Robin Waldock (robin @t mediaid.org) of London writes: I have been informed of a family in Great Wymondley being a Thomas Waldock c1781 married to a Catherine c1791 had a son William c1824 and a daughter Fanny c 1832-1889. Did this William marry Eliza Sarah Castle? I know that Fanny the daughter married a William Minnis about 1852.

In January 2000 you asked about William Waldock and Eliza Sarah Castle and I posted details of the following family (who were probably the one one you are looking for) who were living at Keepers Cottage, Great Wymondley, at the time of the 1881 census.

At that time I suggested that "Any of the children's birth certificates will give the mother's maiden name, while the information on the marriage certificate (probably about 1868) will give the couple's fathers' names and occupations." I now note that the IGI (on familysearch) shows two earlier children baptised at Great Wymondley: Fanny Louisa Elizabeth Walduck was baptised on 10th September 1865 and William Waldock (who probably died young) on 14th July 1867. James Henry Waldock was also baptised at Great Wymondley on 12th February 1871.

This would indicate that William and Eliza probably married about 1865, possibly in London, and if you want to know who their parents are I can only repeat my earlier advice to buy a copy of their marriage certificate. If you are certain they married in Hertfordshire you can order online from HALS, otherwise you can order by post through the Family Records Centre if you cannot call there in person.

You also asked: In addition, while on a visit to Great Wymondley I came across a gravestone of a William Waldock who would have been born abt 1877. would this be the son of William Waldock and Eliza Sarah. Did son William marry Ada I believe they had a daughter Ivy any information appreciated.

There were at least 15 William Waldock who were both born and living in Hertfordshire in the 1881 census and if the tombstone inscription gives year of death and age which works out as a birth year of 1876/7 he is the most likely candidate. What did the tombstone say - and was it near other Waldock tombstones - as often members of the same family were buried in the same plot - if not actually in the same grave. The Hertfordshire Family and Population History Society have published many lists of memorial inscriptions and I believe one of them is Great Wymondley - so you should get hold of a copy and check what it says under Waldock. I assume the tombstone gave his date of death so it should be easy for you to get his death certificate from HALS - as the witness may well be his widow or another member of the family. It is also possible, but less likely, that he made a will.

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However you may be lucky in that other people are researching branches of the Waldock family in Great Wymondley as can be see from posted messages on the old forum which I reproduce below in a slightly edited form, with my replies:

Paula Lloyd (Lloyds (robin @t mediaid.org) langport2000.fsnet.co.uk) of Somerset, posted a message on 3r September 2000 which read: Eliza Waldock came from Great Wymondley, and met William Titmus when she was in service in London. Possible regions Walthamstow or Finsbury Park. He was a worker on building the undergrounds. I have two known addresses for her, Hornbeam Cottages Great Wymondley, and Waldgrove Road near the Sailor Boy pub, in Walsworth, Hitchin. Her father was a cobbler at one time. Eliza and William had three children, Arthur, who was killed in the first world war, Thomas Walter, who married Ivy Cotton (from Gosmore Hitchin) and lived in Hitchin (my grandparents) and Elsie, who married a Dobbs and had at least one son called Noel (living) then she married a Wilsher, and had at least one son called Ray (living). Both Noel and Ray were at Ivy Cottons funeral several years ago.

Because you don't give dates it is impossible to give precise information with any degree of certainty. While you say a son died in the First World War this could still mean Eliza was born at any time between about 1820 and 1880 and she could have been married at any time between about 1840 and 1900 - which is a rather wide age range.

The 1881 census shows 44 Eliza/Elizabeth WALDOCK/WALDUCK, etc., 17 born and/or living in Hertfordshire, and three associated with Great Wymondley. The most likely (but still a wild guess) appears to be Eliza A WALDOCK (12, born Hitchin) .

[If this guess is correct Paula could be a relative of yours and may have already brought a copy the marriage certificate you need.]

Paula Lloyd (Lloyds (robin @t mediaid.org) langport2000.fsnet.co.uk)  posted another message on 7th October 2000 which read: We are searching for information on Edward Waldock, who lived in a timber house next to Drapers farmhouse in Walgrove Rd, Walsworth, Hitchin. He was living with a married daughter (married surname Titmus) in 1920s, aged about 60+. when he was retired.

I am not quite certain how the following extract from the 1881 census CD-ROM links in with the earlier WALDOCK postings, and in particular the Eliza who married William TITMUS - as if they had a son Authur he would have been a bit young to die in the First World War.

Robin Waldock (robin @t mediaid.org)  responded Sorry Chris a good example of a bad query. From information received According to 1851 Census there was a Thomas Waldock C1781 married to a Catherine c1791 had a son William c1824 Fanny c1832 any further information on this family would be appreciated. I would assume there are some siblings missing due to the large gap in the ages .

It is important, particularly if you have difficulty in visiting records offices, to make sure you make the most of the information you have. The 1851 census will normally give everyone's place of birth (which may well be Great Wymondley in this case - but at least saying so proves that the family was relatively static) and occupation (which can be a useful check - assuming that it was not something as everyday as an agricultural labourer, which I guess may be the case here). The 1881 census CD (which you can use on any modern computer) shows that there were four adult males Thomas (1820), William (1825), James (1828) and Daniel (1829) who were all agricultural labourers born and still living in Great Wymondley, who could be brothers. It is likely that they were all in the village for the 1851 census - perhaps even living next door to the family you have information on. (If at all possible, once you know what records are relevant you should always try and check for yourself - as you can't expect everyone who sends you free information to check for every possible relevant detail - and if you hold back in the question you are more likely to get misinformation.)

The 1841 census - while less detailed - would be more useful in this case as it will probably show more of the family together in the same house.

The parish baptismal registers are indexed on the IGI (familysearch) for the relevant period and show nothing - which could mean that the children were either not baptised or were non-conformists - and this could mean that there never were any records of their births or that the christening records have been lost.. There may be other sources which include clues - such as manorial records if the family held copyhold rights on a cottage - or workhouse records if they became destitute. However such records are often both bulky and not indexed and can only be viewed at HALS or the holding records office where different. For some villages the Overseers Accounts have survived - and in some cases these have been microfilmed and are available to order at LDS Family History Centres.

August 2002

Robin Waldock (robin @t mediaid.org)  updated the above, saying I would like to say a big thank you for your information and help on tracing my family tree being the Waldocks in Great Wymondley. I was very green when I started and not have a real clue about how to go about it and then I found your original site and sent you a question which you gave me details of my Great Grandfather pointing me also to family search from which I found out more about the family yes made some friends along the way as well. Had  great problems locating GG grandfather and family and gave up looking for some time and concentrated on my mothers side of the family Moss once again I asked you a question again your answer helped me to start and locate the family. As you are aware I do not travel great distances alone so going out to research centers are a little difficult I now have a friend who as well of doing her family tree will look up information for me. Information William Waldock my G grandfather was married in Great Wymondley on the 19th November 1864
William, 1824 James, 1828 and Thomas 1816 Waldock were brothers and Daniel 1829 was their Nephew. Chris you were right to say they were possibly brothers, but all related.
Parents being Thomas abt 1791  and Catherine Gray abt 1794 c 3rd July 1794
Married Great Wymondley 18th May 1811. Any one who wants to look up this family on IGI you will not find it under Waldock but as Worlock. Chris this is a brilliant site keep up the good work Thanks again for your help Will certainly becoming back every so often to see what is new.

April 2004

Carol Gill nee Minnis (carol (robin @t mediaid.org) cgill99.freeserve.co.uk) of Letchworth writes: I have the MINNIS connection.  William MINNIS married Fanny Waldock in Great Wymondley on 2 October 1852.  William was born in 1829 in Walsworth, Hitchin, Herts.   I can provide a quite extensive family tree for the MINNIS's if you are interested.  

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