Hertfordshire Genealogy: Helpdesk

An exciting month with some really challenging questions. Several queries relate to people who were "on the move". While proof is needed it looks as if Ann Gray was born in Hertfordshire in 1846 because her father was a navvy helping to build a railway. Meanwhile Lynn is trying to find records of a "portable theatre" (a bit like a circus with a stage) which was in the Ware area in 1888. Meanwhile it is possible that William Miller reached Australia via China!

A query about Truman Press, editor of the Hertfordshire Standard, has turned up some interesting information about this St Albans paper and some other Hertfordshire publications. I was interested to note that several Wood children were baptised together on 30th June 1837, the day before civil registration was introduced. The other queries included two illegitimacies - Dollimore & Shepherd - may prove hard to untangle - but I could give some advice as to where some additional information might be obtained.

Web Page	Notes
SAUNDERS, Redbourn, early 19th century Joseph Sanders: Brickmaker of Bernards Heath, fl 1700	Tony updated the information on his Saunders ancestors and has discovered that they were brickmakers in the 18th century, It maybe that they were related to Joseph Sanders.
Libury Hall, Little Munden, early 20th century	Vicky want to know more about Libury Hall before the Germans moved in. While the manor dates back to the Domesday book in would seem that it was only a farm in the 19th century. Contact details for the current management of the Hall updated.
Use of Advice Files, etc.	When I was teaching students how to use a computer some 30 years ago I was often tempted to say "When all else fails try reading the ******* manual." I get the same problem with this web site. Every month I get one or two queries where the "brick wall" preventing the questioner from making progress is between their head and the local library's copy of "Family History for Dummies."
DIXON, St Peters, St Albans, circa 1800	Richard's search for the baptism of his 3 x great grandfather provides an excellent illustration of knowing the name of the children and suggest the name of their paternal grandfather.
WOOD, Hemel Hempstead, Early 19th Century	Elizabeth's questions raises a number if important points which have a far wider interest. Why were all the children baptised on 30th June 1837? Why was Richard not "at home" in the 1841 census? Can a child's name be used to suggest the name of a maternal grandfather?
BALDERSON, Boxmoor Wharf, Hemel Hempstead, 19th/20th Century	Following Bill's request I have added brief information and a link to the book *Royalty to Commoners: Four Hundred Years of the Box Moor Trust*. I have also added a map link showing the location of Boxmoor Wharf.
BARNETT, Watfor, d Area, mid-19th century	Liz has a problem trying to match children to parents from the birth registration references and I show how using the census can help.
DOLLIMORE, Hitchin area, circa 1831	Sally's ancestor may have been illegitimate - and I suggests ways in which she may be able to clarify the situation - although if your ancestor did not know their father's name it may prove impossible to resolve more than 100 years later.
SHEPHERD, Hemel Hempstead, circa 1880-1908	Helen also has a possible illegitimacy problem, and because the surname is common, and the place of birth is uncertain, it is hard to be sure you have the right person. Fortunately the 1911 census, soon to become available, could provide important missing information.
Truman PRESS, St Albans, Late 19th Century	Linda's query about Truman Press, who was editor and owner of the Hertfordshire Standard has provided some very interesting information about some of the other short-lived local papers at the end of the 19th century. It also links the Standard to books such as Hertfordshire Men of Mark and *Hertfordshire County Homes* and the monthly magazine *Hertfordshire Illustrated Review. The research also demonstrated the limitations of the St Albans Almanack (which for most relevant years failed to even acknowledge the existence of the Hertfordshire Standard*) compared with the more profession Kelly's Hertfordshire Directories.
GRAY/GREY, Hertford, circa 1846	A general rule is that poorer people did not normally move great distances - but there are always exceptions. Ian's ancestor Ann Gray claimed to be born in Hertfordshire - but all Hertfordshire sources proved negative. However her husband was a very mobile labourer (probably a navvy on the railways), moving round with his wife, and I suggested that her father may have done the same. As a result Ian has followed up this idea and found a Staffordshire connection - with possibly relevant railway projects at the time of Ann's birth in Hertfordshire and marriage at Huddersfield.
WELLS, Ware, 1885-1890	A very exciting query - Lynn is researching a "portable theatre" which moved around the country, rather like a circus - and this raises a number of questions about tracking people with mobile occupations. The group may have worked from the Ware area in the late 1880s - but more research is needed. Licensing records might provide a way to track the theatre's movements within Hertfordshire.
Mill Lane, Tring , 1861	As a result of an observation by Mary I have added a copy of the sketch map which forms part of the description of the enumeration district. Such maps are uncommon - but demonstrate why it is important to look at the district description when you find your ancestor's household in the census.
MILLER, Burton, [Cheshunt], Early 19th century	I have found a possible marriage in East London where the couple could be Alan's ancestors. There is also a possibly that his William may have reached Australia via China (possibly as a merchant seaman???)
PEARCE, RICKMANSWORTH, Early 19th Century	Gary's Rickmansworth ancestors may have been Baptists - so there may be problems finding baptism records. Suggestions are made as to how to spot other possible members of the family from the census and post 1837 marriages.
WARD, Braughing/Buntingford, Mid 18th century	Which Robert Ward is Iris's ancestor. There are possible candidates in Beds, Cambs, Essex & Herts. The next stage of the research is to collect as much information as possible to find out which one (if any) fits.