British subject born in Switzerland

[spope74]

Hello Everyone,
I am looking for any advice or help that you can give me in tracing a birth/baptism, or indeed any other information for my Great x2 grandfather John Charles Markee.
In the 1891 census he is shown as BS born in Switzerland in approx. 1850.  His marriage certificate states his father's name as Joseph Markee.  He was married in a catholic church in 1874 in Wolverhampton, England, and died in 1908 in Wolverhampton.
Does anyone know how I can search for a birth in Switzerland?  I want to try to research his parents and any siblings he may have had.
Many thanks in advance.
Sam

[PaulineJ]

Is the nephew in 1891 on his or his wife's side?

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W4MT-TT2

[spope74]

I have no idea, I'm just looking now.  John Charles Markee's wife was called Mary Kilroy.  I'm just looking for the nephew's birth or baptism.  Somehow I've missed this nephew on previous searches!

[spope74]

I've just found him as a nephew on the Kilroy side, not the Markee side.

[pb_devon]

To research in Switzerland, you have to know the "place of origin" of the family, see here for general info http://kunden.eye.ch/swissgen/schweiz-en.html. There are no central records.
However there is a central database of Swiss surnames http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/famn/index.php?lg=e and the nearest to Markee is Marckees in Tartar, Graubunden.
Try familysearch (seems to be down at the moment), or this forum https://www.geneal-forum.com/phpbb/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=56 (register and post in english and mods will translate).
Paul

[garstonite]

make a note of this - there is a slim chance it may be Joseph his dad ? have you found Joseph on a UK Census ?? it is certainly not a common name ..
Baptism: 20 Dec 1807 All Saints, Wigan, Lancashire, England
 Josiah Markee - sixth Son of Peter Markee & Alice (formerly Millington)
     Born: 20 Nov
     Abode: Orrell
     Occupation: Carpenter
     Mother's Parents: Thomas & Isabella Millington
     Register: Baptisms 1799 - 1812, Page 258
     Source: Original register at Wigan Archives

[pb_devon]

I have now looked at the census image (RG12/2232/55 page19), which took some finding as his surname is mistranscribed on findmypast.
Garstonite's findings need investigation just to verify things before chasing the Swiss angle.

[pb_devon]

Also his first name would probably have been originally Johann or Johannes, or suchlike.

[garstonite]

I have now looked at the census image (RG12/2232/55 page19), which took some finding as his surname is mistranscribed on findmypast.
Garstonite's findings need investigation just to verify things before chasing the Swiss angle.

I would think the easiest way to dismiss Josiah is if he is in UK in the 1851 census - I have only found 7 Markee family members through the Male line and all but 2 are Carpenters or Shipwrights ( Ships Carpenter ) so it is likely they travelled for work .
So if John was born Switzerland 1850 - and Josiah is in the UK in the 1851 census we can rule Josiah out unless John Charles is with him ??