Possible breakthrough in Burton upon Trent!

[kiterunner]

Which reminds me, Merry - do you have the names of the witnesses at your William Allen's marriage?

[kiterunner]

1861 and Peter Minshull is a Furnace Manager:
1861 census

[Mary from Italy]

The witnesses to William Allen's marriage were Thos. Hodson and Sarah Heap (I have a disc for St Michael's, but baptisms only begin in 1813).

As a matter of interest a Benjamin Allen married Mary Ames at St. Michael's on 9/1/1806, witnesses Thos. Hodson and Harriet Moss. Maybe brothers and sisters married? According to the baptism entries, Benjamin was a tailor.

[Merry]

Thanks for the info for Louisa, Kate.

Originally Posted by kiterunner

Which reminds me, Merry - do you have the names of the witnesses at your William Allen's marriage?

After 25 years on my tree I still haven't got a copy of the PR. Very naughty of me I had to just about sign the official secrets act and send them pictures of photo ID etc etc to get a copy of a baptism from Staffs CRO and it cost a fortune, so that put me off having further contact with them unless I had more to work on for Wm Allen (which now it seems like I do!). I would like the marriage witnesses to by Edwin and Wm senr, but I bet they will be from his wife's family (still useful, of course!) or serial witnesses!

Originally Posted by Mary from Italy

As a matter of interest a Benjamin Allen married Mary Ames at St. Michael's on 9/1/1806, witnesses Thos. Hodson and Harriet Moss. Maybe brothers and sisters married? According to the baptism entries, Benjamin was a tailor.

Well, that's typical lol! I didn't see that on Ancestry as the bride's surname is mistranscribed and I got over excited finding the other entry. I can't see such a plausible baptism for a child Wm for that couple though. As you say, it could be a brother and sister marriage which might help with the tree.

There's a Benjamin (tailor) and wife Mary in Birmingham in 1861. He's 78 from Burton.

[Shona]

This might be George Allen in 1851 - married with one daughter, living in Hull and working as a draper.

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/88...nSearchResults

Hull

54 Market Place

George Allen, head, 27, draper, b Lichfield
Harriet Allen, wife, 25, b Wednesbury
Mary Allen, dau, 1, b Hull

Plus lots of employees.

[Shona]

This might be Frederick Allen in 1871 - transcribed as Fredericka by Ancestry! Living in Smallwood. Wasn't Arthur Ames Allen living in Smallwood in 1851?

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/76...l=ReturnRecord

Amos Taylor, head, 44, farmer, b Smallwood, Cheshire
Sarah Taylor, wife, 32, b ????, Staffs
Maria Webb, sister in law, 45, farmer's wife, b ???? Staffs
Frederick Allen, father in law, widr, 49, assistant overseer, b Lichfield, Staffs

[Merry]

I agree, George is a possible.

I looked at that Frederick last night and got bogged down with how he could be father-in-law to the head as he's pretty young to be Sarah's father and I couldn't see an Amos Taylor to Sarah Allen marriage. Other than that, he's a possible though. (I can't remember if I looked to see how many Fred's there were bap in Lichfield now and it was only about 12 hours ago lol!!

[Merry]

Yes, Arthur was living at Smallwood at one point.

[Merry]

Other than the apparent variation in social status, the fact that this family seem to have mostly moved out of Lichfield, several quite a distance, makes e feel my Wm could fit in.

[Shona]

Frederick Allen in 1851. Goes some way to explaining the 1861 entry.

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/87...l=ReturnRecord

Frederick Allen, head, 39, farmer, b Litchfield, Staffs
Elizabeth Allen, wife, 64 (!!!), b Barthomley (?), Cheshire
Amos Taylor, son, 34, b Smallwood, Cheshire
Amos Harding, grandson, 13, scholar, b Mowcop (?), Staffs
Sarah Hollins, niece, 22, housemaid, b Madely, Staffs