Today I decided to spend a few hours researching some of the more obscure ancestors of my Ashforth line.

Frederick LAW 1811-Deceased was my ggg grandfather about whom I know very little. His wife I have recorded as Mary LAW, though I have yet to carry out any serious research into her maiden name.

While trawling through Parish Registers I came across some additional children, in fact one is the twin brother of Harriet LAW 1836-1903, my gg grandmother. I had already established a date of birth and baptism for Harriet LAW 1836-1903 and included in my notes is a flag to show she had a twin brother or sister. Past research for a twin has drawn a blank, consequently I half expected the twin died shortly after birth since I could find no record of birth or baptism. Until today that is.

I'm not sure if this is the result of more data being available or the fact that in the past I have failed to search for 'Harriett' as well as 'Harriet'. Whatever, I came across a baptism for one Frederick LAW born 15th of October 1836 and baptised at the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Sheffield (Sheffield Cathedral), on the 30th of October 1836.

An added bonus was the discovery of two more children, Mary Ann LAW and Ellen LAW. Mary Ann LAW was born on the 20th January 1829 and baptised on the 8th February 1829. Ellen LAW was born on the 5th of February 1831 and baptised on the 17th of April 1831. Both daughters were baptised at the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Church Street, Sheffield.

In order to establish the maiden name of Mary LAW, I will place an order to Sheffield Register Office for the birth certificate of George LAW 1838-Deceased, since he is the only child I have a record of that was born post July 1837, i.e. when registration began.

In my notes I have an England and Wales Census 1841 record:

FHJ Ref: 039
Census: England and Wales Census 1841
Place: Roscoe Field, Sheffield, Yorkshire
Household: Frederick Law

To view this table full width please click here.

Interestingly there is no record of Frederick LAW, Ellen LAW or Mary Ann LAW. I am of course assuming this is the correct household, though despite the vagaries of the England and Wales Census 1841, the ages do seem to be correct.