Something else to consider - I have found a George Edwards whose parents were named John and Martha, he was born in Cheshire, father originally Agricultural Labourer but in 1881 he is a gamekeepers assistant! Both John and Martha's deaths recorded in Dec.qtr.1889 Whitchurch, Shropshire. (They lived in Marbury, Cheshire which came under the registration district of nearby Whitchurch, Shropshire).
However, this George is shown bc.1863 on 1871/1881 census BUT in 1881 he is a groom!!! He then 'vanishes' in English records. I wonder when George met and married Mary Burke he knocked a few years off his age as he was some 7/8 years older than her.
At this point, things seem to fit. However, neither George or any of his siblings appear to have had their births registered, cannot trace baptisms either but if mother Martha was a Martha Curran sounds like her family were from an Irish background and probably Catholic which could explain why we cannot find any baptisms. Neither can I find a definite marriage for a John and Martha (Curran or otherwise) marrying ca.1849 without knowing Martha's maiden name from childrens births which appear to be unregistered. I don't know how one goes about finding Catholic baptisms for Cheshire as I understand they are quite detailed.
From 1851 through to 1881 John and Martha are living in Marbury, Cheshire - their respective ages/birthplaces suggest they were born ca.1825/6 in Malpas/Marbury and that all their children were born in Marbury - Sarah bc.1850, Elizabeth bc.1852, Eliza bc.1859, George bc.1863, Emily bc.1865, John bc.1869 and Alice E. bc.1872. None of the births were registered.
In 1881 George Edwards is working as a groom in Newhall, Cheshire but can find no trace of a George Edwards bc.1863 Marbury in census after then which is when 'your' George Edwards bc.1867 appears. Same person???
By 1891 your George was in Ireland, 1901 in Scotland where he died 3 years later.
In 1901 the brother of George Edwards bc.1863 Marbury i.e. John bc.1869 is married and living in Marbury - occupation Under Gamekeeper (following in fathers footsteps).
The parents - John and Martha - both have their deaths registered in Dec.qtr.1889 Whitchurch.
So frustrating not to be able to establish Martha's maiden name as childrens births not registered. If, however, they were indeed Catholics (or maybe just Martha was) if the children were baptised in a Catholic church their records are usually very detailed.
In conclusion with a John and Martha, links to gamekeeping, son George a groom who vanishes from English census after 1881 when 'your George first pops up you can see why I think this family looks a strong contender albeit 4 years older than your man says he was. I think it quite likely as Mary was so much younger than him that he knocked off a few years.
I'll leave it with you anyway.
Annette
