William Adams 1826(?) - 1870 (General)

by nigeldownunder , Australia, Wednesday, February 11, 2015, 04:22 (3574 days ago)

I'm trying to place William Adams in the 1851/1841 census, so I can establish his parents and siblings. What I DO know is this:
- He married ELIZABETH CUTTER at the Doward Chapel in Whitchurch on 5th August 1862. The marriage certificate describes him as a bachelor age 37, labourer, residence: Monmouth, and his father is Jonathan Adams, labourer. Witnesses were Mary Ann Berry (nee CUTTER, and the bride's sister) and her husband John Berry. (This marriage does not appear in the FoDFHT Parish Records Transcripts).
- I'm pretty convinced I've found him in the 1861 census a year earlier, he's a lodger in the DREW household in Monmouth WILLIAM ADDAMS, lodger, unmarried, 36, born Glostershire Joyford - and his fellow lodgers are the witnesses at his marriage, John and Mary Ann Berry. I can't make out the street name but it could be Cross Keys Lane, and I think it was just off Agincourt Square, but I can't find it on Google Earth.
- William and Elizabeth's first child George Adams was baptised at Christchurch Berry Hill on 23/10/1862. Residence is Joyford, occupation: labourer.
- Second child Mary Ann Adams was also baptised at Christchurch on 20/2/1865. Residence is Joyford, occupation: labourer.
- Third child William Henry (my G-Grandfather) was baptised at English Bicknor on 1/3/1868. Residence is Joyford Hill, occupation: labourer.
- William dies before the 1871 census. Wife Elizabeth is a widow, and there is a 4th child Elizabeth Adams, who is described as 2 months old, and if this is correct, William would have died sometime in the previous 11 months.

I have found what I think may be William's burial record
Record ID: 16820 Entry Number: 2640
Year: 1870, Month: Mar, Day: 2
Surname: ADAMS
Forenames: William
Residence: Joyford Lane
Age at death: 44
Officiating Minister: J Burdon
Event: Burial
from 1813 Page No: 140 Parish Chapel: English Bicknor
The problem with this is that he seems to have died before his 4th child was conceived!!

The 1851 census provides 2 possible families for William. The first, Class: HO107; Piece: 1959; Folio: 335; Page: 5; GSU roll: 87359, gives the following:
Quarrymans Arms or Ancient Britain(?), East Dean St Paul's
John Adams, head, m, 55, victualler & quarryman, born East Dean
Mary Adams, wife, m, 56, born Monmouthshire Chepstow
William Adams, son, u, 26, quarryman, born East Dean
George Adams, son, u, 25, quarryman, born East Dean
Mary Ann Adams, dau, u, 20, born East Dean
Robert Adams, son, u, 17, quarryman, born East Dean

The other possibility is Class: HO107; Piece: 1959; Folio: 336; Page: 6; GSU roll: 87359
East Dean St Paul's
Margreat Adams, head, w, 62, victualler, born East Dean
Henry Adams, son, u, 27, quarryman, born East Dean
William Adams, son, u, 26, quarryman, born East Dean
Joseph Adams, son, u, 24, quarryman, born East Dean
Carraline Adams, daur, u, 22, born East Dean
Ann James, serv, u, 16, born East Dean

As you can see, the entries for both of these Williams are identical! So which, if either, can we rule out?

There is a baptism entry that could resolve this in favour of the first family at the Quarryman's Arms.

record_id 133551 Entry Number 614 Year 1824 Month May Day 16 Parents Surname ADAMS Child Forename(s) William Adams Marmont Father's Forename(s) John Mother's Forename(s) Mary Mother's Surname Place of Residence Forest of Dean Occupation Quarryman Officiating Minister C P N Wilton Sub Curate Event type Baptism Memoranda Notes Register Reference P50 IN1/1 Page No 77 Parish Chapel: Blakeney.

The problem with this one is the child's forenames. Could this be a transcription error?

I'm sorry this post is so long-winded! Can anyone provide me with any insights that will have me slapping my forehead?

Many thanks