Would the real John Asby please stand up?

Question

Hi folks! I'm new to this. Any advice would be much appreciated!

The John Asby that I'm looking for lived at Vicarage Terrace, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England and was the father of John Thomas Asby my 3rd great grandfather.

The 1891 census records a John Asby as head of the household (Vicarage Terrace) with a John F Asby, which I'm pretty sure is a mistranscribing of John T Asby. John Asby is recorded as being born 1841 in Fordham, Cambridgeshire.

The 1901 census also records a John (without John Thomas) at Vicarage Terrace, born at Fordham but with a birth year of 1836.

The 1881 census records a John Asby, born at Fordham, but now with a birth year of 1835. There are matching cohabitors, and I believe 'John J' to be a mistranscribing of my John Thomas. They live on Staffordshire Street, which is a stone's throw from Vicarage Terrace.

The 1871 census records John (with wife Rebecca) living on East Road (also very nearby), birthplace Cambridgeshire and birth year 1839.

There are very few 'Asby's, yet confirming a birth record is proving very difficult. I have found the following records:

• John Asby, baptised 15 Dec 1834, residing in Chatteris, Cambridge (father James, mother Ann)
• John Asbee, baptised 5 Jul 1838, OTP Fordham, Cambridgeshire (father Thomas, mother Sarah)
• John Asbee, baptised 6 Aug 1835, OTP Fordham, Cambridgeshire (father Thomas, mother Sarah)
• John Poole Ashby, baptised 6 Feb 1842, Ely, St Mary, Cambridgeshire (father William, mother Maria)

Are all of those census entries likely to be recording the same John Asby, despite the 6 year age range?

And as for the birth record do I abandon my expected birthplace or my expected surname spelling?! 

Thanks!!

 

Answer 1

Late last year the GRO released new Indexes for Births 1837-1916 which include full christian names & mother's maiden surname; and Deaths 1837-1957 which includes full christian names & age at death.  This is the link https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp - you will need to register first.

Births:

John ASBY – Jun Qtr 1838 Newmarket Vol. 14, Page 109; Mother’s maiden surname: HARVEY (Note: Fordham is in Newmarket Registration District)

John Thomas ASBY – Sep Qtr 1868 Cambridge Vol. 3b, Page 505, Mother: CARTER.

Charlotte Rose ASBY – Mar Qtr 1897 Cambridge Vol. 3b, Page 504, Mother: MUNCEY.

Marriages:

Thomas ASBEE & Sarah HARVEY is on FamilySearch 

You can also search for marriages 1837-1983 at http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl

John ASBY & Eliza MUNCEY/MUNSEY – Sep Qtr 1891 Cambridge Vol. 3b, Page 935.

John HASBEY & Rebecca CARTER – Jun Qtr 1863 Cambridge Vol. 3b, Page 812. A transcription is available on www.findmypast.com :

24 May 1863 Cambridge St. Andrew the Less – John HASBEY, age 20, Bac, Lab, of New Street, son of Thomas, Lab, dec & Rebecca CARTER, age 17, Spinster, of New Street, daughter of Jeremiah, college servant; by Banns.

Comments

Wow, thank you, Vivian! That's really helpful. Hasbey too?! This is encouraging...