COMPLETED - George Coote - b.1859 - St James, London, England - my brick wall

[Lessa]

My GG Grandfather, George Coote, married Lucy Laurie Clarke on 8 November 1896 at St Mark's Walworth, Newington, London. George was 37 and a wharf labourer; his father James was deceased but had been a horse-keeper.

I have plenty of records about him afterwards from his 3 sons baptism records (George Francis, William Henry & Albert Charles); the 1901 census where the family was transcribed as 'Coster' which gives his year of birth as about 1859 and birthplace as 'St James, London, England'; and various electoral registers. I think that he was the George Coote who died in Apr-Jun 1903 in Camberwell as Lucy remarried in 1905.

I'm really struggling to find any records of his life before his marriage. I have found a possible in the 1881 census living at 15 Snowsfields, Bermondsey:

James Coote       Head    44  Butcher     Essex, Shalford
Ann Coote               Wife     30                  Wales, Aberyswith
George Coote       Son      23 Carman      London
Edward W. Coote   Son   15 Butcher     London
Mary Evans       Visitor   23 Dressmaker  Wales, Aberyswith

but I've been looking at it for many years and I'm still unsure whether it is the family. It also doesn't help as I can't find any records for the family on the 1861/71/91 censuses to try and dismiss them as a possibility. I do realise that if it is the family then Ann can't be George's mother as she is only 7 years older than him.

Any help would be most appreciated, even to narrowing down which parish records I should search for a birth in 'St James, London'.

Thanks for reading.

[DORAN54]

hi if George coote age 23 is  james son then he must have been married before

[Lessa]

Hi, yes I had noticed that, and did mention it above but may not have given it sufficient prominence. It did take me the longest time to notice it originally though *blush*. Thanks

[toffeebear]

Hi Lessa! Welcome to Rootschat! 

Have you seen this 1871 census on familysearch?

Berwick Street, St James, Middlesex
John J COATE  34   Stratford, Essex
Mary A "          34   St James
Mary A "          15    "
George "          12   "
John J   "          7   "
Edward W "      5    "
Charles   "        2     "

I think this would fit the 1881 census you have, although I haven't seen the original. Maybe it's John James?

Toffee 

[toffeebear]

Hi again!
On FreeBMD there is a marriage between John James Coote and Ann Evans, Sep quarter 1880, St Olave 1d 360.

Also, I saw a Mary Ann Coote birth in Bethnal Gn, June quarter 1856, 1c 254. Maybe that is the registration name to look at.

Toffee   

[toffeebear]

Hi!

There is a George HENRY Coote registered in December quarter 1858 in Bethnal Green, 1c 269. There are however a couple of marriages in that area of George Henry Coote as well, so may not be him. You don't mention whether he was married before Lucy?

There is a death of a Mary Coote in March 1872, aged 36, in Westminster (1a 312), which would fit the Mary A Coote, mother, on the 1871 census.

I also noticed a John James Coote on familysearch born in Shalford, Essex. But I'll let you have a look at that one. 


Hope some of that helps!

Night,
Toffee 

[Lessa]

Hi Lessa! Welcome to Rootschat! 

Have you seen this 1871 census on familysearch?

Berwick Street, St James, Middlesex
John J COATE  34   Stratford, Essex
Mary A "          34   St James
Mary A "          15    "
George "          12   "
John J   "          7   "
Edward W "      5    "
Charles   "        2     "

I think this would fit the 1881 census you have, although I haven't seen the original. Maybe it's John James?

Toffee 

I've just found the family on Ancestry so I could look at the image. It does look like Coate but has been transcribed as Crate!

John J is from Shalford, Essex which has lots of Coote's so that definitely fits. Occupation is Packer.

I shall now go look at see if I can fit all the family information together and see if it works *crosses fingers*

Thanks so much! I shall report back when I have it sorted.


And, no, George is marked as a bachelor when he married Lucy.

[Lessa]

Well after much looking I can't see any reason why John James can't be my George's father.

I have found a few births in St James, Westminster:

Q. Jun 1853   Thomas John
Q. Mar 1861   Elizabeth Anne
Q. Jun 1863   John James
q. Mar 1869   Charles

So the last 2 fit with John James family, and there is a death for an Elizabeth Anne Coote in Marylebone in Q. Jun 1862. I can't find any more records for Thomas John.

There is a baptism in 1837 for a James Coote in Shalford, Essex and I can only find one family there in 1841 where he is also called James. Can't quite understand why after so many years he would suddenly choose to use the name John James but I'm not ready to dismiss it as a possibility yet.

I still can't find a possible in 1861.

I think it may be time to bite the bullet and buy some of the certificates to see what turns up.

Thanks for your help. Much appreciated.

[toffeebear]

My pleasure 

Hope it turns out to be the right family! Fingers crossed!

Toffee