John Francis Meillear and Ann (nee Stanfield) in 1861 please

[BassinghamTerrier]

Hi all
I'm finding this one rather tough. I've just discovered that Ann Stanfield married John Francis Meillear (born 26 Oct 1831, Woolwich) in the March Q 1853 at Woolwich St. Mary. I know that they went on to produce two children - Rachel Llewellyn Meillear (b.4 March 1854, Woolwich) and George Meillear (b. c1858, Woolwich) - before Ann died on 11 September 1862 and was buried five days later in Greenwich.

But I simply can't find them in 1861, probably because I'm not using the 'wild card' search system properly.
Part of the problem is that I do not know where Ann was born, neither do I know when, although I would hazard a guess at somewhere between 1823 and 1827 in Greenwich or Woolwich. I know that she is a daughter of James Stanfield and Ann Murray, sister of Rachel (born c1826, again place unknown).

To further confuse the issue there are two Stanfield girls in the 1851 census, Rachel and Anne, both cooks to military men but both born in the Channel Islands and I can neither confirm nor deny whether or not these are the two sisters as I cannot find baptisms for either girl, whereas I CAN find Woolwich baptisms for their three younger brothers born between 1827 and 1832. Even more annoying is that I know that Rachel (born c1826) definitely WAS a military cook in 1866 when she was married to Sgt-Maj William Swanson Ross out in Toronto.

I know that John Francis Meillear then goes on to remarry in 1863, this time to Helen Dunn and I have found him with the older children and a new child, Francis, in 1871, no problem.

Can anyone please oblige with the 1861?
Thanks in anticipation,

MT

[avm228]

Unfortunately Woolwich Arsenal is one of the pieces known to be missing from the 1861 census, which may explain the difficulty in finding them.

[BassinghamTerrier]

Unfortunately Woolwich Arsenal is one of the pieces known to be missing from the 1861 census, which may explain the difficulty in finding them.

Oh, thanks - I didn't know that.

MT

[amondg]

Rachel Stanfield married William Ross a sergeant in the Royal Artillery 26 June 1857 St Mary Woolwich.
His father was Alexander Ross, Dyer
Her father is James Stanfield, Warder/Warden
#311 in register
Witness A Curry and Ann Miller/( Meillear)

1841 Census Charlton near Woolwich living in Sprays Buildings
Ann Stanfield 40 not born England
Rachel 15 born Kent
George age 10 born Kent
1841 New Road Charlton near Woolwich
Ann Stanfield age 15 born Kent female servant

[amondg]

The register records James Stanfield Occupation as Pensioner Royal Artillery for the baptism of sons George and William.

Try to get the records of his service.
1)the two girls may have been baptized at a military chapel
2) it will give the date of his marriage, when and where etc.
3) it will give a description of him, height, complexion etc.
4) his date of birth

Added for son James born 11 August 1827 he is a gunner/Royal Artillery

So he retired from the military between 1827 and 1829

[BassinghamTerrier]

Yes, thanks amondg - I already have that info. Thanks for digging anyway.
Perhaps I should have included it ...

This is probably James Stanfield -> http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14443570 but I don't think it's going to help me.

It's just the 1861 for Ann and her family which is eluding me and making it hard to pin down her place of birth.

MT

[amondg]

There is a James Stanfield of the right age who leaves London bound for New York in 1835. Is he your man?

The pension document would tell you his date of death, and the address where the money was sent.
He is not around in 1841.
The service part of the document will tell you exactly where he was stationed when the girls Rachel and Ann were born allowing you to narrow down your search for a baptism record as you will need to check non conformist records as well as C of E. Re: son James 1827 baptized at the Scottish Church.

[BassinghamTerrier]

I haven't got around to 'pulling' that document yet.
Certainly his wife Ann is on her own, albeit with Rachel and George, in 1841 and she is widowed by 1851, so it is a possibility, but I wonder why James might go, leaving his wife with four children? Unless, perhaps, that's EXACTLY why he went!

MT

[BassinghamTerrier]

There is a James Stanfield of the right age who leaves London bound for New York in 1835. Is he your man?

The pension document would tell you his date of death, and the address where the money was sent.
He is not around in 1841.
The service part of the document will tell you exactly where he was stationed when the girls Rachel and Ann were born allowing you to narrow down your search for a baptism record as you will need to check non conformist records as well as C of E. Re: son James 1827 baptized at the Scottish Church.

Just a quick query - are you sure that the pension document would reveal the details of his service? I have only seen a couple of pension documents of this period but they tend to be just a line of information with enlistment and discharge dates with a reason for the pension.
I also ask because it's £8.24 for a page check for this and then there's a further charge for the copying.
Is it going to be worthwhile?

MT