When I write the biographies of my ancestors, I try to make sure I have records for their birth and names of parents as well as siblings. This sometimes involves a lot of research. If they were born in Tasmania, then the records are nearly all digitized.
But I am now researching my great great grandmother Caroline Chandler nee Bryant. I have researched her life in Tasmania:
- her arrival with her mother in 1856 at age 17
- her marriage in 1859 at age 22 then birth of her children
- her death in 1919 in her 80th year
But I have yet to find out when and where she was born exactly back in England.
Clues to finding her birth
- Her mother was Charlotte Bryant – from arrival records into Tasmania – January 1856
- Her father was Dr Bryant – from death notice as Chandler
- Her sister was Esther Julia Winter nee Bryant – Robert Winter was informant at Caroline’s marriage
- On Esther’s marriage in 1852, a Caroline Bryant was witness. Father: Henry Bryant – surgeon Couple living Barclay Street
- The Winter family and his parents were sponsored by Charlotte Bryant – arrival records into Tasmania – December 1856
- She possibly had a younger brother called Charles who was supposed to come with them to Tasmania
Clues from census records
1841 census at Tottenham, parish Saint Pancras
- Henry Weight 35 surgeon yes – born in parish
- Charlotte Bryant 35 – no
- Henry Bryant 9 – yes
- Caroline Bryant 3 – yes
- Emily Bryant 1 – yes
1851 census at 40 Barclay Street, Saint Pancras
- Charlotte Bryant – Head – unmarried – 46 – dressmaker – born Arundel, Sussex
- Julia Bryant – daughter – unmarried – 23 – house servant – born St Pancras, Middlesex
- Henry Bryant – son – unmarried – 18 – jeweller – born St Pancras, Middlesex
- Caroline Bryant – daughter – unmarried – 12 – scholar – born St Pancras, Middlesex
- Charles Bryant – son – unmarried – 7 – scholar – born St Pancras, Middlesex
So from these clues Caroline could be born in 1837-1839 in St Pancras parish.
I checked the Free BMD website putting Caroline Bryant from Sep 1837 to Dec 1839 and the county of Middlesex.
Only one result so I ordered the birth certificate: St Pancras volume 1 page 273
- Superintendent Registrar’s District – Saint Pancras
- Registrar’s District – Tottenham
- 1838 Birth in district of Tottenham in county of Middlesex
- 9 June 1838 quarter before 8 Clock? at No 21 Warren Street
- Caroline – girl
- Father Henry Bryant a servant
- Mother Charlotte Bryant formerly White
- Registered 17 August 1838 by John Wells?? registrar Joseph Journey Supt Regd??
Looking at all the addresses mentioned in records: Warren Street, Cleveland Street, Barclay Street are all in Saint Pancras district and what is now Fitzrovia and Somers Town area and are only about 800 metres between them.
Readers: Do you think I could safely say this is my Caroline? Or do I need to find the births of the siblings to prove it is same parents? Would it be possible for Henry Bryant to become a surgeon between Caroline’s birth in 1838 and Esther’s marriage in 1852? Henry was a shoemaker at Esther’s birth in 1827 and living at Cleveland Street. Henry the brother also says his father was a surgeon when he married in 1851.