I am trying to get correct information for my great-grandmother Harriet Morris Shaw, born in Henfield, Ashburnham, Sussex on 30 Jul 1841. She died in Detroit, Michigan, USA on 13 Nov 1916. I have her father listed as Thomas Morris from a 1861 census and a brother Edward Morris. However, her death certificate shows her parents as George Morris and May Ann Fordick. she had a sister we called Aunt Mite, whose name was Mary Ann Morris born in 1840. How can I determine the correct information or should I assume that the death certificate is correct? Any parish records I could check? as I would also like to find her grandparents and so forth. I have the passenger list when the family immigrated to Canada in 1883. The list includes Harriet, her husband Henry C Shaw and several children including my grandfather Harold Shaw. There are other people listed but I cannot read the writing. Does anyone know if that information might have been transcribed and thus more legible? Any suggestions are much appreciated Dinah Penn Shaw Antigua, Guatemala

Dinah, The SFHG Data Archive has at Ashburnham a Harriet Morris baptism 31/10/1841, parents George and Mary Ann, George being a groom. Also a Mary Anne Morris baptism 19/5/1839, parents Samuel and Mary, Samuel being a labourer. FreeBMD shows Marriages Mar 1841 FOSDICK Mary Ann Battle 7 281 MORRIS George Battle 7 281 rather than May Ann Fordick but it's the transcribed typed version Marriages Sep 1865 Morris Harriet Marylebone 1a 1051 Shaw Henry Charles Marylebone 1a 1051 the m/c shows father George Morris, Livery stable keeper The 1900 US Census is unclear Henry born June 1844 age 55 (56 deleted) Harriett born July 1841/5/6 all overwritten, age 55 Marion Morris sister-in-law Jan 1860 40 The 1910 US census has Mary Morris as the sister-in-law with the three ages 70, 69, and 56. There is a UK census entry in 1861 with Thomas Morris head and daughter Harriet, aged 23 from Guestling, Sussex, but she is still single in 1871. Didn't see an Edward there. The correct 1861 census seems to be St Marylebone Abercorn, Lodge, all servants. George Morris 44 widower coachman Ashburnham Harriett 21 Battle Mary Ann 14 Middlesex St Marylebone Rachel 12 Middlesex St Marylebone So I'd forget Thomas and Edward, make George and Mary Ann Fosdick the parents, and revise sister Mary Ann's age. For the record I agree with Joe - death certificates are very dependent on the person providing the information. Alan 1350 Dinah via wrote on 18/05/2015 23:08: > > I am trying to get correct information for my great-grandmother Harriet Morris Shaw, born in Henfield, Ashburnham, Sussex on 30 Jul 1841. She died in Detroit, Michigan, USA on 13 Nov 1916. I have her father listed as Thomas Morris from a 1861 census and a brother Edward Morris. However, her death certificate shows her parents as George Morris and May Ann Fordick. she had a sister we called Aunt Mite, whose name was Mary Ann Morris born in 1840. How can I determine the correct information or should I assume that the death certificate is correct? Any parish records I could check? as I would also like to find her grandparents and so forth. > > I have the passenger list when the family immigrated to Canada in 1883. The list includes Harriet, her husband Henry C Shaw and several children including my grandfather Harold Shaw. There are other people listed but I cannot read the writing. Does anyone know if that information might have been transcribed and thus more legible? > > Any suggestions are much appreciated > > Dinah Penn Shaw > Antigua, Guatemala