CreativeGraces.net
Genealogical
Research
Index
INDEX
GenHome
The VINES
Family of C19th Lincoln & Birmingham
Seeking ancestry and history of Ann
Sophia VINES n. 1828, most likely of Birmingham
Known name variants: VINES, VINESS & VENAS, (commonly used in parts of
B'ham)
The family story so far:
Sometime between 1850 & 1853 Ann Sophia VINES had an illegitimate daughter Elizabeth VINES. No birth record has been found for an Elizabeth VINES in the Birmingham area. Ann Sophia VINES (or variants) has not been located on the 1841 census (probably with age rounded up to 15), nor with her daughter (aged 1 or less) on the 1851 census. A baptism for Ann Sophia nor Elizabeth has not been found either. Based on the 1861 census, Elizabeth (as SMITH) is given as aged 8, which provides a birth year around 1852. On subsequent census she is 3 years older, suggesting a birth year around 1850. It is possible she was registered as Elizabeth SMITH, of which there are numerous in this period in the Birmingham/Aston BMD.
Ann Sophia VINES (the only such named on BMD) was believed to have married John SMITH in Dec Qtr 1859 in Lincoln (vol./page 7a 915), however the husband's name seems to be recorded as John COULSON. The reason for a mistranscription or a deliberate change of name to SMITH (perhaps when moving to Birmingham) is not known. On census returns, John SMITH is recorded as being of LIN in all cases.
John & Ann Sophia SMITH have not been found on the 1861 together, but in two separate houses in Duddeston & Nechells (D&N), Birmingham. John SMITH (40), a Stoker at a gas works, of Lincolnshire, was the married Head of a household at 13 Ct 7 House in Upper Windsor St., Aston. The family included a daughter Mary Ann SMITH (10), born Staffordshire, and a son Charles H SMITH (8) of Birmingham. At 2 Ct 3 House in Great Lister St., D&N, was Ann SMITH (34), Charwoman, and her daughter Elizabeth SMITH (8), both of Birmingham, lodging at the house of Ann MANNING, a laundress. It is possible that Ann Sophia was the second wife of John SMITH, (Mary Ann SMITH & Charles Henry SMITH being the children of the first wife, who must have died sometime after 1852), if the marriage reference in 1859 is the right one, or if they were in a common-law relationship.
Elizabeth (as VINESS) married Nail Cutter Daniel BICKNELL on 28.9.1868 at St Peter, Dale End, Birmingham. She gave the same phonetic maiden name at the birth registration for her daughter Selina BICKNELL in 1873, which was recorded as VENAS. At the time of her marriage her father was not named, suggesting she was illegitimate, and therefore not the daughter of John SMITH. Upon marriage she was apparently aged 18, supporting her general year of birth to be c1850, but had no occupation. Based on the 1861 & 1871 census, there is a possibility she lied about her age and was aged only 15 at her wedding, put her birth closer to 1853. Presumably her mother and stepfather were resident in the Birmingham area around this time. One marriage witness was Mary Ann WILLIAMS (if formerly Mary Ann SMITH) who would be about 18 years and therefore newly wed. Charles SMITH (18), Nail Cutter, probably the brother of Mary Ann SMITH in 1861 was resident with the BICKNELLs in 1871 at 4 James Buildings, Ladywood, confirming the relationship between the two families.
Elsewhere on the 1871 census at 5 Roberts Building, Great Lister St, D&N, John SMITH (50), Labourer, of Lincoln, was Head of household with his wife Ann SMITH (43), Pearl Button Finisher, of Birmingham.
On the 1881 census - Elizabeth BICKNELL
is noted as the widowed
daughter of the SMITH family at 35 Aston Road, Aston, aged 30,
this time born in Wolverhampton. John SMITH (Head, Builder's Labourer, 60)
of Scot Wiliby (sic; Silk Willoughby, LIN) & wife Ann
S. SMITH, (53) of Birmingham. By 1891, at 3 Ct 4 House, Cheshire St.,
Aston, widower John SMITH (70), General Labourer of Osenby, LIN, was living with
Selina BICKNELL (17,
grand-daughter), a Nail Machine Feeder of Birmingham. Selina, my GGM, married in
1893.
Ann SMITH appears to have died in Q1 1889 Aston (6d 217) at an age that confirms
her birth c1828.
Research Problems:
-
Locating a birth/baptism of Ann Sophia VINES c1828, if her maiden name, and therefore her parents;
-
Locating a birth/baptism for Elizabeth VINES or Elizabeth SMITH , her daughter, to confirm her illegitimacy or her father, if recorded, in Birmingham in the period 1850-53;
-
Locating a possible early marriage for any Ann Sophia of unknown family, if = VINES;
-
Confirming John SMITH to be a widow, through death of his first wife or the BC of either Mary Ann SMITH (Staffs) or Charles Henry SMITH (Birmingham area);
-
Locating a possible Mary Ann SMITH = WILLIAMS marriage in 1867-68 period (nearest is Q4 1867 at Warwick to Moses WILLIAMS, but why Warwick?);
-
Confirming Ann Sophia VINES = John SMITH at marriage, and if originally as John COULSON, why?
Unable to find what you're looking for on CreativeGraces.net?
Still stuck? Try the FAQ !
