Barbara M

There are a couple of free sites you can try... Free Cen for the census , Free BMD for Births etc , Family Search for the Mormons site , this site goes back further then most of the others , you just have to make sure you put ENGLAND in !! All these are free sites but I find they get busy during the weekends & in the evenings. But its all part of the fun finding out where your ancestors lived & worked.

Free sites I can recommed are : The Mormons on Family Search , Free Cen the sister site to BMD for census's & the GRO ( General Register Office ) for all your certificates as they only cost £9.50 each. Hope this helps & good luck in your search. Barbara

I have since found out through the Sheffield Forum that Henry was a potato merchant when he lived on Old St , Sheffield , but nothing further. Thanks all for your efforts, I will let you all know if I find out anything more. Barbara

Thanks annswabey , I certainly will, & thanks again for all your help. Barbara

Sure will, Mick2me . You have all been a lot of help. Barbara

Thankyou very much annswabey for the link to Lucy Willoughby ( nee Wishshaw ) you gave me , as I sent for the death certificate & according to what was on it, it's almost certain to be the one I want !! She is the second Lucy & since then I have found out that she had two daughters before the son I knew about. I have sent off a letter to her grandson who registered the death , who now lives in Deal, Kent , but as it was over 30 yrs ago I have to just hope that he has not moved since . Will send you a pm if anything comes of it. Thanks again. Barbara.

I think you may be right !! LoL

I thougt as the family next went to Owston Ferry, where the first two children were born, before moving to Sheffield, where the next 6 children were born, it was odds on that Clarborough was probably the place where they were married , it being just up the road , so to speak.Just off the A161 nr Haxey. There is no record at all of a Retford connection that I can find. I love this detective work .....should have been in the police instead of a publican's wife !!! Barbara

This looks promising as the second Lucy Willoughby ( nee Wishshaw ) who was married to the elder brother George with the one son George born in 1914 , is approx the right age for it to be her. I will send for the Death Cert & check it out ......it's only £9.50 after all !!! Keep your fingers crossed & I will let you know the outcome. Barbara

Since I last posted I have found the following on " Family Search " : Henry Johnson married Jane Pearson on 31st Dec 1827 in Clarborough , Nottingham. This could be them BUT I have no way of checking up as you can't send for certificates before I think 1837 , the only way is to go to Clarborough & check the parish records. Thanks for your help, I will get there in the end or not as the case may be !! Barbara.

As far as I know all the brothers died in Sheffield, it was Lucy Willoughby that died in Nottingham, trouble is I don't know when !! I thought if I could trace the family, Lesley, twins Douglas & Joan, Jean & Derrick or even George ( if it is the other family. ) that is if they are still alive !! It's a right mystery & thanks for your help . Barbara.

Thanks for the reply & info Cliff Ton, I have the added problem that I am a wheelchair user as well as living in S Yorks , but I will contact these places by email & see what comes of it. Thanks again, Barbara

This is the paternal side of my family that I have a problem with but not as much to go on as the Willoughbys !! My Great Great Grandfather Henry Johnson was born in Nottingham c1795 & the next time I can find him is in the 1841 census , where he is living in Old Street , Sheffield & he is a " Merchant " with eight Children the first two born at Owston Ferry , Lincolnshire in 1831 & 1834 & six born in Sheffield. The next census 1851 I find him & & his wife Jane Pearson b 1811 in Wilsic, Doncaster & with their eleven children living as Innkeepers at the Black Swan

Eva's parents were George Willoughby b1859 & Martha Ellen Lowe b 1858 , they married in 1882 at Woodseats, Sheffield. Eva my grandmother was born on 4th Dec 1883 at Chesterfield Rd, Norton Woodseats, Sheffield & her siblings were : Helen b c1885 George b c 1888 Frank b c 1892 Arthur b c 1894 I hope this helps, Barbara.

My family is the part that came to Sheffield , Charles & family , they were Scythe Grinders & lived in the Woodseats area, also some members lived in Meersbrook & Heeley. Thanks for answering. Cheers, Barbara M.