This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: CHANDLER/CURTIS/DUNN Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/mbexec/msg/5538/iUI.2ACIB/1908 Message Board Post: Does anyone have any information regarding the Chandler family in the Essex area? My ancestor is William Chandler b1837 in Halstead, Essex. His descendants can be found in the Barkingside/Romford/West Ham/Ilford areas. I can't seem to go back any further at the moment so any information would be gratefully received

I refer to your 8th September posting enquiring about William Chandler born 1837 in Halstead, Essex, England. I assume you got this information from the 1881 Census. I have a full analysis of Chandlers in the 1851 Census, where we would expect to find William aged about 14, possibly living at home with his parents or possibly working and living away from home. Unfortunately, there are no Williams of that age or close to it born in Halstead or anywhere near it. This is not too unusual - people often gave the place where they grew up as their place of birth when they were the submitter of the information (in this case, in 1881), whereas their father or employer gave different information in an earlier census. If you have no other information, perhaps the most fruitful route is to try to find the marriage of William to Maria. As their son Edward was born in 1858 or 1859 at Barkingside, the most probable William Chandler marriage is the one registered at Romford in the September quarter of 1855 (Volume 4a Page 87). The only way to ascertain if this is the marriage to Maria is to buy a copy of the certificate. It should also provide his father's name and trade, and some form of address. I can get this for you at cost (about 14 US$) if you don't know how to do it. Please contact me directly at dchandler@sunwave.net Best wishes Dick Chandler in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada