Thomas OWEN in the 1881 Census (RG11/2950) is effectively the husband (no marriage found) to Charlotte nee Hastings living at 11 Shirley Place, Longmore Street, Kings Norton. Thomas was an Ostler. Thomas and Charlotte, then both 29, have sons Thomas b1875, Joseph b1877 and William b1876.
Thomas Owen b1852 doesn't appear in the 1861 Census and no record appears to exist of his childhood or parents. There are of course many Thomas Owen's and I have exhausted (literally and metaphorically) all possibilities. They included (1) Thomas, a porter, son of Joseph Owen a green grocer in Aston (RG10/3137), (2) Thomas Owen a saw handle maker in Aston (RG10/3150) and (3) Thomas Owen a chandelier maker in Aston (RG10/3135). Number three has been ruled out as he appears in 1881 still living with his parents, whilst both 1 and 2 remain inconclusive.
I have recently encountered a slightly different possibility which is three brothers in the 1851 Census HO 107/2057 where Bryan Owen b1823, Tim Owen b1825 and Thomas Owen b1829 (all from Ireland, appear as lodgers, living not far away in St Peter district of Birmingham. Irish records are somewhat patchy, but it is possible that Thomas b1829 may be responsible for mystery man Thomas b1852.
Apologies, that was a lot to unpack but after 18 years of research I fear that this mystery will out-live me, despite my determination to resolve it. Elsewhere I've made some strong progress and managed to help many others with their research too, so its particularly frustrating that my own paternal line should be so short and the brick wall seemingly impenetrable.
I'd welcome any snippets, insights, thoughts or in fact anything at all that may help to resolve this conundrum, not to mention the preservation of what's left of my sanity too!
Many thanks.
Kev
Thomas Owen b1852 doesn't appear in the 1861 Census and no record appears to exist of his childhood or parents. There are of course many Thomas Owen's and I have exhausted (literally and metaphorically) all possibilities. They included (1) Thomas, a porter, son of Joseph Owen a green grocer in Aston (RG10/3137), (2) Thomas Owen a saw handle maker in Aston (RG10/3150) and (3) Thomas Owen a chandelier maker in Aston (RG10/3135). Number three has been ruled out as he appears in 1881 still living with his parents, whilst both 1 and 2 remain inconclusive.
I have recently encountered a slightly different possibility which is three brothers in the 1851 Census HO 107/2057 where Bryan Owen b1823, Tim Owen b1825 and Thomas Owen b1829 (all from Ireland, appear as lodgers, living not far away in St Peter district of Birmingham. Irish records are somewhat patchy, but it is possible that Thomas b1829 may be responsible for mystery man Thomas b1852.
Apologies, that was a lot to unpack but after 18 years of research I fear that this mystery will out-live me, despite my determination to resolve it. Elsewhere I've made some strong progress and managed to help many others with their research too, so its particularly frustrating that my own paternal line should be so short and the brick wall seemingly impenetrable.
I'd welcome any snippets, insights, thoughts or in fact anything at all that may help to resolve this conundrum, not to mention the preservation of what's left of my sanity too!
Many thanks.
Kev
