Can you help me track down a birth record for James?
Q
My great grandfather James Clements was born c1830 in Birmingham. I cannot find a birth record for him, but have him on all the census records 1851–1911. He was a carver and gilder. He married Clara Arrowsmith Clarke on 2 April 1849 at St Martin’s Birmingham. They had several children, and two of the boys were named Thomas Bestley Clements (1862–1862) and Walter Bestley Clements (1866–1947). On James and Clara’s marriage certificate it states his father as Thomas Clements, veterinary surgeon. I have a burial record dated March 1832 for a Thomas Basseley Clements, age 33, living in Bristol
Street, Birmingham. I wondered if he could be James’ father, but I cannot find a birth record for him either.
Pauline Hather
A
It may be that James Clements was not baptised, or was christened outside of Birmingham. Also, ensure that you have checked records that may not be online. The Birmingham page on GENUKI located at genuki.org.uk/big/eng/war/birmingham is a good place to start.
Try extending your search beyond Birmingham – it was close to Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire, and not far from Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire. I would also recommend searching newspaper records and directories for James, because he could be recorded carrying out activities related to his work as a carver and gilder.
There does seem to be a Basseley/Bestley connection, and it may be that the Thomas you have found was James’ father. However, more research is needed. It is not certain that Thomas came from the Birmingham area. You could search for pre-1800 marriages between a Clements and a Basseley/Bestley to see if that provides you with clues. Also, check probate records.
Since Thomas Clements was described as a veterinary surgeon, ideally we could search for him through occupational records. Unfortunately, the website of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) notes that “before 1881, it was possible to practise veterinary surgery without being a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and without having a degree from an approved university… It was not until the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1948 that it became an absolute requirement for anyone practising veterinary surgery to be a registered veterinary surgeon” ( bit.ly/rcvs-genealogical-research). Emma Jolly