NARROWING DOWN SEARCH FOR ROBERTS MATCHES.

ROWLANDROBERTS1

Hi. Need a bit of help in how best to trace the UK origins of the Roberts fam that emigrated to South Africa from Liverpool in 1850 as per the info below. According to Mary's death certificate she passed away in Ladysmith in 1902 at the age of 81. She was born and married in Liverpool. Her oldest son Richard was born in Liverpool in 1843. Her middle name is Catherine on one of her kids marriage certificates. She had two sons born in South Africa, William Henry and John Robert. Her maiden name is unknown and nothing more is known of William other that he was a carpenter/joiner. The South African records have helped immensely tying up some names, dates and places. Going backwards gets tricky, Thank you kindly.

(4) "Ancestry_com" ... South Africa, Passengers

South Africa, Passenger Index, 1688-1950

Name: William Roberts

Gender: Male

Occupation: Joiner

Departure Date: 30 Jul 1850

Departure Place: Liverpool

Arrival Date: 31 Oct 1850

Arrival Place: Port Natal

Ship: Devonian

Household Members:

Wife: Mary Roberts

Son: Richard Roberts

Daughter: Elizabeth Roberts

Son: Edward Roberts

Daughter: Catherine Roberts

Source: Natal Witness

Collection: 1841 - 1905 Natal Witness Passenger Lists

Paul W

@ROWLANDROBERTS1

FamilySearch has a 8 May 1842 marriage at Liverpool between William Roberts and Mary JONES and there is a Richard Robert birth in the GRO index (showing mother's maiden name JONES) recorded for the March Quarter of 1843.

However, FreeBMD and the GRO index have other records that could be a match - including a Dec Qtr 1843 birth of a Richard Roberts at Liverpool - mother ROBERTS. If you know the dates of birth of the other children born in England, this would be of help in finding a positive match. (For instance, there are records of a Catherine Roberts - mother Jones -being born at Liverpool in both 1847 and 1850 and records of more than one instance of Edward and Elizabeth births in the 1843-1850 period, too.)

I have also just found (in FamilySearch) the 5 May 1822 Liverpool baptism of a Mary Catherine Jones to Richard and Mary. Possibly all coincidence, but worth considering as matching your family, alongside exploring other possible alternatives.

ROWLANDROBERTS1

Appreciate your quick response. This is very helpful. Thanks Paul.

ROWLANDROBERTS1

As per your request, the other kids birth dates are:-

Elizabeth 1844.

Catherine 1850.

Edward: Still Unknown.

William Henry 1852 (RSA)

John Robert 1859 (RSA)

Thanks again.

Paul W

@ROWLANDROBERTS1

That information is very helpful. Although there are multiple entries in the GRO index for all three names (Richard, Elizabeth and Catherine Roberts) for those respective years of birth, the only maiden name that appears in all three years (for those names) is JONES.

I would be fairly sure that Mary Jones is the wife's / mother's name - although that is probably not going to be a great help in establishing her identity, unless you obtain a copy of the couple's marriage certificate: which should name both their parents.

I do not envy you in your further research, in dealing with names like ROBERTS and JONES (assuming, from the evidence, this is Mary's maiden name) in the Liverpool area!

Update - I also found instances of an EDWARD Roberts (mother JONES) having birth(s) registered at Liverpool in 1842 and 1848. If you are sure Richard was the eldest son, it would seem only the 1848 record would apply to this family.

Paul W

One more possible avenue to explore is the 1841 census. For example, I have found 30 matches for a William Roberts resident at Liverpool in 1841 and born in the period 1810-26. (See https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?exactSearching=true&q.birthLikeDate.from=1810&q.birthLikeDate.to=1826&q.birthLikePlace=england&q.birthLikePlace.exact=on&q.givenName=william&q.givenName.exact=on&q.residenceDate.from=1841&q.residenceDate.to=1841&q.residencePlace=Liverpool%2C%20Lancashire%2C%20England%2C%20United%20Kingdom&q.residencePlace.exact=on&q.surname=roberts&q.surname.exact=on&f.collectionId=1493745).

If you have access to ancestry.com or findmypast you might wish to check some of the original records to see if any of these have carpenter or joiner as an occupation.

(See https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?exactSearching=true&q.birthLikeDate.from=1821&q.birthLikeDate.to=1822&q.birthLikePlace=england&q.birthLikePlace.exact=on&q.givenName=mary&q.givenName.exact=on&q.residenceDate.from=1841&q.residenceDate.to=1841&q.residencePlace=Liverpool%2C%20Lancashire%2C%20England%2C%20United%20Kingdom&q.residencePlace.exact=on&q.surname=jones&q.surname.exact=on&f.collectionId=1493745 for results of a similar search on Mary Jones, born about 1820/1821). Spoilt for choice!

CHold

@ROWLANDROBERTS1

Your question will be forwarded to the Search team for review and assistance. They can assist you with other ways to search for what you are looking for your family members.

ROWLANDROBERTS1

These tips are brilliant. Used to use the exact match option at the bottom of the search rather than the ones on the side as Paul W has shown me. These tools are certainly helping narrow it down. Seeing the thread with names being handed down, middle names do help a bit as well as dates of birth. The 1841 census is interesting and worth exploring. Appreciate your time on this!