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I am in the process of trying to tie up my paternal grandmother's trail. I have got as far as her grandfather and grandmother (William Allen and Rebecca Allen). The 1861 census shows William as a "Fitter in Iron Foundry"; by 1871 he is shown as an "Ironfounder employing 12 men and 6 boys". Then in 1881 he is an "Ironfounder employing 50 men and 6 boys". It was said by my deceased father that this was the Allen of Allens Foundry in Tipton. Is there anyone out there that can help me? Was William Allen the founder of Allens of Tipton? Am I on the right track?
Following on from this at a bit of a tangent, can anyone help as regards Rebecca (spelt Rebekah on 1861 census). I know she was born in Halesowen around 1834 but of course trying to follow a female line is,how can I put it, difficult.
Any help with these queries would be very welcome.

If you are working backwards then you should be able to find his marriage certificate which will help tie them in. Where have you found him on the census? When/where was he born?

Ditto Rebeccas family - get the marriage cert for her fathers details. When was their first child born and where? Working from that date (not always foolproof) check for a marriage on freebmd.org and then using the GRO ref there buy the certificate for £7 from GRO online.

Ive not doubt a good google would reveal more re the Foundry as would contacting the local archivists?

Take it this is them
1861

Name: Rebekah Allen
Age: 27
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1834
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: William
Gender: Female
Where born: Sedgley, Staffordshire, England

Civil Parish: Tipton
Ecclesiastical parish: St John
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

View Image

Registration district: Dudley
Sub registration district: Tipton
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 159a
Household Members:
Name Age
Alice Allen 5
Amonda Allen 7
Caleb Allen 3
Pamala Allen 1
Rebekah Allen 27
William Allen 28

Using the age of the eldest child born to them and where she was born - Dudley district - the likely marriage on freebmd is this one:

Marriages Dec 1852
>>>ALLEN William Dudley 6c 228
Atkins Ann Dudley 6c 228
>>>BILLINGHAM Rebecca Dudley 6c 228
Douglas Daniel Dudley 6c 228

Is that Tipton in Devon?

Then this is probably their marriage:-
Marriages Dec 1852 (>99%)
ALLEN William Dudley 6c 228
BILLINGHAM Rebecca Dudley 6c 228

Tipton is a Civil Parish of Dudley!

Robin, go to freebmd.org and have a go yourself. It looks like Catherine and I have the same possible marriage but you cant be sure until you back that up with certificates. Personally id buy the birth cert of one of the kids - the one that is your direct ancestor to be sure this is the right couple.

And William Allen is such a common name you really could do with some solid info re his father to search further for him.

Possibly Rebecca in 1851

Name: Rebecca Billingham
Age: 17
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1834
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Thomas
Mother's Name: Anne
Gender: Female
Where born: Rowley Regis, Staffordshire, England

Civil Parish: Tipton
Ecclesiastical parish: St Martin
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability:

View Image

Registration district: Dudley
Sub registration district: Tipton
ED, institution, or vessel: 1a
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 96
Household Members:
Name Age
Anne Billingham 42 1809 born: Rowley Regis,
Benjn Billingham 11
Mariam Billingham 3
Rebecca Billingham 17
Ruth Billingham 14
Sarah A Billingham 9
Thomas Billingham 42 1809 born: Rowley Regis
(Chain Maker)

When you're sure to have the correct couple then the marriage certificate will give you both fathers names and their professions so you can make sure that the family on 1851 census for Rebecca is the right one.

The same family in 1841:-

Ann Billingham abt 1811 Staffordshire, England Sedgley, Staffordshire
Benj Billingham abt 1839 Staffordshire, England Sedgley, Staffordshire
Rebeca Billingham abt 1834 Staffordshire, England Sedgley, Staffordshire
Ruth Billingham abt 1838 Staffordshire, England Sedgley, Staffordshire
Thos Billingham abt 1821 Staffordshire, England Sedgley, Staffordshire