Hertfordshire Genealogy: Reynolds, Aldbury, 19th century

Adam Shire (adam @t verekerdrive.freeserve.co.uk) of Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, writes: I have a Martha A. Reynolds born in 1814 in Northchurch. She married James Johnson on 4th August 1841, Aldbury, Herts. I was wondering if you have any more info on Reynolds in this area (esp. Berkhamsted etc.) I've had no luck finding Martha's birth on the IGI. In the 1881 census they were living in a Railway Cottage, Aldbury with their son, my great-great grandfather Amos Johnson, born 1851 there.

In a case such as this, where you don't say much about Martha Reynolds (for instance what was her father's name and occupation on her marriage certificate), my first reaction is to see what I can find out about her from other sources, as the family's social class and the names they give their children, etc., can suggest where to look. (see for example The Inheritance of Single Christian Names.)

I almost immediately ran into a problem. Was there one or two Amos Johnsons born in Aldbury in 1851? If there was only one we may be on a wild goose chase, and my comments therefore take the form of a question.

As you say Martha was living with James Johnson at Railway Cottages, (Tring Station), Aldbury (see Aldbury Railway Workers in 1851 for a photograph) in the 1881 census:

James JOHNSON	Head	M	Male	61	Aldbury, Herts	Ag Lab
Martha A. JOHNSON	Wife	M	Female	67	Northchurch, Herts

However the only Amos Johnson, born in or near Aldbury around 1851, was living at Feltham, Middlesex, and not, as you suggest, living with his parents:

Amos JOHNSON	Head	M	Male	30	Aldbury, Herts	Gardener
Agnes JOHNSON	Wife	M	Female	30	Staines, Middlesex	Gardeners Wife
Agnes F. JOHNSON	Daur		Female	3	Tring, Herts
Amos D. JOHNSON	Son		Male	2	Feltham, Middlesex
Mary BROWING	Lodger	M	Female	54	Paddington, Middlesex	Annuity

The IGI at familysearch shows that this Amos Johnson married Agnes Barnes on 7th January 1876 at Tring.

A check of the 1851 census left me even more puzzled. As you say Amos was born in 1851 he might have missed the census. James and Martha Johnson were living in Aldbury village:

James JOHNSON	Head	M	Male	32	Aldbury, Herts	Agric Lab
Martha A. JOHNSON	Wife	M	Female	33	Northchurch, Herts
Sarah A JOHNSON	Dau		Female	4	Pitstone, Bucks
Mary GARMENT	Lodger	M	Female	33	Wendover, Bucks	Lace Maker
George GARMENT	Lodger's Son		Male	2	Aldbury, Herts

However elsewhere in the village there was the following family:

Elizabeth JOHNSON	Head	M	Female	38	Stone, Bucks	Seamstress
Hannah JOHNSON	Dau		Female	13	Aldbury, Herts
George JOHNSON	Son		Male	10	Aldbury, Herts
John JOHNSON	Son		Male	6	Aldbury, Herts
Mark JOHHNSON	Son		Male	2	Aldbury, Herts
Amos JOHNSON	Son		Male	1 month	Aldbury, Herts

So is the Amos living in Feltham in 1881 your ancestor, and/or is he the son of ?? and Elizabeth Johnson rather than James and Martha Johnson? The key question is whether there were one or two Amos Johnson's born in Aldbury in about 1851. (See Right Name, Wrong Body.) If there was only one Amos, the limited evidence so far available to me suggests that Martha Reynolds is not your ancestor.

I suggest that you purchase Amos Johnson's birth and marriage certificates and let me know what they say - and then I may be able to help you further.

P.S. My own Reynolds ancestors did not arrive in Hertfordshire until about 1860 (see Jacob Reynolds)

October, 2003

Robert Bull (rjbull @t tiscali.co.uk) wrote: Just a small addition to the information you provided. The Amos Johnson aged 1 month is the son of Daniel Johnson (Christened Aldbury 23.3.1806) and Elizabeth Small (married Aldbury 25.10.1834). His older brother, George, is my Great Great Grandfather.

If you can add to the information given above tell me.