Railway records on Ancestry look up please

[Rachel A]

I see from Kite's signature that these are now available on Ancestry.

I'd be interested to know if my relatives' records are on there please. They all worked for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, and I have pieced together their careers from the numerous ledgers held at the National Archives in Kew.

They are:-

1. Henry Guilford born 1817, joined the railway 1840, was a guard, then first class guard and appointed station master at Henfield in 1861. Died in service 1862.
2. Charles Guilford born 1850. Worked in the locomotive works in the 1860s and 1870s
3. Edward Guilford born 1853. Also worked in the locomotive works in the 1870s. Left to become a missionary.
4. Walter Guilford born 1848. Started working on the railway c1860 as a telegraph boy. Worked at Newhaven, Eridge, Tunbridge Wells and Amberley stations. Was station master at East Brixton station from 1878 to 1908, when he retired.

Also, who I have yet to find in the records at TNA-

Henry William Guilford born 1843. Worked as a fitters apprentice in Brighton at time of 1861 census. Left Brighton for Gorton, Manchester c1865. Moved to Twerton, Somerset c1877.

[Jill]

Emails on their way Rachel

(Henry & Edward)

[Rachel A]

Thanks Jill :)

[Rachel A]

I've got quite a few railway workers on my tree, I'll have to dig them out.

Although, when I went to Kew, I didn't have time to look for my cousin's great grandfather, Thomas Merrett 1870-1932, who was apparently a porter at London Bridge station. Can a kind member look up his record please... :)

[Jill]

Found the first four, can't see anything yet for Henry William Guilford b 1843 - anyone else fancy a look?

(The other records have occasionally been for Guildford rather than Guilford)

[Jill]

my cousin's great grandfather, Thomas Merrett 1870-1932, who was apparently a porter at London Bridge station. Can a kind member look up his record please... :)

There's a Thomas Merrett at New Cross who is a cleaner in 1887 (just along the line from London Bridge). I'll add it to the others I'm sending you. Plus a Thos Merritt at Norwood (labourer)

[Rachel A]

Thanks for all your help, Jill, it's most appreciated :)

[anne fraser]

My grandfather Frank or Francis Wilton was a porter on the Taff Vale railway in Wales on the 1901 census.

[Jill]

Thanks for all your help, Jill, it's most appreciated :)

My OH's family and yours are neighbours again - 1861 Henry William Guilford is living next door to John Harland (his 2x gt grandmother's brother). First Horsted Keynes, now Brighton!

[Rachel A]

Bizarre! Just looked at the image on my computer and they are listed next to each other.

The Guilfords are my maternal grandmother's mother's paternal line, and the Bakers are her father's, mother's line, if that makes sense!

My other (main) surnames in Sussex are Packham, Pratt, Staplehurst, White and Eldridge, so watch out! :d

[Tom Tom]

I haven't been able to find a single one of my railway ancestors.

GG grandad was a Railway Detective and he, and his brothers, all started out as porters and workers on the railway. :(

[Jill]

My grandfather Frank or Francis Wilton was a porter on the Taff Vale railway in Wales on the 1901 census.

I had a look Anne but couldn't see him.

[Rachel A]

Perhaps not all the records have been scanned yet? :confused:

What I will say is, these people who did this must have arm muscles like a body builder, because these ledgers are very large and very heavy!

[anne fraser]

thanks Jill.

[Kit]

I haven't been able to find a single one of my railway ancestors.

I can't find mine either Tom.

[kiterunner]

Have you tried on the Cheshire Archives Railway Staff Database? It appears that the records on there are not also on ancestry (though the Cheshire search isn't working for me at the moment :( )

http://archives.cheshire.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=70

[Uncle John]

Perhaps not all the records have been scanned yet? :confused:

There's a listing on Ancestry of which National Archives files have been uploaded. There are some significant gaps (e.g. Great Northern, Great Eastern, Cheshire Lines Committee and several others).

[Nell]

Typical - I've found the man who married my grandmother's first cousin. I've found the father of the woman who married my uncle.

I can't find the elusive Mr Garvie, 2nd "husband" of my gt grandmother, just as I can't find their marriage!