Help - what to do now?

I have asked about this family before but it is still my brick wall and I
was hoping SKS could advise me where to look next.

My GGGrandfather was John SANDERS born 1820 in Bethnal Green - the 1871
census states Spitalfields but the 1881-1901 state Bethnal Green.

\"kls\"...

Thanks all, I'll check out the 'married before' theory.

Karen :))

His wife on the census's 1871 - 1901 was Susan Sanders b. 1833 Bethnal
Green. (maiden name explained below)

Hugh Watkins...

which parish registers have you searched ?

check Spitalfields first

and the earlier three census are all on pay per view

Hugh W

They had three children:-

Alfred William Sanders b. 1862/3 Bethnal Green
John Frederick Sanders b. 30.11.1864 Bethnal Green
George Edmondson Sanders b. 1871 Ovenden, Halifax, W Yorks.

I have only been able to find (and get) John Frederick's birth certificate
which states that his mother's name was Susan BOSWALL.

Eve McLaughlin...

1.This (Boswell, Boswall, Bosville) may have been her maiden name, and
she married as a young widow, Susan Spinks/
2. The ages of the older children point to a marriage c 1861-2, but it
could be some time before.
3. The couple may not have married till after the birth of the child,
and were just living together.
4. Remember that although (presumably) the wife's name is Susan in
1871/81, this may not be the same Susan who was the mother of John Fred.
Men often remarried the same name, to save thinking.

a) Despite searching 1871 Online, FreeBMD, Family Search, Ancestry's new
BMD's and The Genealogist, I have not been able to find the marriage of John
and Susan or the birth/baptism entries for the other two children. If 1871
online is compete, then why can't I find an entry? I have searched several

Eve McLaughlin...

Do you mean 1837 on line? It should be, though the indexing is dodgy and
this may cause problems.
Or are you actually looking at the 1871 census on line... in which
case, they may turn up as Saunders, Landers, Tanders etc,

years either side of their marriage/birth years to no avail.

Eve McLaughlin...

Both parents were born before registration began.

Peter Goodey...

A typical reason in Victorian city centre areas is quite simply that they
didn't get married!

b) I ordered the birth certificate for John Frederick Sanders from the GRO
and it came back as a typed copy. Am I likely to get a copy of the original
if I order it from the Register Office for Bethnal Green? I am asking

Eve McLaughlin...

It should be precisely the same. And would normally be either typed or
handwritten (modern). The fact that a GRO copy is typed suggests that
the image was not very legible and it was sent to the unit which
'evaluate' and makes the best guess at the name. So it may not be
'Boswall' - try Moswell, etc

because I cannot find any information at all for Susan Boswall his mother.

Eve McLaughlin...

It is a well known gypsy name, which may make a difference.

I have tried Boswell, Coswell, Coswall and everything else I can think of
but there is no marriage registered and no sign of her on the 1851 and 1861
census' for England. I've also looked at the Wales Census just in case they

Eve McLaughlin...

I would be VERY surprised if NO Susan/na Boswell appears in those
censuses. Could be a fault in Ancestry.

were there.

Also, can anyone recommend a professional researcher? I'm struggling!

Karen :))

\"kls\"...

I do of course mean 1837 online :o