Hello,
I've started researching a book that will be about Thomas Stevens, an adventurer who was the first person to ride a bicycle around the world (he also rode a mustang across Russia and went in search of the missing Stanley, who went looking for the missing Livingston). Secondary sources say Stevens was born in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, on December 24, 1854, and that his parents were William and Ann. For a variety of reasons, I suspect his listed birth date is incorrect and I want to find original documentation (or a copy thereof) to get this right. A search of all the online genealogical databases to which I have access found two matches: one said he was christened on August 19, 1855, and was the son of William and Ann Stevens (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N8PW-WXQ), and a census report listed him as 6 years of age (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M7J4-DSG). Both records are found in some sort of master index but no more information is forthcoming. Searches in a large variety of newspapers via databases found no record of any Stevens being born in either 1854 or 1855 in Berkhamsted, but this hardly means anything since he was the son a laborer and may not have gotten a mention.
Does anyone know a local genealogist or historian for hire who can find definitive proof that Thomas Stevens was indeed born in Berkhamsted, plus determine his official birth date? I believe this is a case where looking for the original documents, such as a certificate or a name in some church registrar or some sort of hard census record is what is needed. If anyone can help steer me toward finding this information or someone capable of helping me, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Thanks!
I've started researching a book that will be about Thomas Stevens, an adventurer who was the first person to ride a bicycle around the world (he also rode a mustang across Russia and went in search of the missing Stanley, who went looking for the missing Livingston). Secondary sources say Stevens was born in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, on December 24, 1854, and that his parents were William and Ann. For a variety of reasons, I suspect his listed birth date is incorrect and I want to find original documentation (or a copy thereof) to get this right. A search of all the online genealogical databases to which I have access found two matches: one said he was christened on August 19, 1855, and was the son of William and Ann Stevens (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N8PW-WXQ), and a census report listed him as 6 years of age (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M7J4-DSG). Both records are found in some sort of master index but no more information is forthcoming. Searches in a large variety of newspapers via databases found no record of any Stevens being born in either 1854 or 1855 in Berkhamsted, but this hardly means anything since he was the son a laborer and may not have gotten a mention.
Does anyone know a local genealogist or historian for hire who can find definitive proof that Thomas Stevens was indeed born in Berkhamsted, plus determine his official birth date? I believe this is a case where looking for the original documents, such as a certificate or a name in some church registrar or some sort of hard census record is what is needed. If anyone can help steer me toward finding this information or someone capable of helping me, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Thanks!
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