- Define the Problem
- Timeline
- Evaluate Evidence 1
- Evaluate Evidence 2
- Evaluate Evidence 3
- Evaluate Evidence 4
- Evaluate Evidence 5
- Evaluate Evidence 6
- Search for New Evidence
- Brown Family Certificates Received!
- Robert Unwin Will
- Search for New Evidence 1
- Search for New Evidence 2
- Charles Healey Will
- Going Around the Brickwall
- The Lost Children
In this post I continue to review all of the existing evidence and see if there are any more clues that I missed the first time around.
Reviewing the Evidence
Marriage of George Smith and Ann Brown
- 1865: Ann Brown marries George Smith in the June quarter of 1865 in Sheffield
Ann Brown was only 16 years old when she married George Smith, a 20 year old grinder originally from Sheffield.
England & Wales, “FreeBMD Index 1837-1983,” database, FreeBMD (http://www.freebmd.org.uk/: accessed 27 March 2010), marriage for George Smith and Ann Brown; citing Ecclesall B[ierlow] Jun [quarter] 1865, vol 9c: 268.
Although I don’t have a marriage certificate for their marriage yet, I’m fairly certain that this is the correct marriage for Ann Brown because when George Brown Sr. died in 1882, his death certificate mentioned his daughter, Ann Smith, who was present at his death.
Certified Copy of an Entry of Death given at the General Register Office; Registration District Sheffield; 1882 Death in the sub-district of North Sheffield in the County of York; #417, Twelfth October 1882, 112 Scotland Street, USD, George Brown, male, 66 years, file cutter, chronic bronchitis certified by William Gill MMCS, X the mark of Ann Smith, daughter present at the death 112 Scotland Street, Sheffield on the thirteenth October 1882.
Birth of Caroline Smith
- 1867: Caroline Smith, daughter of George and Ann Smith, is born about 1867 in Sheffield
Caroline Smith appears in both the 1871 and 1881 censuses. In both cases, her age is consistent with a birth year of about 1867. In the 1871 census, she was enumerated living with George and Ann Brown, her grandparents while in 1881 she was enumerated living with her parents and siblings and the widowed George Brown, her grandfather. There are two possible birth registrations that might be hers in 1866.
England & Wales, “FreeBMD Index 1837-1983,” database, FreeBMD (http://www.freebmd.org.uk/: accessed 27 March 2010), birth of Caroline Smith; citing Sheffield Mar [quarter] 1866, vol 9c: 348.
England & Wales, “FreeBMD Index 1837-1983,” database, FreeBMD (http://www.freebmd.org.uk/: accessed 27 March 2010), birth of Caroline Smith; citing Sheffield Jun [quarter] 1866, vol 9c: 332.
Birth of John William Smith
- 1869: John William Smith, son of George and Ann Smith, is born about 1869 in Sheffield
John William Smith appears in both the 1871 and 1881 censuses in the household of his parents, George and Ann Smith. In both cases his age is consistent with the birth year of about 1869. There are three possible birth registrations for a John William Smith in Sheffield in 1869 and 1870.
England & Wales, “FreeBMD Index 1837-1983,” database, FreeBMD (http://www.freebmd.org.uk/: accessed 27 March 2010), birth of John William Smith; citing Sheffield Mar [quarter] 1869, vol 9c: 377.
England & Wales, “FreeBMD Index 1837-1983,” database, FreeBMD (http://www.freebmd.org.uk/: accessed 27 March 2010), birth of John William Smith; citing Ecclesall B. Jun [quarter] 1869, vol 9c: 223.
England & Wales, “FreeBMD Index 1837-1983,” database, FreeBMD (http://www.freebmd.org.uk/: accessed 27 March 2010), birth of John William Smith; citing Sheffield Dec [quarter] 1870, vol 9c: 487.
1871 Census
With all but the youngest of George and Ann Brown’s children being married in 1871, I would expect to find four separate households for the Brown family however I am unable to locate a census record for Walter and Caroline White.
- 1871: Census taken on 2 April 1871 shows George Brown, head, married, aged 55, file cutter, born Yorkshire, Sheffield; Ann Brown, wife, married, aged 57, born Yorkshire, Sheffield; William Joseph Brown, son, aged 19, file cutter, born Yorkshire, Sheffield; Caroline Smith, granddaughter, aged 4, born Yorkshire, Sheffield living at 28 Dunscombe Street in the Ecclesiastical District of St. Mary’s in the Nether Hallam ward in Sheffield
George and Ann were living on Dunscombe Street in 1871, just over a mile to the west of their previous known address on Scotland Street. George at the age of 55 was still a file cutter and his age is still consistent with the birth year of 1815 in Sheffield. Ann Brown was 57, consistent with the birth year of 1813 and her birth place was shown as Liverpool as it was in the 1851 census but contrary to the 1841 census. Their son, my great grandfather, William Joseph was 18 years old and like his father was working as a file cutter. His age is consistent with his birth year of 1852. Caroline Smith, the Brown’s granddaughter, is 4 years old, suggesting the birth year of 1867.
Using Google’s street view, the house at 28 Dunscombe appears quite old as does the stone wall surrounding the garden and it might possibly date back to 1871 but there is no apparent listing found in the Historic Buildings website.
- 1871: Census taken on 2 April 1871 shows George Brown Jr, head, married, aged 33, file cutter, born Yorkshire, Sheffield; Mary Ann Brown, wife, married, aged 30, spoon buffer, born Norfolk, Lynn living at the back of No 16 Blue Boy Street
Blue Boy Street was only a 2 minute walk from Scotland Street. While it appears to have been a residential street in 1871, the modern Blue Boy Street appears to be more of an industrial lane way.
- 1871: Census taken on 2 April 1871 shows George and Ann Smith George Smith, head, married, aged 26, joiner, Yorkshire, Sheffield; Ann Smith, wife, married, aged 22, Yorkshire, Sheffield; John William Smith, aged 2, Yorkshire, Sheffield living at 106 Scotland Street in the Ward of St Philips, Sheffield
George and Ann Smith were living at 106 Scotland Street in 1871. George was 26 years old, consistent with a birth year of 1845. Ann was 22 years old, consistent with a birth year of 1849. John William, their second child, was 2 years old, consistent with a birth year of 1869. All three were born in Sheffield. George Smith was a joiner by trade and not in one of the metal working industries as were so many of his neighbours. The current day Scotland Street appears to be mainly small shops or industrial buildings rather than the residential street it was in 1871.
