CENSUS
case study
In this month’s Family Tree Academy, David Annal responds to a reader query about a Bristol man who had at least five children, but left little in the way of baptism records, or proof of marriage…
Have a go!
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Harry writes:
I am trying to find information regarding the parents of my 2nd Great Grandfather, George Fry, a Block cutter, who was born c1811 in Bristol (if the census is to be believed). He (apparently) married Mary Ann Burcher (née Saysell) although I cannot find a record of marriage for them and any information I have isn’t consistent.
In the 1841 Census they are living at Charlton Kings, Cheltenham. He is aged 25 and was born ‘out of county’.
In the 1851 Census they are living at 36 Colston Street, Bedminster, Bristol. He is aged 40, born in Bristol, listed as a lodger and Mary Ann is now listed under the surname ‘Burcher’.
In the 1861 Census they are living at 19, Somerset Street, Bedminster, Bristol. He is 50. They are both listed as married under the name of Fry.
In the 1871 Mary Ann is widowed.
This is all I have for George and would love to find a way of getting more information about his parents, but with such a common name and especially around Bristol (a large family of Fry’s were manufacturers of chocolate) it has been like looking for a needle in a haystack! I would be extremely grateful if you could help.
Most family history brickwalls can be assigned to one of two categories.
Sometimes we’re struggling to discover where they came from and who their parents were and on other occasions we can’t find out what happened to them after a particular point in time.
Essentially, our more troublesome ancestors either appeared out of thin air as fully formed adults or they disappeared without trace. But if you’re particularly unlucky, you end up with an ancestor like George Fry, who falls into both pots.