It is believed that Henry and his family are the ones identified on the 1851 Census at No. 5 Carven St, Birmingham (St. Paul) Folio 588, page 12, Schedule 36. LDS Reel 0087307.

Tipton is apparently the closest parish, however further clarification is required to confirm whether this baptism could relate to Henry at this point.

It would seem likely that Henry and Mary may have had more children, particularly between Mary Jane who was born c1849 and Clara, who was born c1856. Hopefully later Census will confirm such details.

Henry and Mary had the following children:

They had the following children:

Isabella and her husband, John SPENCER have been identified on the 1881 Census Index residing at Steward in St. Phillip (Ref. 2969/129/20)

Isabella died in 1909, a memorial card for Isabella reads:

The survival of this card, is one of the few documents that help to confirm the relationships in this family.

Thomas did not appear on the 1851 Census with his parents at the family home at No. 5 Carven St, Birmingham (St. Paul). ¹⁷

Hannah appeared on the 1851 Census with her parents, brothers and sisters, in the family home at No. 5 Carven St, Birmingham (St. Paul). She was 11 years old and her occupation listed as "at button trade". ¹⁷

Henry appeared on the 1851 Census with his parents and sisters in the family home at No. 5 Carven St, Birmingham (St. Paul). He was 9 years old and his occupation listed as an Errand Boy. ®17

Elizabeth appeared on the 1851 Census with her parents, brother and sisters, in the family home at No. 5 Carven St, Birmingham (St. Paul). She was 7 years old and like her older sister, her occupation was also listed as "at button trade". ¹⁷

Elizabeth married Edwin DUGMORE 14 Dec 1862 in Handsworth, Staffordshire, ENGLAND ⁶⁹. Born Circa 1843 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, ENGLAND ³⁸. Occupation Jeweller ³⁸.

Elizabeth and Edwin have been identified on the 1881 Census residing at 35 Ingleby Street, Birmingham. Edwin was aged 38 and described as a Jeweller. His wife, Elizabeth was aged 37. Living with them, were their children, Arthur, aged 15, a Tool Maker; Flora aged 13, a Jewellers Errand Girl; Lizzie aged 11, Harry 9 years, Amy 6 years, William 4 years and Ernest aged 1 year. The younger children were described as scholars, and all in the family were born in Birmingham. ³⁸

Mary Jane appeared on the 1851 Census with her parents, brothers and sisters, in the family home at No. 5 Carven St, Birmingham (St. Paul). She was 2 years old. ¹⁷

Ann Williams an unmarried 28 year old and her 3 children, Harry aged 12, Rose aged 9 and Gertrude aged 3 were living in the home of Clara and William Phibbs at the time of the 1881 Census. It is believed that Ann is Clara's sister.

Pictured right with here daughter, Floss.

To date Clara's birth has not been positively identified. There are 6 entries on the St. Catherine's House Index to Births for Clara's born between 1852-1857:

A letter to the Register Office, Birmingham in 1990 indicated that they were unable to trace a birth certificate in respect of Clara daughter of Henry WILLIAMS between 1855-1860. A request for the two 1856 entries, resulted in neither having a father named, Henry. The 1854 entry is the daughter of James.

The only Clara baptism found on the IGI with a father named Henry is for Clara Ann daughter of Henry and Frances christened 9 Mar 1856, St. George, Birmingham. This entry fits with the birth in 1st Quarter of 1856 above. A Henry WILLIAMS married a Frances PARKINS on 20 Oct 1841 at Aston Juxta, Birmingham.

The link with of Clara to the Henry and Mary Williams family has come through the following:

Is it however possible that Isabella is a sister of Clara and that their father Henry was married to Mary and then to Frances? Research undertaken by Joan Edge of Castle Bromwich, Birmingham revealed that the Henry WILLIAMS married to Frances was a jeweller and that the Henry WILLIAMS married to Mary was a cordwainer. Joan's research also revealed the baptism of an illegitimate child Florence Mary born to Isabella in 1865.

It is hoped that positive identification on either the 1861 or 1871 Census records may clarify this further.

They were married in the Parish Church of St. John, Ladywood and both were over 21 years of age. At the time, William's father, Paul was described as a Tube Maker, and Clara's father, Henry, as Shoemaker. The witnesses to their marriage were John Gilbert and Mary Sharratt. Both William and John signed the register whilst Clara and Mary both signed with their marks. ³

They had the following children:

Clara, her husband William and their daughter, Florence Louisa have been identified on the 1881 Census Index residing at 9 Court 5 House New Summer St, Birmingham. William was aged 22 years, his occupation listed as Pearl Ivory and Tortoise Shell Turner. He and all his family were born in Birmingham. Clara was aged 25 years and their daughter Florence aged 1 year.

Also listed at the same address, as a lodger, was Ann Williams an unmarried 28 year old and her 3 children, Harry aged 12, Rose aged 9 and Gertrude aged 3. It is believed that Ann is a sister of Clara's.

Clara was the informant at the registration of her daughter Clara's birth in 1889 and her son, Stephen's in 1892. On both occasions she signed only with her mark.

Family believed that William died when Clara was about 2 yrs of age. His death has since been found on the St. Catherine's House Indexes in 2nd Qtr of 1894, in the district of Aston, Vol. 6d, page 184. Clara would have been 5 years old at this time. His death certificate has not yet been purchased.

Although not noted as deceased at the time of her daughter's marriage, it would seem likely that she is the one noted on the St. Catherine's House Death Indexes for a Clara PHIBBS aged 55 yrs at Aston in 1912 3rd Q. 6d.221.

Floss's birth has been identified on the St. Catherine's House indexes. Her birth was registered in the 2nd Quarter of 1880 in the District of Birmingham, Vol 6d Page 142.

Floss has also been identified on the 1881 Census Index aged 1 year. She was residing with her parents, William and Clara at Birmingham.

Little is known about Floss and her family although it is known that they remained in Birmingham. I have a photograph of Floss with one of her sons (pictured right).

She married James FLOYD and they had the following children:

It is understood that William remained in England. No further details of him or his family are known.

Alice's birth was registered in the 2nd Quarter of 1884 in the district of Aston (Birmingham), Vol 6d Page 245.

They had the following children:

It is understood that Albert and his family immigrated to Australia c1926.

He died of Cerebral Thrombosis in Lidcombe Hospital and is buried at Rookwood Cemetery.

May immigrated to Australia in 1915 together with her sister Clara. She was also a witness at her sister, Clara's marriage later that year.

It is understood that May was seeing Walter Coppock, however, he began courting her sister, Alice after she migrated to Australia and later married her.

Clara is the sixth child of William Phibbs and Clara Williams and was born in Bradford St, Aston, her mother was the informant. ¹

Clara arrived in Australia on 7 February, 1915 on the "Ballarat" where she met her future husband, Sam a fellow passenger. Although her daughters believed she travelled to Australia on her own, the shipping records indicate that an M. Phibbs was also on board. This is most likely her sister, May, who was also a witness at her marriage.

It is understood that Clara went into service on her arrival in Sydney, but that she kept in contact with Arthur as they married at St. Paul's Church, later that year on Christmas Eve. At the time, both gave their residence as Redfern. Arthur was described as a steelworker, while Clara did not have an occupation listed. Both their fathers' were reputedly deceased at the time. The witnesses to their marriage were J. Dalley and M. Phibbs, who is believed to be Clara's sister, May. ³

They had the following children:

The following notation is recorded on their marriage certificate:

In her later life, Clara resided with her youngest daughter, June.

Clara died at Lockwood St, Merrylands of a heart attack and is buried at Rookwood Cemetery by her legal name of Clara RAKE.