
Edward Wright 14
Mary Wright 4
Michael Wright 55 wid, ag lab born Hecklington

Source Citation: Class: RG9; Piece: 2345; Folio: 44; Page: 7;

1851 England Census
about Edwd Wright
Name: Edwd Wright
Age: 4
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1847
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Michael
Mother's Name: Mary
Gender: Male
Where born: Heckington

Civil Parish: Heckington
County/Island: Lincolnshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability: View Image

Registration district: Sleaford
Sub registration district: Leadenham
ED, institution, or vessel: 7a
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 314
Household Members: Name Age
Joseph Hooton 59 lodger
Edwd Wright 4
Henry Wright 17
Martha Wright 13
Mary Wright 43
Mary Wright 1
Michael Wright 44
Michael Wright 19
Walsden Wright 6

All born Hecklington

Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 2101; Folio: 225; Page: 70;

1841 England Census
about Michael Wright
Name: Michael Wright
Age: 35
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1806
Gender: Male
Where born: Lincolnshire, England

Civil Parish: Heckington
Hundred: Aswardhurn
County/Island: Lincolnshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation: View Image

Registration district: Sleaford
Sub registration district: Heckington
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Henry Wright 8
Martha Wright 4
Mary Wright 35
Michael Wright 35
Michael Wright 10
William Wright 13

Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece 619; Book: 13; Civil Parish: Heckington; County: Lincolnshire; Enumeration District: 1; Folio: 20; Page: 32; Line: 12;

Christine

Thanks Christine, this has been so much help. Im going to peace it all together now.

I notice there are a lot changes with the children. I guess some of them died little. Sad.

Christine

In 1851 - the Wright family had a year old daughter Mary, but in 1861, Mary appears as four years old instead of 11. could the first one have died and they had another daughter who they called mary? This seems strange. I had a daughter Annie, who I lost when she was nearly two. I know I couldnt call another daughter by the same name - she would be unique.

Also the youngest two children on the 1881 census, William and Edward, dont appear on the 1891 census, when they would have been 12 and 10 respectively.Do you think this means that they died?

Hi Julie,

Just come back online.

It's very likely that some of the children died, I've found William and Edward on free BMD.These are the transcribed registers and as it suggests its free to search. It is covered up to about 1925, there are some parts missing but always a good stating point.

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com

Deaths Sep 1883 (96%
WRIGHT Edward 2 Boston 7a 229

Deaths Mar 1884 (>99%)
Wright William Henry 5 Boston 7a 252

The ages are only listed on the online registers after mid 60's so it's difficult to tell for the earlier ones as it's a common surname.

It is sad to see all the young deaths, my 3g grandparents lost 4 children in 3 weeks in 1841, 2 of them buried on the same day, I have a photo of the headstone and admit I shed a few tears when looking at it. They had 10 children in all, 3 after those deaths, my 2g grandfather was born 5 years later.

It was also common to call children the same names after losing one, seems odd to us but it happened regularly.

Some of the older children could be missing in later years as the girls used to go into service at an early age as Ada did.

By the way I am from Huddersfield and that's where she was in 1901.

Hope this helps.

Christine

Thanks Christine - this helps a lot. That solves the Edward and William m ystery. I actually have a note to myself that Mary, at age 15, may have been in service in 1891. After all, we know that Ada was ten years later.

I guess it was my Ada on the 1901 census with Samuel Firth. What a coincidence that you are also from Huddersfield! Is Cellars Clough Mill sill there? I understand it was at Marsden. The last I read about it, they wanted to make it some kind of conservation area for Pipistrell bats...

How sad for your ggg grandparents to have lost so many little ones at once. Were they all stricken with something?

Thanks again for your help, its very much appreciated.

Julie

Hi Julie,

You're very welcome for the info, pleased I've been able to help.

I didn't know anything about Cellars Clough Mill but just found it in The Huddersfield Daily Examiner and it seems as if they found the bats when the developers were in starting to redevelop it into flats. They were looking to move them to a purpose built "barn" to conserve them I think so the mill will still be there.

I just found this, perhaps you've seen it though.

http://www.marsdenhistory.co.uk/work/mills.html

Was it Samuel Firth the mill owner who Ada worked for?

I haven't got the death certs of the children but intend to do so sometime, they possibly all died from the same thing.

If you don't subscribe to Ancestry or Findmypast and want anything else just ask.

Christine