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Clearly, illiteracy and Irish accents produced multiple English interpretations of Irish surnames in the mid-19th century. I have an Irish 1823 baptism record for my g-g-grandfather Thomas Geherty and several post 1845 records after he emigrated to London, wherein his surname is spelled Garretty/Garritty.

After years of searching, I've located his brother Patrick and his wife in the 1841 census (Brick Lane, St Luke Old Street, London, Middlesex). Their surname was recorded as Garby, while on their marriage certificate it is spelled Garty. I have not been able to locate him (Patrick) or his wife (Mary) nee Magaim/Ragun in any subsequent census records. Both their ages were rounded down to 25 in the 1841 census, so they could have been 25 to 29 years old, and their marriage certificate recorded their ages simply as "full age"

Patrick's documented occupations included 'gas lighter' and 'stoker at gas factory'.

Patrick's 7-year-old daughter, Bridget, was living with Patrick's brother, Thomas in 1851, but they also had a daughter, Elizabeth Garratty, born 27 June 1846, Old Street, St. Luke.

If anyone can locate Patrick and his wife, Mary, in the 1851 census – a challenge given the variables – I would be forever grateful. Thank you.

Jack

My ggrandfather Peter Christopher Garraty worked at the Premier Hotel (unrelated to the current Premier Inns chain) which was located at 120 Southampton Row, Russell Square. The hotel was sold in 1911 and I expect the name was changed at that time. I have a postcard image of the Hotel's facade as well as a postcard addressed to Peter at the hotel's address. Census records indicate that Peter Garraty spent most of his life working at several London hotels both as a clerk and a waiter.
 
My challenge is that internet searches containing the word "hotel" tend to focus on contemporary accommodations, and I am unable to find any history of the Premier Hotel. If anyone knows of a source for this hotel's history (date built/founded, description, hotel records, etc.), I would be extremely grateful.

Thank you.
Union Jack

I have spent hours scanning 19th century maps of Clerkenwell, London for "St James Buildings", the 1841 address of my ancestors, Ellen & Elizabeth Sookin/Seokin without success. The census details, provided several years ago from a Rootschat member were:

HO107/660  bk 7  folio 22  page 35 - St James Buildings,  St James, Clerkenwell [Finsbury]

Can anyone provide me with a precise location with respect to streets/landmarks from census information, a street index or any other means, please? 

Thanks in advance,
Jack

My gggrandfather, William Laurence COLLIER was, according to his marriage certificate, living at 2 Westbourne Street, Eaton Square, London in March of 1862 and reported his birthplace as Pimlico, London in the 1871 census return. It is very likely that he lived with his father (also William) at the same address a year earlier when the 1861 census was taken. Again, based on the marriage certificate, he was a cabinet maker (as was his father) & would have been 25 years old in 1861. I don't know the names of any of his siblings or his mother.

I've failed to find him in any on-line search for a census prior to 1871 or in any civil registration index search, though every post-1871 document indicates that he lived his entire life in London.

Thank you,
Union Jack

I'm desperately seeking a postcard, the image of which was used adjacent to page 47 in Dr. Robert Troup’s book, "Walking Backwards In Rhynie".  It depicts a thatched, stone cottage which belonged to my family in the early 19th century. The postcard was titled “The Auld Hoose,” Essie, Rhynie.  I purchased a copy of the book in a Huntly bookshop during a visit to Scotland in 2007, but it appears to have been published on a photocopier and the quality of the reproduction in the 2000 edition of the book is hardly discernible .

I trust you will appreciate how precious this image is to our family since the building no longer exists in it's original form.  I have been attempting to locate a copy for two years and I'm worried that it will soon be lost forever.  If you know of or have a copy of the postcard or a good quality reproduction of the image, I would be most happy to address any expense associated with searching, reproduction, shipping, etc.

My sole purpose for acquiring this image is its preservation for future generations of my family.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my request.

Regards,
Union Jack