Can anyone advise me on how to trace my paternal grandmother, as her trail has gone cold. She was shown as MARY HANNAH WADDICAR when she married my grandfather JAMES THOMAS HALSTEAD in Bolton (1889 - Q3 - 8c/385). In the 1891 census returns (RG12/3119/3/50a/33) she was shown as MARY H HALSTEAD (aged 25 - born in LITTLE LEVER) living at 4 Back Rose St., Bolton (Holy Trinity Parish) along with my grandfather JAMES HALSTEAD (25) and his children ALBERT (1) and ELIZABETH A (3) (another enigma). In the 1901 census returns (RG13/ 3631/40/13) she was shown as MARY B HALSTEAD (a transcription error!) (aged 35 - born in BOLTON) living at 19 McKean? St., Bolton (St Bartholomews Parish) along with my grandfather JAMES HALSTEAD and his children ALBERT (11), HARRY (9), EMILY (7), MABEL (4) and HILDA (2). I can see a HANNAH WADDICAR born in Bolton (1886 - Q2 - 8c/293) but I can't confirm that this is her - all of my grandparents had died before I was born and now, alas, so have all of their children. I know that she is none of the following 1885 births:- MARY HANNAH WADDICAR born in Bolton (Q2 - 8c/377) MARY WADDICAR born in Bolton (Q3 - 8c/276) , who is a Mary Hannah MARY HANNAH WADDICAR born in Blackburn (Q1 - 8e/372) nor either of the MARY H WADDICORs born in Darwen in 1985. I don't want to give up on this lady so any help that anyone can give to this novice would be much appreciated. Regards, Allan Halstead

Allan, > Can anyone advise me on how to trace my paternal grandmother, as her > trail has gone cold. > > She was shown as MARY HANNAH WADDICAR when she married my grandfather > JAMES THOMAS HALSTEAD in Bolton (1889 - Q3 - 8c/385). Do you have a copy of the marriage certificate that will hopefully show her father's name and occupation ? <snip> > I can see a HANNAH WADDICAR born in Bolton (1886 - Q2 - 8c/293) but I > can't confirm that this is her - all of my grandparents had died > before I was born and now, alas, so have all of their children. > > I know that she is none of the following 1885 births:- MARY HANNAH > WADDICAR born in Bolton (Q2 - 8c/377) MARY WADDICAR born in Bolton > (Q3 - 8c/276) , who is a Mary Hannah MARY HANNAH WADDICAR born in > Blackburn (Q1 - 8e/372) nor either of the MARY H WADDICORs born in > Darwen in 1985. Presumably all the years referred to in the above two paragraphs are 1865 or 1866 and not 1885 or 1886 or indeed 1985. In the 1881 Census transcription on CD there is: Dwelling: 27 Rose Hill Census Place: Great Bolton, Lancashire, England Source: FHL Film 1341917 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 3839 Folio 60 Page 30 Marr Age Sex Birthplace Ralph WADDICAR M 47 M Belmont, Lancashire, England Rel: Head Occ: Engine Tenter At Factory (Dr) Mary WADDICAR M 51 F Little Lever, Lancashire, England Rel: Wife Jane WADDICAR U 20 F Little Lever, Lancashire, England Rel: Daur Occ: Doubler In Cotton Factory Isabella WADDICAR U 18 F Little Lever, Lancashire, England Rel: Daur Occ: Doubler In Cotton Factory Mary H. WADDICAR 15 F Little Lever, Lancashire, England Rel: Daur Occ: Tobacco Twister Emma WADDICAR 13 F Little Lever, Lancashire, England Rel: Daur Occ: Scholar John W. WADDICAR 9 M Bolton, Lancashire, England Rel: Son Occ: Scholar Mary H Waddicar born Little Lever and about the right age. Could be yours but you need the father's name to be a little more certain. Cheers, Bob Winder