19th December 1863

I had some trouble finding Edwin's birth record. In the end I searched under his parents names and found a child who was not listed in any Census and also did not have a death associated with him. He happened to be born in the same year as Edwin would have been born but he was named Edmund.

I therefore concluded that Edmund (legal and baptismal name) became known as Edwin by the family and himself in later years, though why this happened I haven't a clue!

(Age 4 months)

Okay... the name here is Edmund not Edwin, but the dates and parents fit!

1871

Edmund gets called Edward in this!

• Sidney Wood 45
• Elizabeth Wood 31
• William Hopkins 12
• Oswald Wood 8
• Edward Wood 7
• Albert Wood 6
• Caroline Wood 3
• Jane Wood 2
• George Wood 1

At the age of 16 Edmund is called Edwin and is a plasterer and living with his family in a property in Hickes's Row, Berkeley.

In 1910 these properties are listed as cottages with gardens, approximate size of 400/500 square yards. From the Census I can see that the person taking the Census went from Maryleport Street into Hicks's Row and then emerged into Cannonbury street. I therefore have an idea of where the cottage would have been positioned in the town.

Maryleport Street has been renamed as Marybrook Street, but Cannonbury Street is still under the same name today.

His father is Sidney Wood, a chimney sweep (age 47),

his mother is Elizabeth Wood (age 39).

His siblings:

• Oswald Wood (age 19 - working as a labourer),
• Albert Wood (age 15),
• Caroline Wood (age 13),
• Elizabeth Wood (age 9),
• George Wood (age 7),
• Sidney Wood (age 6),
• Alfred Wood (age 5),
• Charles Wood (age 4),
• John Wood (age 2),
• Jane Wood (age 1) and
• Rosa Wood (age 4 months).

Wiki Link - The Castle Site - The Church's Site

Edwin was lodging at 1 Brunswick Park Road, Wednesbury. He had obtained employment at the local Tube Works as a furnace man. It is not far from where Elizabeth Poxon was working. He would have had to walk towards the place she lived on his way to work.

• David Muckley 47
• Mary Muckley 71
• Stephen Muckley 14
• Moses Muckley 11
• Albert Muckley 10
• Jemima Muckley 7
• Sarah Amos 13 (General domestic servant)
• Edwin Wood 26 (lodger)

10th September 1892

Marriage

(Age 28)

Now this is also a problem...

On Louisa's birth certificate her father is given as Edwin Wood and her mother Elizabeth Poxon, BUT there is no marriage between them recorded in the records... only a marriage between Edward Wood and Elizabeth Poxon at about the time I would have expected them to marry.

So, added to the fact that there is no birth record for an Edwin, but only one for an Edmund, and that his parents entered him as Edward in the 1871 Census, it appears that Louisa's father was Ed Wood (plain and simple).

The ages are also incorrect - Elizabeth was not yet 21 and lied on the certificate to be able to marry without parental involvement.... and Ed lied making himslef three years younger than he actually was....

Census

(Age 37)

This lists the family living at 10, Russell Street, Wednesbury.

Edwin Wood 39 is the householder

Elizabeth Wood 29 is his wife

Beatrix Wood is aged 7

Polly Wood is aged 4

Louisa Wood is aged 3

Edwin Wood is aged 1

Ethel Wood is aged 6 Weeks

Elizabeth Wood aged 62 is Edwin's widowed mother - born in Slaughter in 1839

George Wood aged 28 is Edwin's brother

John Wood aged 23 is Edwin's brother

Census

(Age 47)

This census confirms that Ed and Elizabeth have been married for 18 years. They have had ten children of which only six are still alive. Rebecca Louisa Rose is one of these, and four are still living at home. Ethel should be ten now, but is listed as age 2. I suspect the first Ethel died and they named another daughter after her - the two year old in this census. Beatrix also must have left home - she would be the logical choice for the missing 'living' child. The age gap between Edith and Ethel probably accounted for the children that had died.

Ed is 'Edwin' and is claining to have been born in 1861, making him 49 ... but Elizabeth is 38 on this census making her year of birth 1872. He is working as a 'cowman' on the farm called Old Hall Farm, Willenhall Road, Bilston. On Louisa's marriage certificate he is named as a 'farmer', so that ties in nicely.

Mary Ann - age 15 - is most probably the 'Polly' from the last census.

Edwin - age 11

Edith - age 9

Ethel - age 2 - named after the sister that died.

Census

(Age 75)

His wife Elizabeth gives her birthdate as the 19th May 1874 - knocking two years off her age. She is still working as a milk retailer and Edmund's birthdate is given as 19th December 1863. He is a retired milk roundsman, and would now be 75 years old.

Their son, stated as 'Edward' on this census (but Edwin on others!), born on the 23rd January 1900 - so 39 years of age - is living with them. He is single and works as a heavy labourer at the Steel Tube factory. Due to his age and occupation it is unlikely he would have been 'called up' for military service.

They are living at 111, Green Lanes, Bilston. All of the houses from those days have been demolished and new houses have been built there. Assuming the house numbering is the same as back in the day I have copied a map to show the location of their home.

6b 866 Rowley Regis seems the most likely. Fitting to die under his birth name - even if his age was one year out! I would imagine his son would have registered the death.