I have a relative whose place of birth is stated on census records from 1851as either France or Belgium (British Citizen). He was called John Adams (yeah, nice common name...), born in 1840, his father was William Adams / 1817 / Wednesbury Staffs and his stepmother was Edith Fisher / 1818 / Tipton. I know this was his stepmother and not mother (even though she is listed as his mother in the censuses) as I have found the marriage registration and there is also quite a gap between John and the rest of the children. I cannot find him in the 1941 census - presumably he was in France/Belgium or his birth date is slightly wrong.
Anyway, my questions are:
1) Does anyone know how records are held in France and Belgium - are they centralized like in the UK, or do you need to know a specific area?
2) Historically, did anything major happen either commercially or politically at this time that would have caused him to be born abroad? This is a working class family, they wouldn't have been on holiday
Grateful for any suggestions!
Zoe
Edit: William Adams was an iron shingler
The John Adams born in 1928 in Paris is definitely not 'my' John Adams
Anyway, my questions are:
1) Does anyone know how records are held in France and Belgium - are they centralized like in the UK, or do you need to know a specific area?
2) Historically, did anything major happen either commercially or politically at this time that would have caused him to be born abroad? This is a working class family, they wouldn't have been on holiday
Grateful for any suggestions!
Zoe
Edit: William Adams was an iron shingler
The John Adams born in 1928 in Paris is definitely not 'my' John Adams
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