Stephen Bell was my gt gt grandfather. I have found no record of his birth or baptism but, as he married in Scotland, know his parents were Henry Bell and Martha Hanks with whom he was living in Wiltshire in 1841 and 1851. I have been unable to find a marriage record for Henry and Martha and Martha's place of birth, Haventon, Wilts, doesn't seem to have existed.
The following is a list of Stephen's dates and places of birth. Whilst I can understand a mistake being made on the naval documents, I cannot think of a reasonable explanation for why he should switch to and fro between Birmingham and Salisbury for pob on the census.
I wondered if anyone could come up with a theory?
1841 c1826 Wiltshire
1851 c1823 Wilts East Harnham
1854 b 13th October 1832 Salisbury Wilts (Royal Navy Enlistment)
1859 c1831 (Marriage in Scotland)
1861 c1832 Salisbury England (with wife in Scotland)
c1832 Birmingham Warwick (on board HMS Edinburgh Scotland)
1864 b 13th October 1832 Birmingham (signing on for further 10 years Royal Navy)
1871 c1833 Warwick Birmingham
1874 b 13th October 1832 Salisbury (Navy discharge docs)
1881 c1838 Salisbury
1891 c1833 Warwick Birmingham
The following is a list of Stephen's dates and places of birth. Whilst I can understand a mistake being made on the naval documents, I cannot think of a reasonable explanation for why he should switch to and fro between Birmingham and Salisbury for pob on the census.
I wondered if anyone could come up with a theory?
1841 c1826 Wiltshire
1851 c1823 Wilts East Harnham
1854 b 13th October 1832 Salisbury Wilts (Royal Navy Enlistment)
1859 c1831 (Marriage in Scotland)
1861 c1832 Salisbury England (with wife in Scotland)
c1832 Birmingham Warwick (on board HMS Edinburgh Scotland)
1864 b 13th October 1832 Birmingham (signing on for further 10 years Royal Navy)
1871 c1833 Warwick Birmingham
1874 b 13th October 1832 Salisbury (Navy discharge docs)
1881 c1838 Salisbury
1891 c1833 Warwick Birmingham
Comment