Hello Gill
With all family research it is a case of working
back from what we know to what we dont know and
maybe linking up with someone from a branch of
the family along the way. Most Chant connections
occur from the early 1800's or further back as
there are less people named Chant the further
back you get and this makes connections easier.
You mention you have your grandfather's Birth
Certificate which is a good start.
I gather from the Certificate you gained that
Frederick Chant was born on the 27th July 1885 in
Handsworth, Birmingham, England. He was the son of
Frederick Chant, a coachman.
You mention a brother Albert Chant (1887) You need
to get the Certificate for his birth.
Also have you got Frederick's Death Certificate for
1st March 1956 and marriage certificate to Florence
Helen Langford in 1914? You need to get them if you dont!
I gather from your elderly aunt you have Oral History
which needs to be treated with care but can be very useful.
interview your aunt and try to gain as much info asyou can.
This can be done in a casual way. Often repeat visits reveal
info your aunt may not have recalled earlier.
You mentioned "at the age of 31, Frederick Chant<Snr> died
when my great uncle was about 1 year old (I need to check
the records for this). That would be in 1889." Definately
need the Death Certificate to confirm this.
The assumption he was born in 1858, or thereabouts must be
treated with care. This is very uncertain and is unlikely
to be confirmed by the death certificate from the late 1880's
early 1890's.
"I believe his wife was Catherine Stevens." You need to
check for a marriage between Catherine Stevens and
Frederick Chant. Assuming Frederick born in 1885 was their
first child? maybe start in 1884/5 but be open to earlier
years than that.
"My aunt remembers he had a sister, possibly named Anne or
Annie, who married a Cotterill and also lived in Wilton Road."
This should be helpful to followup onup the parentage of your
Frederick Chant <Snr>. It should be set aside for the time
being. It of course would be great to come across a Chant
researcher with Annie Cotterill nee Chant in their family
branches but not everyone is researching their family history
and of the many that are, maybe 25% are on computers/internet etc.
Check if your Aunt knows of any letters with addresses from
family also check with everyone in the family you can about
family traditions, stories, photo's (Get Copies), Family Papers,
Heirlooms (Take photo's off).
The death and marriage certificates for Frederick need to be
obtained and also Albert's Birth Certificate. Check the 1891
Census in Handsworth, Birmingham, England for any and every
Frederick Chant aged about 4-8. If only one your lucky. Cross
reference check against an Albert aged 3? or so and maybe a
mother named Catherine Chant but she may have used a pet or
middle name so dont assume if no Catherine mentioned it is
wrong. Alternatively the mother being a Catherine Stevens
might be inaccurate.
So I suggest the four following items can be followed up
until you have more time when you retire.
Frederick Chant 1889? Death Certificate
Frederick Chant 1884? Marriage Certificate
Albert Chant 1887 Birth Certificate.
The first three can be searched for via the GRO BDM
films/fiche often referred to as the St. Catherine's
index.
William, Albert, Catherine and possibly others in 1891
Census? I am uncertain as to your access to the 1891
Census which depends on your location and time available
on weekends to visit libraries or repositories.
Think about becoming a member of your local Family
History Society who usually swap journals with many
other societies. They may also have books, Fiche on
the 1891 Census for the area your after. Check out
the local LDS family History Centre. They are free
though charge to access the films that often need
to be ordered in. You could request the 1891 Census
in Handsworth, Birmingham, England.
Some suggestions you can work on locally.
regards
Michael Cheeseman