George, Have you found the Military record on Findmypast of a Henry CRADDOCK born c1841 in Birmingham. If this is your Henry, it is 9 pages long and gives quite a bit of detail. He would appear to be the Henry CRADDOCK in the 1881 census Benenden, Kent who is married to an Agnes, who is aged 23 and born in Scotland, together with children Eliza M and Henry A, both born in Sunderland, Durham. It looks as if the CRADDOCK family in Smethwick in the 1841 census may have originated in Inkberrow, Worcestershire. There is a (presumably) daughter Jane born c1821 (1841 ages should be rounded down to the nearest 5 years) not in the county and IGI Family Search has a baptism on 24 December 1820 at Inkberrow, parents John & Mary together with several siblings amongst whom is a Henry baptised 20 June 1813. So far so good. Also on Findmypast is the Military record of a Henry CRADDOCK born c1813 at Hinkborough (presumably Inkberrow), Worcester, Worcestershire - could this be a record confirming the suspicion you referred to re Henry snr?? Now this could be interesting. 1861 census of Plumstead Kent (RG9/410, folio 135, page 7) shows a Henry CRADDOCK, aged 48, unmarried, Carpenter, born Inkborough, Worcestershire (Ancestry have transcribed it as Sudborough) visiting the household of a John ALLBURY and family. Again another snippet of information that ties in with the information you already have. Could wife Mary have died after the birth of Henry jnr and as his father was serving in the Army abroad, Henry jnr stayed with his grandparents, but then why can't I find Henry jnr in the 1851 census as he himself did not enlist in the Army until 1859. I can't find Henry snr in subsequent census records to the 1861 census, but there is a death registration in the June qtr 1863 at Birmingham reg district for a Henry CRADDOCK which may be relevant as Henry jnr gives his birthplace as Birmingham. 1840/41 is very early on in registration terms, so it could be that Henry jnr's birth was not registered and as his possible father was still in the Army he may not have been baptised at around the time of his birth. I'm not sure that this is providing you with any definitive information, but may give you some other avenues to explore. Janet I have been having great difficulty in locating the birth records of my grandmother's first husband. In all records he declared his birthplace to be Birmingham. Reading several posts I found that I should search Staffordshire, and Worcestershire, in addition to Warwickshire as many people born in the area of Birmingham give that as their birthplace for convenience. In searching Sraffordshire I found what I believe to be the individual I am researching His name was Henry CRADDOCK, born about 1841. I found a Henry, age 5 months on the 1841 census, which was taken June 7, 1841, in the Hamlet of Smethwick, Harbourne Parish. He does not appear to be living with his parents who are reported to be Henry CRADDOCK and Mary WESTWOOD, but with possible grandparents (or great-grandparents) John CRADDOCK and spouse Mary, aged 65 years. How would I locate the marriage records for Henry & Mary. There is the suspicion that he may have been in the army, and was later a carpenter. I have not found anything on the LDS site so far.

Janet, WOW! You have certainly givem me a lot to dig into. Before the army records were available on line, I had a researcher get me copies of the records for Henry, and my great-grandfather. So I had all Henry's army info. I too could not understand why I could not find Henry in the 1851 census. Out of the country with his parents in a foreign posting???? Many unanswered questions, but you have certainly given me much to think about and research. My cousin, Ross Craddock will be very pleased that there is a possiblily of finding his grandfathers info. Thank you so much for your help. George M. McCaig