• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Bradshaw Jane - Where did you go?

Gazzo

Gazzo

300 Years of Brum DNA
Can anyone help with my 4 year old research problem, it's driving me crackers. My maternal g-g grandmother Jane Bradshaw birth c.mid 1860's alledgedly Birmingham, was mother to my g-grandfather Thomas b. 21 Oct 1886 Aston Union Workhouse. I have her marriage certificate - Frank Bates Jun 1888 Birmingham, her father Alexander (a bricklayer) and a 1891 census record, mispelt on the records as Frank and Jane Rates, son Thomas Bradshaw aged 4. I also have Thomas's birth certificate (no named Father). Jane gives her age as 21 on the marriage certificate and 21 on the census record even though there was a 3 year gap. I can find not a single reference to her in any other record (BMD, census,etc) or any tie in to her father Alexander. All the above statements are 100% connected and factually relevant. To summarise, I have spent 4 years constructing a very intricate family tree with over 700 members and have been stuck on Jane for over 3 and a half of them. Please, please, please can anyone help. Many thanks to all who can help and a very Merry Xmas to all members and viewers. Cheers.
 
Re: Jane Bradshaw - Where did you go?

Gazzo
There is a Jane Bradshaw, 25 , with Amy Bradshaw (30, sister?) , both boaders with Emma and William Marshall at 1 york terrace, Bell barn road in the 1881 census. She is described as a warehouse worker (chocolate) and born in Birmingham. In 1871 she is the daughter of Alexander & Rhoda Bradshaw at 9 springfield terrace,, which is close by Bell barn road. She is here described as a warehouse girl (16 years) and has sister Amy.(22).
If you feel this is the one and want the relevent pages then let me have your e-mail by IM.
Mike
 
Re: Jane Bradshaw - Where did you go?

Gazzo
There is a Jane Bradshaw born 1856 (Oct/Nov/Dec) Aston (1837-1924) Warwickshire vol 6d page 229.
 
Re: Jane Bradshaw - Where did you go?

In the 1851 census the family are living at Barford Street South
Alexander 40 (Rule Maker Journeyman) born Middlesex Borough,Rhoda 41,Martha 15 (Tape Figurer),John 13 (Rule Maker),Alexander 11,Rhoda 8 born Middlesex Borough ,Emma 3 and Amy 1. All born Birmingham apart from those mentioned.
 
Last edited:
Re: Jane Bradshaw - Where did you go?

Thankyou both for your prompt replies. Unfortunately I have all the information mentioned by you both above and have researched extensively whether it may be relevant. Alexander (Rulemaker) was in this occupation all his life as was his son - remember, Jane's marriage certificate stated her Father as a bricklayer ( a well payed job with unlimited employment oppurtunities if he was good enough). Then there was the problem with Jane's age - 21 in 1888 and 21 in 1891, she would have been either 19 or 16 years of age when Thomas was born in 1886. Remembering that Aston workhouse had a reputation for being very strict, I can only assume Jane became an accomplished 'fibber' for her own reasons but the earlier dates from the census research leaves a lot to be desired if she implied she was that young. Thanks again, but I still need more help.
 
Re: Jane Bradshaw - Where did you go?

If I can add, would it be possible to find out if any relevant records exist for Aston union workhouse, are there any 'Bastardy' records available for Birmingham of that time. Also, I believe Jane had a short lived marriage with Frank Bates so would any available Divorce records be available?
 
Re: Jane Bradshaw - Where did you go?

Hi there,there are some "Petty Sessions" records from Victoria Law Courts,which cover Bastardy,adoption and maintainance etc held at Birmingham City Archives.
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=143-psb&cid=-1#-1
I hope the link works,but if not just type Bastardy records Birmingham into the search engine!

Can I just ask if you have found Alexander Bradshaw,Bricklayer, on any census returns? I have looked myself and found several Bradshaw bricklayers,but no Alexanders!
 
Last edited:
Re: Jane Bradshaw - Where did you go?

Hi Linda, have never found an Alexander (bricklayer), to be honest there aren't that many Alexanders anyway. In reference to the Bastardy records, I was wondering if Jane would have been obliged to name the Father to receive help from the workhouse? As you can see from my posts I only have a couple of scraps of info about Jane, but not one concrete piece of evidence apart from the marriage certificate and the 1891 census record. I would dearly love to have her birth certificate but how far would any register office be prepared to search based on a 'Jane Bradshaw possibly born in the 1860's with a father named Alexander'. Again would any divorce records be available, would they have contained any details relating to her age or residence? Cheers again, Gary.
 
Re: Jane Bradshaw - Where did you go?

Have you considered the possibility that she was born in Ireland or Scotland (that opens up a whole new ball game!!!) and initially stated born in Birmingham to gain access to the Aston workhouse?
Have you obtained a death certificate for her?
Where was Thomas in 1901?
 
Re: Jane Bradshaw - Where did you go?

To be honest Linda I did notice a Alexander/Jane combination of Scottish origin on the rolls but all the info was too irrelevant. Back to Thomas. No sign of him on 1901 or 1911 census. Suprising as he was married by 1906 (wife Mary) and had a daughter (Mary b.1905) still living in Brum. Thomas was known as Tommy Bates (even though he never took the name) all his life, presumably because Frank Bates (Janes Husband) was his real Father when Jane gave birth down the Workhouse. As a side note Frank was in Prison at least once (1880 Birmingham Jail) and worked as a Brass caster when he married Jane. Incidentally, Jane was stated as a Brass Polisher of Small Heath/Bordesley on Thomas's birth certificate from the Workhouse. Not sure if this is where she met Frank? I did find a Frank Bates of similar age on the 1901 census with a different wife and children which may suggest he split with Jane after 1891? Hope you are keeping up with my conundrum. Cheers again.
 
Re: Jane Bradshaw - Where did you go?

Hi Gazzo, I'm finding it fascinating and intriguing! I love this sort of thing!!
You may never solve it but you'll make loads of friends and discoveries along the way!
 
Re: Jane Bradshaw - Where did you go?

Hi Gazzo

Do you have on your family tree a John Bradshaw married Margaret Williams in Bilston 1866? A son, (also John Bradshaw) born in Rough Hills, Wolverhampton at a later date? These persons are my maternal Great Grandfather and Great Grandparents.
Good luck wih Jane (hope you have found her by now).

Regards
Shirley
 
Re: Jane Bradshaw - Where did you go?

Male Alexander Bradshaw
Bride's Name:Rhoda Broadhurst Palmer (the name of the lady Alice Palmer and her children with jane in 1891)
23 Sep 1834 Marriage St. Philip'S Cathedral, Birmingham, Warwick, England

Maybe Jane's grand parents as they are related to the girls gazzo found
The names Alexander (1840), Roda, Emma, Amy and Jane (1856) follow this family through from the 1851 census on.....
Do you think Jane could have been the daughter of one Alex Jr ? He would have been old enough in 1867
 
Last edited:
Re: Jane Bradshaw - Where did you go?

Pomgolian, I've always assumed that Jane was this Alexanders daughter because he had a younger sister called Jane (1856), the only issue is Alexanders career, Rule maker on census', mine says bricklayer on her marriage certificate. I think she seperated at some point from her husband Frank Bates. I also assume the Bradshaws were from around Smallheath (stated as 'Brasscaster' from Smallheath on Marriage certificate).
 
Re: Jane Bradshaw - Where did you go?

Gazzo, Sorry to say you can't always rely on Marriage cert's, or Census records to be correct... The human element takes over... I have a Gran who stated all her children were Manley's the name of her first husband, but only two were the others were born after Mr Manley had died, so could not have been his.
Another case I have a Census where the eldest son becomes the father and named as the Head and the Father the real head is named as the eldest son.
Ages are also a problem I have another Gran who on her marriage cert is stated 5 years younger than she is and my Granddad is 5 years older than his real age. (A lie for appearences).
Yet another Granddad was registered with his birth father's name, but after his father died and his mother remarried he was put on two census returns under the new husband's name and his age altered to fit the new marriage, later as an adult he reverted back to his birth name and age.
Sometimes it's just transcription errors, other time it's because people often couldn't read, count, or write for themselves back then so others did it for them, or the family have just told lies.
I now have the official documents to prove who was who, but it took much searching over many years, plus the realisation that the spoken word can be miss heard and the printed word can be wrong, or miss read.
Hope this helps you :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top