Was my great grandfather born in Somerset?
QMy great grandfather William Henry Davis was, I believe, born in Chedzoy, Somerset, in 1842. In April 1863, he joined the army in Gosport, stating he was 21 and born in Chedzoy, but no parents’ names were given on his army records. On his marriage certificate to Mary Way Spicer in 1882, he stated his father’s name was William Henry Davis, occupation ‘dairyman’. The first census I can find him on is the 1891. He was in Elton barracks, Lancashire, where he was a colour sergeant in the Lancashire Fusiliers. From 1863-1874, he was serving overseas. I have been unable to find a birth record or baptism record for him in Chedzoy. William died in Bury, Lancashire in 1914 age 72. Where do I go from here? Pam Makinson, by email
AThere are several possible reasons why you have been unable to find any birth or census record for William Henry. In the early days of civil registration, not all births were registered. Davis could be his stepfather’s surname, or he may have been illegitimate and appear in the censuses under his mother’s married name. Keep an open mind regarding his father’s name; it is not unknown for a fictitious name to appear on a marriage certificate, especially if the person was illegitimate.
As Chedzoy was in Bridgwater registration district, search for birth registrations there. Consider variant spellings, Davies or even Davice; the birth may have been registered as William or ‘male’. A William Davis birth was registered in September 1841, another in September 1842 and a Male Davis in September 1843. The birth certificates will show where these children were born.
Most Somerset parish registers are available on Ancestry. A search of Chedzoy registers, circa 1840, revealed two Davis burials and the baptism of Mary Jane Davis in 1833. Could this be a sibling of William Henry? As Chedzoy adjoined Bridgwater, check for possible baptisms there, too, both in the parish and nonconformist churches. A William Davis was baptised at Holy Trinity, Bridgwater, in November 1841. Using Ancestry’s search facilities, look in the census returns for any Davis, born at Chedzoy; also for any William, regardless of surname, born at Chedzoy, circa 1842. As William Henry was at Gosport in 1863, you should search for any possible entries in the 1861 Hampshire census. A number of entries for Davis of Somerset appear in the National Probate Calendar on Ancestry. By checking the detailed entries, you will be able to see whether anyone lived in Chedzoy or Bridgwater. To access wills of possible interest, you will need to purchase them via the Gov.uk website, ( www.gov.uk/ search-will-probate). Katherine Cobb