LEES James, living or working at GrangeMore Upper in 1838

[polyprop]

I am hoping someone may be able to give advise please regarding my Irish brickwall.  The name of my great-great grandmother.  I am fairly sure that she died in February 1872 - an entry in a birthday book.  Her husband was James Lees supposedly born in Cumberland 1803 - I can't confirm that. This info comes from a pedegree chart from a relation of mine which is full of errors.  James died in 1887 - I can't confirm that either in Ireland or England.  Brother was William.  Have found a James, a John, a William, and an Andrew on Griffiths Valuation site in that area.

My grandfather John Lees was born 1838, at Grangemore Upper - Uk census 1911.  So his parents are definitely in Ireland in 1838.  John first appears in the 1871 UK census.  He married in 1870 in Buckingham.  I have lots of info re him so that is not my problem.

James may have had the following children
Annie b. 1831 - = Wheeler - I cannot find that marriage
Elizabeth b. 1833
Agnes b. 1834
Rebecca b. 1836 - = Gooth - found a Gouch and a Gooch marriage -birth dates are way out.
John b. 1838 - Grangemore Upper - marriage names his father as James
James b. 1841 - a printer - 1881 UK census
William b. 1843 - 1871 census says b. 1849 living with John and his wife Mary Ann (Mose)

John had a daughter Agnes Martha.  Martha was her grandmother on her mother's side.

Was she named after two grandmothers or her aunt on her father's side and grandma on her mother's side!  Haven't found a death for an Agnes Lees in 1872.

I have two wills of James/John Lees dying in late 1880's early 1890's in Londonerry, Ireland - the beneficiaries don't compute.
Any help would be fantastic!
Margaret
NZ

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
   A little more information for you. The 1831 census (most of it still survives for Co. Londonderry) shows a John Lees as head of household in Grange More Upper. In the nearby townland of Ballywildrick Beg there are four households of Lees, Samuel, James, Margaret and Robert. Unfortunately the census only names the head of household, the number  of males and females in the house and their religion. I only have a list of names.

Regards

[GrannyM]

Hi, is this John's family in 1881?

John Lees 42 commercial clerk b. Ireland
Mary Ann Lees 36 b. Middlesex, london
Agnes Martha Lees 8
William James Lees 4
John Blair Lees 2
Henry Berry Lees 6 mnths
Ada Maria Ball NIECE b. Devonshire

Living in Walton on the Hill. all children born Walton.

Just wondering if you know where the surnames of Blair and Berry come into things ......could be a clue to  John's mother's maiden name?

[GrannyM]

Hi, me again

Hope this isn't a red herring/ you have already considered & discounted this but...
in 1871 there is a James Lees age 66 storehouse keeper born Ireland living with his wife Agnes age 61 also born Ireland, son James age 30 Printers ? (same one you have found in 1881?), and Rebecca age 17 scholar, in Everton. The same James and Agnes are in Tranmere, Birkenhead 11 Booth St. in 1881 age 77 and 72 , James is a retired warehouse keeper. There appears to be 2 deaths on www.cheshirebmd.org.uk  for James in 1890 age 86 and Agnes in 1882 age 72. This doesn't fit in with the death dates you have though

Maybe as you said before , John's daughter was named after the two grandmothers....Agnes and Martha?

[GrannyM]

Re Rebecca:
'Rebecca b. 1836 - = Gooth - found a Gouch and a Gooch marriage -birth dates are way out.'

The Rebecca Lees who married Henry Gooch is given as born around 1854 in all the census' post marriage. The Rebecca in 1871 census at home with parents James and Agnes is 17 years of age and therefore also born around 1854. Is the 1836 birth year you mentioned previously based on family hearsay ?

[glensman]

The census search forms have a family of Lees in the townland of Ballywildrick Lower in the 1841 census.  Possibly not the correct family but might help with elimination of some names:

http://censussearchforms.nationalarchives.ie/search/cs/details.jsp?id=40443

[GrannyM]

PM sent

[polyprop]

Thank you, thank you, to all of you. 

GrannyM I think you may have cracked it in your PM!

Yes, that is my John in the 1881 census
his son John Blair could well be named after one grandfather
his son Henry Berry - Berry is his grandmother's maiden name on his mother's side, so Henry could be his mother's father's name.  Oh how exciting!

Rebecca b. 1854 could be my Rebecca.

I have lots of research to do.
So I will close this topic off.


thank you all once again
Margaret

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
   The full 1831 census information for John Lees of Grange More.
Building Number 8. 1 family. Household consisted of 6 males and one female.  All were Presbyterians.

Regards