Morning, I am new to the list and would like any suggestions about tracing a Staffordshire family. (I live in Brisbane, Australia) I am trying to trace the family of a John Williams, born Staffordshire in about 1825, son of John and Mary Williams. John sr was a pottery slip maker. I have tried to find either John in the 1841 census but no luck yet. There are numerous John Williams of the right age for John jr living away from their family, so it is hard to sort them out. I assume the family would have lived in the Staffordshire Pottery towns. John jr came to Western Australia in about 1853, I think he came free but he could have been a convict. There are few immigration records for free settlers for the early 1850s. I realise this is a long shot, but would be interested to know if anyone knows this family or can suggest what I can try. Regards, Natalie

Natalie, Sometimes you get more information from Australian records than looking in UK. Not sure about WA certificates, but do you have his marriage, death or the birth of one of his children. They usually give age, origins and how long in the colony. You might also look at immigration records on Ancestry. Again, not sure about WA, but NSW records for Assisted Immigrants have all been digitised. By 1841, he's around 15 and may be apprenticed and away from home. By 1851, he'd be around 25 and probably left home. But I'd still try for parents John & Mary. Do you have anything that would give father's occupation? If he married before leaving UK, that data would be on a marriage certificate. And you must have got the parents names from somewhere. I'm guessing his death. Peter in Sydney D

Hi Peter, I got the information from his death certificate. It said father John, slip maker and mother Mary and that John jr was born in Stafford. I found one John, potter, Burslem in the 1841 census, a possible John sr. I have checked the immigration records for John jr, but no luck. I have been assuming he migrated alone, but maybe not. He married twice in Western Australia - may have to get both of them. Thanks for the suggestions. Natalie