Q & A

KATHERINE COBB is a member of AGRA based in Somerset

EMMA JOLLY is a writer, historical researcher and member of AGRA

ANTONY MARR is a former deputy registrar and the chair of AGRA

JAYNE SHRIMPTON is a professional dress historian and portrait specialist

ALAN STEWART is a family history writer, and author of Grow Your Own Family Tree

RUTH SYMES is the author of Tracing Your Ancestors Through Letters & Personal Writings

PHIL TOMASELLI is a military family history expert, and wrote Tracing Your Air Force Ancestors

SARAH WILLIAMS is the editor of Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine

Who was William Farrands?

Q My great great grandfather William Rollin was born c1811. Census records from 1841 to 1881 show his wife as Susannah, also born c1811 in Littleborough, Nottinghamshire. In the 1851 census, the entry for Susannah and the children (William is not at home) also lists William Farrands, aged 66, “Father” (I presumed Susannah’s). In the 1861 census, William and Susannah are together, again with William Farrands, aged 76, “Father”. But the birth certificates for the couple’s twins, born in 1844, lists their mother’s maiden name as “Whitaker” and I have found what I believe is her baptism record with parents Benjamin and Mary Whitaker. I found a marriage record for William Rollin and Susanna Wittaker at Sturton le Steeple, less than three miles from Littleborough. It seems that Susan has become Susanna! But I still don’t know what