My apologies if you feel you have wasted your time on my behalf.
I did receive information re a birth for William Holmes in Formby in 1875 where the mother’s name is Harriet Holmes nee Bradshaw.
I have assumed, possibly incorrectly, that at that time the child’s surname must be the married name of the mother or her maiden name if the mother is unmarried.
The only marriage that I have found between a Joseph Holmes and Harriet Bradshaw is too early to be the Harriet on the death certificate in NSW.
I have then tried to find when William, Harriet and Joseph arrived in Australia.
Debra sent me an email on Friday advising that Harriet was not married to Joseph in England and that William was a Bradshaw. This makes the Formby birth incorrect.
Debra also said “The following info is pure speculation without documents but will hopefully give you something to work with so that you can find William’s birth.”
Please accept my thanks for all your efforts on my behalf and for the information that you have provided. I have given the details to Kerry who has Lettice Holmes in her family tree.
Regards
Jean