Seeking my grandfather’s parents
QI have been trying to find my grandfather’s parents for some years, and over time an accumulation of names have come forward, but I am not sure that any of them are right. I have my grandfather’s wedding certificate that says that George John Brown got married in 1912 to Ada Susannah Wilson, and the only clue to his father is George Brown, Bootmaker. If you can help in any way I would be extremely grateful. Even clues as to how to progress would help a lot.
A Ken Brown The 1912 marriage certificate gives you two pieces of useful information, the name and occupation of George’s father, George Brown Boot Maker, and his own occupation as a Chaff Cutter.
WORKING BACK THROUGH THE CENSUS RECORDS
1911: The 1911 Census was taken on 2 April, just thirteen months before the marriage, and a search on the census for a George Brown with occupation chaff cutter brings up just one hit. At 51 Canning Road, Highbury Vale, Islington there is an entry for a fifty-eight-year-old widow, Mary Ann Barke, housekeeper, plus her two daughters and two boarders. The boarders are George Brown, 32, single, a chaff cutter born Essex, Upton Park and Frederick Brown, 34, a carriage cleaner born Essex, Plaistow. George’s age and occupation match his marriage certificate and given that George named his second son Frederick it seemed likely that Frederick Brown could be George’s brother, especially as the two birthplaces are less than a mile apart.
1901: I couldn’t find George or Frederick in 1901 but research showed that Frederick, given in 1911 as an Army pensioner, was in India 1895-1906, while George could be one of several of roughly the right age born in roughly the right place.
1891: Moving back to 1891 there is an interesting entry. At 37 Brooks Road, Plaistow, West Ham, is the following family: George Brown, head, widower, 82, shoe maker, born Hampshire, Portsmouth, George Brown, son, widower, 53, shoe maker, born Hampshire, Portsmouth, Frederick Brown, grandson, 15, machine apprentice, born Essex, Plaistow, and George Brown, grandson,
