Morning all,

Can anyone help with the below - I believe one of my ancestors may have changed their name at a young age.

I have been to look at the parish records and can not find Thomas Bishop (born 1835c) anywhere.

Based on his marriage certificate I know his father was called Thomas. When I looked at the records I could only find a William Bishop born to a Thomas Bishop (b1806) in Gilmorton, that fitted the rough timeline. Details below.

William Bishop born June 25th 1837. Census record of 1841 - has him as Thomas Bishop age 5. (I know a 2 year difference isn't much).

Is this normal to change a name so young?

This is the order I have the children in, which matches the 1841/51 census based on other births I found for Thomas (1806). His oldest brother was called William (2 william's in one house???)

William Bishop
1826 – alive in 1841
Henry Bishop
1828 –
Mary Bishop
1830 –
Sarah Bishop
1832 –
Thomas Bishop (possibly William Bishop on parish records)
1835 – 1902

So...could this be right?

Apologies for the rambling!

Rich

1851. Is it this one?

BISHOP, Thomas Head Married M 45 1806 Farmer
Gilmorton, Leicestershire
BISHOP, Ann Wife Married F 45 1806
Gilmorton, Leicestershire
BISHOP, Mary Daughter Unmarried F 27 1824
Gilmorton, Leicestershire
BISHOP, Sally Daughter Unmarried F 19 1832
Gilmorton, Leicestershire
BISHOP, Thomas Son M 16 1835 Farm Labourer
Gilmorton, Leicestershire
BISHOP, Robert Lodger Widower M 77 1774 Pauper
Gilmorton, Leicestershire

Piece: 2078 Folio: 267 Page: 4 Registration District: Lutterworth Civil Parish: Gilmorton Municipal Borough: Address: Gilmorton County: Leicestershire

1841

BISHOP, Thos M 35 1806 Leicestershire
BISHOP, Ann F 35 1806 Leicestershire
BISHOP, William M 16 1825 Leicestershire
BISHOP, Henry M 13 1828 Leicestershire
BISHOP, Mary F 9 1832 Leicestershire
BISHOP, Sarah F 7 1834 Leicestershire
BISHOP, Thomas M 5 1836 Leicestershire

Piece: 598 Book/Folio: 4/6 Page: 5 Registration District: Lutterworth Civil Parish: Gilmorton Municipal Borough: Address: Gilmorton, Gilmorton County: Leicestershire

They all appear to have been baptised apart from Thomas. I can find William baptised 1825 but I can't find another William baptised in 1837 to the same couple?

Hi,

That is the family. It is Thomas, born 1835 who I can't find on parish records. Only a William born that year to Thomas and Ann.

On his marriage certificate in 1860 his father is listed as Thomas a butcher...a little white lie I believe

So who married in 1860 Thomas or William? and where did they marry?

My initial question may not have been clear.

I am trying to work out if Thomas born 1835 could have actually been called William, but had his name changed to Thomas while an infant

I very much doubt it. They already had a William born in 1825 so it is doubtful they would have called another child William. I think you have maybe gone off track here somewhere.

if you give me the details of the marriage I will try and trace it back for you.

Thanks.

I believe my tree is correct, however it was the fact I couldn't find Thomas in parish records.

His marriage certificate shows the following - Thomas Bishop marries Zillah Warrington in Roghley, Nov14th 1860

His age is listed as 26 and profession is Labourer. His father being Thomas Bishop, profession Butcher.

On the 1861 Thomas Bishop who married Zillah is shown as being born in Gilmorton.

As farmers were often also butchers it's possible that Thomas just left out the Farmer bit when he married.
I can't find anything different to the information you already have. It's just annoying that there is no baptism for Thomas to settle this.

something to bear in mind; many children were oftentimes known by their middle name especially when their 1st name was the same as dad