1851 Burselm, Staffs
William Spade, 25, Coal Miner, b. Chester
ELiza Spade, 24, wife, Trentham, STF
Alfred Cotton, 4, Stepson, Birmingham
William Spade, 3 and Julia Spade, 6 months
1861 Norton, STF
Alfred is listed with the surname Spode and still has Birmingham for birth place
William, 35 - Eliza, 34 - Alfred, 15 - William, 11 - Julia 10 and Eliza 7
It might be wise to order his birth certificate - District Warwick , Sep Quarter, Volume 16, Page 534
William Spode married Eliza COtton Mar Quarter, 1848 - Stoke on Trent - Vol 17 - page 209
There is a Eliza Cotton in 1841 in Stoke on Trent who may be yours - her father is John lloyd Cotton
I would suggest getting the marriage certificate as it would give her father's name - also it would say if she was a spinster or previously married - It may be that she had been shortly married and her husband died - there is a death for an Alfred Cotton registered in Birmingham Dec Quarter of the year your Alfred was born
The birth certificate would show if the mother was married
You could also try contacting the local Family History group, they may have other suggestions
Alfred married Ann Woodcock on the 22 August 1869 aged 23, his father's name is given as, what looks like, Eliza!!?? Or should it be Elijah but it definitely looks like Eliza and comparing the Registras writing with the other information on the certificate it definitely starts with an E, with 5 letters in total with the fourth letter being a Z!
Thank you for the information regarding the death of an Alfred Cotton. I had not thought to check for a death around the date of birth and I have not been in touch with the local Family History group. I appreciate your help and suggestions. Andrea
Oct-Nov-Dec 1847
Aston
Warwickshire
Also found this one and Aston is not that far off Birmingham that Birmingham might be used as a census birthplace
Otherwise I'd suggest looking for the baptism in the church closest to her address when she married.