How can I trace my husband’s ancestor back further?
QMy husband’s great great grandfather appears on official documents from his marriage on 7 November 1874 onwards, but I cannot find him before this.
On three occasions he is recorded as Robert Burns and once as Edwin, but usually he is Edward William Burns, born in the Maldon/ Heybridge/ Great Totham area between 1851 and 1855.
I know from his marriage certificate that his father was Benjamin Burns, a labourer, but although the census returns for 1861 and 1871 show two men of this name living in that area. Neither seem to fit.
One is a labourer but married in 1856 (after Edward’s birth) and the other is a clothes dealer from 1861 onwards. The latter does have a son William within the correct age range but in later censuses this William appears as a harness maker.
I know Edward was a gunner in the Royal Artillery. What would his service record at The National Archives tell me? I’m wondering if it’s worth a visit to Kew or buying a subscription to a military records site. Kathryn Rees, via email
AThis person professed to be Edward Burns when he provided his name in the 1881, 1901 and 1911 censuses, but others who named him or to whom he may have confided that this was not his real name gave other versions.
His name change appears to have occurred when he joined the Royal Artillery in 1870. So he cannot be the William Burnes, harness maker, who appears in the 1871 census and who, in any case, appears in the 1891 census of Brighton.
Edward is very likely to be the son of Benjamin and Susan Burns of Great Totham. Susan was born in Heybridge and Benjamin was a labourer as given on Edward’s marriage certificate. You will not find young Edward at home in the 1861 census as part of Great Totham appears to be missing.
The 1856 marriage for Benjamin Burns in the General Register Office (GRO) index gives two possible brides on the same page, either Eliza Sophia Cracknell or Susannah Paul. You may have assumed that Benjamin and Eliza married as they appear in the 1861 and later censuses. In fact, this couple had married in 1849 in Chelmsford.
As you noted, the marriage of Benjamin and Susannah took place after the birth of your husband’s great great grandfather and this has led me to find his possible birth entry as Edwin William Paul (June quarter 1854, Maldon). Whether Benjamin was actually the father is another matter. Stephen Thomas