Cleopas Watts from Quorndon

[GerryS]

Hi,
I wonder can anyone help me find out what happened to Cleopas Watts? He is my gggrandfather and married Hannah Cook in Quorndon on 8 Jun 1835. There are 2 children ,that I know of, Pharoah (yes really!!!! born in Quorndon in 1836 and Eliza in 1837. In the 1841 census Hannah Watts is living with Cleopas's parents and the children. I can find no trace of him in any of the census's on A***, freeBMD records, IGI or L&RFHS burial records. I have tried also under Cleophas and other variations. Where could he be? Maybe he died between 1837 and 1841 but that is just a guess.
Pharoah is pretty easy to trace through the census's until his death in 1899 though his mother is also elusive after 1841.
I hope someone can help!
Thanks for looking
Gerry

[lizdb]

Seems likely he dies just before Civil Registation started.
You'd be best having a look through burial records for Quorndon - can you get to teh Leics Record Office?
If not, I hope someone on here has access or can get there for you.

I cant see Eliza's birth, so I guess she was born just before Civil Registraton began too.

[GerryS]

Hi Liz,
Thanks for the message. It seems most likely that he did die before Civil registration. And I am in Berkshire so it is not so easy to get to the Leics Records Office, perhaps some kind soul could do a look up please?
Thanks again
Gerry

[Mike from Leicester]

Greeting’s…& Welcome ……..Gerry……….

Interesting details held within Pharaoh’s Marriage to Ann. ?
St: Margaret’s Parish Church. Leicester.
Entry No.405,  JUN 25,th 1860, after Banns
PHARAOH WATTS, 24, Widower. TAILOR, of Baker St,
Son . of JOHN WATTS,…. LOOM HAND

ANN BEASLEY, 19, Spinster. of Lee St,
Daughter. of William Beasley, coal dealer
Wits: John Gray, Miley? Bailey.

Having looked at the 1841 Census returns …
I took it that Pharaoh was the Child of John & Ann
By the way it was set out putting Pharaoh before Hannah
By the Enumerators Mark.... /
which shows a different Family group
within the household of John & Ann 
so making him the Son of John & Ann.
Or was it done this way to save face of Hannah. ?

Eliza comes below Hannah Watts indicating Eliza belongs to Hannah

By 1851 John & Ann had moved to Leicester……
Pharaoh ( Apprentice Tailor) is now down as a Grandson of John & Ann.

Pharaoh’s & Ann’s burial details :~
Welford Road Cemetery.

Plot No’. U. B. 359.
B   359   F   Watts   Ann   1889   Nov   6   Aged.48   
Victoria Street Lee Street   Saint Margaret   64861

B   359   F   Beasley   Eliza   1894   Nov   21   76   
Knighton Street   Saint Mary   75655

B   359   F   Watts   Pharaoh   1899   Jul   4   Aged.63   
The Workhouse   Leicester   85640

Sorry no sign of your Cleopas Burial  showing up on my Burial data...

MIKE………..

[GerryS]

Hi Mike
Thank you very much for all that, very interesting and helpful indeed. I believe Pharoah was the son of Cleopas and Hannah as per IGI record for Quorndon baptism 14 Feb 1836. and as you mention on the 1851 census he is clearly stated as the grandson of John.
Its sad to see Pharoah end up in the workhouse, I believe he was made bankrupt in 1891, prior to that he was a shoe manufacturer.
I wonder what could have happened to Cleopas though? I'm wondering if he also went by the name of John, or perhaps his grandfather attended at the marriage and the registrar wrote him down as the father?
Thanks again Mike
Gerry

[Mike from Leicester]

Greeting’s Again Gerry.

You asked :~
“or perhaps his grandfather attended at the marriage and the registrar wrote him down as the father?”

The marriage Register details are written down by either the officiating Minister or the Parish Clark before hand
as a true record……. and solemnised by their oaths and
Pharaoh & Ann’s signatures. ……
Remember that a Marriage document is a legal document……
Therefore when asked about who was your Father. ….
 he had to tell the truth. ….
Otherwise face prosecution……

MIKE……

[GerryS]

Hi Again Mike,
Thanks for your clarification. If we can assume that both of Pharoah's parents (Cleopas and Hannah)died when Pharoah was very young  is it possible that Pharoah's grandparents became his guardians and thus John is stated as the father (i.e. his guardian in this instance)? I cannot see any other possibility apart from their being two Pharoah Watts, but I think that is too unlikely??
And Cleopas? If he died in Quorndon I would asume he would be in the burial register. So I presume he died away from the parish or from Leicestershire?
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Many thanks again
Gerry

[Ebch]

Hello Gerry
Cleopas Watts is surely an unusual name - so would this piece in the Leicester Chronicle Feb 1858 fit?

"Filial affection - Cleopas Watts appeared to a charge of assaulting his father, apparently a very old man but the magistrates recommended a settlement."

[Ebch]

and re 2 Pharoah Watts:
November 1889 - Deaths Ann, aged 48,  wife of Mr Pharoah Watts

August 1893 - A Pharoah Watts aged 59, a tailor, charged with assaulting wife Eliza from whom he had been seperated for 2yrs 6 months.

The Pharoah Watts married to Eliza is 5 yrs older than what stated re birth?
Are there two?