My 2nd great grandfather was William Ward and I am not sure where in England he was born (but on his NZ death certificate his widow, who was also the informant states he was born in Birmingham) and his marriage place was Birmingham and their daughter was born and baptised in Birmingham. William Ward was born about 1821 and his father was Joseph Ward and both father and son were sawyers. I have no idea of his mothers name. William married Frances Ware at St Martin, Birmingham on the 3rd October 1841 and her father was Gustavus Ware and he was a glazier. William and France's daughter Frances Jane was born on the 10th October 1849 and baptised at St Thomas, Birmingham on the 10th November 1850. I have no records of any other children born and when William and Frances and Frances Jane emigrated to NZ in 1856 (from Liverpool) there were no other Wards in the passenger list. I am trying to find out who William's mother was and I have found some Birmingham and Warwickshire marriage certificates with Joseph Ward being the groom - none list occupations - it is very hard to figure out if that is "my" Joseph or not. Can anyone help/guide me on how to find out where I can research or find sites about sawyers and living in the Birmingham areas so I can fathom out who was William's mother. Can't find any 1841 and 1851 census for William Ward and occupation sawyer or anything pre 1841 that has Joseph Ward. Census can be a big help but at the moment nothing. There is one 1851 census that has a Charles William Ward occupation sawyer, wife Frances Jane, daughter Frances Jane and step-daughter Elizabeth M Jones (Frances was the mother) and living at Birkenhead, Cheshire but I have researched the Frances Jane whose daughter was Elizabeth M Jones and they are not my ancestors. Hoping someone may be able to help. Thanking you and Kind Regards, Judy