Louise Farrow of Harfield Village, Cape Town, South Africa writes In tracing my family back, I have found on the 1881 Census that my g-g-g grandfather, David Farrow, was born in Ware, Herts in 1836/37. He subsequently moved to West Ham, London and was living there from at least 1866. I wonder if there are any Farrows still in the area that may be connected or if anyone has done any research into the Farrow name in Herts. (Cannot find David in the birth registration index - probably due to registration just being introduced - or IGI).

I did a quick check of the limited resources I have here (without checking online) and it is clear that the surname Farrow is present in small numbers in and around the town of Hertford, which adjoins Ware, but their social status was such that they do not appear in trade directories available to me. You say you have looked at the IGI (presumably online at familysearch) but have you looked at the Rootsweb site? The British Vital Records CDs are also worth checking.

The important thing to do is to look at what information is provided by the 1881 census and how to proceed from that point.

8 Woodland Terrace, West Ham, Essex

David FARROW	Lodger (Head)	44	Labourer	Ware, Herts
Florence FARROW	Wife	30		Islington, Middlesex
William FARROW	Son	15		Hackney, Middlesex
Florence FARROW	Daur	13	Scholar	St Lukes, Middlesex
Alfred FARROW	Son	9	Scholar	St Lukes, Middlesex

As you noted David's age is given as 44, and as the census took place on the night of the 4th/5th April 1881 he would have been born before July 1st 1837, which is when civil registration began. However this assumes that his age is correct and as he is a labourer he possibly could not read or write so one cannot be certain the age is accurate.

An important step is to get his marriage certificate - which will, along with other details, included the names and occupations of the couple's fathers. One look at the age of his wife and eldest child living at home and there is an immediate problem. The census shows that Florence was only 15 when William was born - and too young to be married. This suggests two records that should be consulted. The fact that Florence junior and Alfred were both born in St Lukes. Middlesex, could mean that getting either of their birth certificates will give the families address, which in turn could be used to find the family entry in the 1871 census - which will also provide a check on ages and places of birth. If his wife is Florence at the time the birth certificates will give her maiden name. If there are no complications you may then be able to get a copy of the marriage certificate and have more information on the couple to allow looking for their birth/baptism details. In particular the place where they were married may well give a clue to their religious upbringing.

Hopefully you will have no difficulty in ordering the certificates - and I am sure there must be a LDS Family History Centre in Cape Town (address from familysearch) where the census microfilm can be ordered. It might also be worth ordering the 1841 and 1851 census returns for Ware at the same time with the intention of finding David Farrow as a child, living with his parents.

If you can collect further information along the lines suggested above, and still have difficulty, let me know what you have found and I may be able to help further.

If you can add to the information given above tell me.