Dears,
since a couple of years I am looking for my 3rd great-grandfather, William Henry Graham, who seems to appear out of nothing.
The earliest mention of his existance is his marriage in Claypole, Lincolnshire, in 1852. The certificate gives his profession as cabinet maker, residence: Hastings, Sussex, and father: George Grayham, machinist.
After their marriage, the couple went to live in London.
All census records give his date and place of birth as 1819, Brighton, Sussex.
The problem is that there is absolutely nothing on him neither in Brighton nor in Sussex. he is absolutely untraceable. I even paid a professional genealogist to help, but no luck.
Another strange thing is that he was 33 when he married. Though not impossible, it seems quite late when I compare it to the rest of my tree.
Now... Watching one of the most recent episodes of Who Do You Think You Are? made me wonder about something. I knew about the great famine etc, but didn't really make a link with my family since none are based in Ireland. But when they said that the peak of Irish immigration into England was in the 1840's, I started thinking...
Is it possible/plausible that the reason I can't find anything on WH Graham before 1852 is that few years before that, he came from Ireland? There is quite a large number of Graham's there.
Would he have lied about his birth place to disguise his Irish descent? Or is my fantasy having a run with me?
If it is plausible that he actually came from Ireland, is there a way to find out when and whence he came? Did immigrants have to register somewhere? Where did most of them arrive? Liverpool? Or maybe Brighton?
I searched on ancestry for any Irish WH Graham's at that time, but no luck so far.
Any thoughts/tips/help are welcome!
Regards,
Tom