Lyn Allen (jdle @t xtra.co.nz) of Waiuku, New Zealand, writes My mother now aged 94, came to New Zealand in 1920 on board the SS Ionic with her family who where Father Arthur Bradfield b 1873, Mother Ellen b 4/8/1878, children, Gladys (b 1908 my mother) Dorothy (Babs) and Winifred.

The family I am trying to locate is as follows:  The Bradfield family was Father, Charles b 1844 Mother, Matilda b 1845; Children James b 1869; Charles b 1871; Arthur b 1873; Elizabeth b 1876; Will; Ebeneza; Suzie; Ethel; Millicent, I have no birth dates for the final ones. They resided at 2 Wroughton Terrace Hendon. The family also owned a Tobacconist/sweet/paper shop at 10 Brent Street Hendon.  I believe the shop and house are still standing. My mother went to St.Josephs Convent in Hendon. I believe that Millicent Bradfield came to New Zealand and married Charlie Rankin a farmer from New Plymouth. The only information I have has been given to me by my mother and her sister, or is from the 1881 census.

From what you say it would appear that you have not yet realised that the starting place for any research in this period is the register of Births Marriages and Deaths, and you clearly have enough information to order copies of the certificates. Have a good look at the web page "How To ..." and in particular follow up the links to Family Events, although many of the other pages contain useful information.

Chas. BRADFIELD	Head	37	Bricklayer	Kingswood, Gloucestershire
Matilda BRADFIELD	Wife	36		Barnet, Herts
James BRADFIELD	Son	11	Scholar	Barnet, Herts
Chas. BRADFIELD	Son	10	Scholar	Barnet, Herts
Arthur BRADFIELD	Son	8	Scholar	Barnet, Herts
Elizth. BRADFIELD	Daur	5	Scholar	Hendon, Middlesex

I reproduce the relevant information from the 1881 census, which you have already seen, and it provides key information for the next steps in your search. For instance, if you purchase James's birth certificate it will tell you his mother's maiden name - while you should be able to make a reasonable guess about Charles and Matilda's marriage date (within 2-3 years) and then you can buy their marriage certificate - which will give you more information - including the couple's fathers' names and occupations.

If you are worried about the cost of the certificates I should warn you that I have come across people who have searched the internet for years without making any progress when they could have got the information they want within weeks if they had read books on researching English ancestors, and purchased certificates. At 94 your mother will not be around for ever, and she will be delighted to learn of your findings. My own experiences with my elderly mother showed that as you collect further information she may well come up with new facts from her memory.

Best wishes and every success with your search.

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