I am requesting help to try and dismantle a Brick Wall. On a 1940 Wartime registration my Grandfather, WILLIAM RANT, indicated his birth was on March 22, 1872 in Portsmouth England, and his parents born there also. I am unable to find this family on the 1881 census. The next positive "sighting" was when he arrived in Vancouver in 1906. His daughter, my mother, was born here in August of that year. His wife was Elizabeth Mary Harrison, born February 22 1870. in Greenwich Kent. I have no idea when or where they married. Recent family information suggests they arrived from Brisbane Australia, but our Library Ships list Records stop at 1905. A few years back I was not able to gain any information from Australia, but I will keep trying. I would be appreciative if someone could check the 1871 census and possibly the 1891 one, to see if the family shows up. On my mothers Birth Certificate under the question "Mothers Maiden Name" he entered HIS mothers name ANNIE TYE. This was corrected years later. Using his Birth date how could I try to gain his Birth Certificate. Thank You in advance for any help you may provide. Otherwise just wait until I catch up with him! Ken Williams, Surrey, B.C. Canada

Ken Williams wrote >I am requesting help to try and dismantle a Brick Wall. >On a 1940 Wartime registration my Grandfather, WILLIAM RANT, indicated >his birth was on March 22, 1872 in Portsmouth England, and his parents >born there also. This is a difficult one. FreeBMD has no record of anyone by the name of RANT being born or married in Hampshire. The GRO Index images for Mar and Jun quarters of 1872 have only one Rant, a girl born in Norwich in the Jun Q. Do you know when William's parents married? Is it possible that he changed his name at some time, for whatever reason? -- Jenny M Benson

Jenny, Thanks for trying for me. I was hoping his family would show up on the 1871 census, the year before he was born.and that way I could find their names. I have written to the Australian Queensland list in hope that he might show up there. Otherwise he is a complete blank from 1872 until 1906. Somehow remembering him I doubt if he changed his name. Anyway Jenny, Thanks for looking. Ken ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jenny M Benson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 2:54 AM Subject: Re: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] WILLIAM RANT > Ken Williams wrote >>I am requesting help to try and dismantle a Brick Wall. >>On a 1940 Wartime registration my Grandfather, WILLIAM RANT, indicated >>his birth was on March 22, 1872 in Portsmouth England, and his parents >>born there also. > > This is a difficult one. > > FreeBMD has no record of anyone by the name of RANT being born or > married in Hampshire. The GRO Index images for Mar and Jun quarters of > 1872 have only one Rant, a girl born in Norwich in the Jun Q. > > Do you know when William's parents married? Is it possible that he > changed his name at some time, for whatever reason? > -- > Jenny M Benson > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message >