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Here’s a question about genealogy research we just received:
“Hello, I am researching the Moxham family line in Niagara, New York. I was doing fine then hit a block with Fred E. Moxham from 1861. I have done checking everywhere I could think of. He married Anna Maurer. I know he died young. If I could just figure out his father’s name it would be a great help I believe. Any thoughts?”
Here is our response to the genealogy question we were asked:
Notice that in the 1892 New York State census they list Fred as born in the U.S.
See: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11684-14945-80?cc=1529100
Notice also that in the 1900 census his children state that the birth place of their father was New York.
See: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MS2F-X22
- Since he died in the Niagara County area—have you found copies of the probate file for his estate?
- Do you have his death certificate?
- Do you have a copy of their marriage certificate?
- What church did they attend?
- Did you find him in the 1870 census? 1880?
What do you make of the “other” Frederick Moxham living in Niagara County? He was born March 1830 in England.
In the 1880 census that other Frederick is 50 years old, his wife is 33 years old, and their oldest child is 12.
See: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MZX8-DMP
Their difference in age in the 1880 census allows room for him to have had a first wife—and if so, they could have been the parents of your Frederick. Let’s see where this takes us.
You need to run the church, probate, land and census records for both Moxham households to see where the connections to your Fred E. Moxham are.
You can obtain those records from your area FamilySearch Center.
See: https://familysearch.org/search/search/library_catalog#searchType=catalog&filtered=true&fed=false&collectionId=&catSearchType=place&searchCriteria=&placeName=New+York%2C+Niagara&author_givenName=&author_surname=
For example, there is a marriage certificate for your Frederick Moxham’s son: Howard Moxham marrying Ruby Banks on 23 Dec 1911 in Niagara, New York.
See: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F6SK-LWL
And here is the marriage certificate for his son: Harold Fred Moxham in 1909.
See: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F6SF-7PY
You want to see these marriage certificates to see if they give the city/state of birth of the father Frederick E. Moxham. Hopefully it will give you the city so you can then find his birth/baptismal certificates.
Try these suggestions and let me know what you find.