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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Topic started by: david54 on Friday 04 November 16 13:02 GMT (UK)
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Good evening,
Can anyone please tell me how you can search for people who entered the Bluecoat schools in the early 1800s.
I am trying to find my GG grandfather family prior to him coming to Australia. James Bennett Gibbs. The only family info I have on him is that on his marriage certificate here in Aust he lists a Alfred L Gibbs as father .... not sure if fact or fiction as cannot find an Alfred L anywhere.
I know from family that he went to one of these schools..... and there it ends. Is becoming a quest and a little frustrating at times.
Thanking you in advance.
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Hi,
Year of marriage in Australia?
Maggsie
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is it 1909 married to Matilda Petts?
Maggsie
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Hello David
To help establish the age of James was his marriage to Ellen Fisher Cotter on 13 Dec 1864 at Nuccaleena, Frome, South Australia - Father Alfred L Gibbs? Does the cert list his father's occupation and James's age /occupation?
Kay
Edit - There were quite a few Bluecoat Schools - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charity_school
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Hi kay,
Thanks and yes, you are correct. James would have been 29 ish.... and no the marriage cert does not list any other details of his father.
I have not heard my family talk of his father, except to say no one knew of him.... so a mystery.
When he married into Cotter family they were respected family in SA, first surgeon to the state and to the governor .... Ellen being first white girl born in the new state.
Too many questions and no answers.
Thanks for the link to the bluecoat schools, more research,
thanks for the help
david
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Hi David,
Have a look at this site about Reading, Berks Blue Coat School;
http://www.rbcs.org.uk/about-reading-blue-coat-school/
One of my uncles went there in the 1920/30s and they wore from memory a black cape, white shirt and a yellow ?tie.
May not be the school your after but am sure they would have records of past students.
Alan
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Trying to trace him via school records from the 1800s is probably going to be difficult or impossible. Records may not have been kept at the time, and may not survive today. Best to go via the usual route of censuses, etc.
Do you have his immigration record? What date did he arrive in Australia?
It is not unusual that parents of someone who immigrated were not known. Noticable by blanks on and sometimes incorrect names on death certificates. :)
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Good evening,
Thanks to all for the replies and so my quest continues
Immigration records into Australia at that time were dubious at best and the access to them now seems to record only those who came with government assistance, not those who paid their own way.
I know he came to Adelaide so maybe now a trip to the Immigration Records here might be one avenue to pursue.
Thanks again, and find the whole concept of these schools sad, and same opinion of workhouses (found both my grandmother and her mother spent time in them)
Thanks again.
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You have probably already considered this, but just in case thought I would mention it
There is a baptism on Anc of a James Bennett Gibbs at Cheltenham on 5 Oct 1834 however the parents were James and Jane Gibbs with James listed as a gardener. Although it is the wrong father's name I can't see the family in any census at the moment or a marriage/any other baptisms for the couple :-\
Kay
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Hi,
Ship records.....2 x Jas and James Gibbs.
The one aged 30 was with a Thomas Gibbs aged 35.
Maggsie
Name: Jas Gibbs
Estimated birth year: abt 1826
Age: 28
Arrival Date: Jul 1854
Arrival Port: Melbourne, Australia
Departure Port: Liverpool
Ship: Miles Barton
Nationality: English
Name: James Gibbs
Estimated birth year: abt 1833
Age: 30
Arrival Date: 27 Jul 1863
Arrival Port: Melbourne, Australia
Departure Port: London
Ship: Monarch
Nationality: English
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Evening all,
Thanks for the information.
First Kay, I looked at that and did wonder. I am not sure if the Albert L is correct as Dad says nothing was every mentioned of his parents etc .... now this is several generation "heresay" so who knows.
My biggest challenge is places in England as I will admit that I am geographically challenge when it comes to England (read no damn idea where places area)
Maybe worth looking at this family again.
Thank you
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Hi Maggsie,
Thanks for that and will look closer at those two. I am not sure why they would have gone to Melbourne and not Adelaide but maybe it was closest they could get a ship to, if it is who I am looking for.
I am not sure what the link is between families but he is integral part of my family and seems my GGgrandfather kept family close. They were originally from Kent (Chatham area) ... too many questions.
Thank you for help it is much appreciated.
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There was a bluecoat school in Chester and Liverpool would be the nearest port. Chester archives may have information.
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Afternoon Kay,
Thanks for the reply and am at sea so getting back here sometimes depends on internet coverage.
I have come to the same people as you and the birth year is correct. I did put to dad that maybe the name on his marriage certificate was false .... that comment gives me chills so maybe on the right track. I have not found much about James and Jane, except thought I had seen a marriage cert for them but passed it over because was not who i was looking for, now, cant find it again.
I do know he arrived in Australia as a 14 year old alone as far as I can see.
Maybe time to search for Schools close to Cheltenham, .. Dad says someone paid for him to be educated.
Thanks for your help, as always is appreciated. David
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Have you no idea where you could have seen it??? I searched and didn't find a marriage for James and Jane and wondered whether the couple were actually married?
Will continue to have a fiddle
Kay
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Powell's Blue Coat School, Cirencester, founded 1714. Cirencester-Cheltenham 15 miles.
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Good evening Kay and "Brentorboy"
Thanks for the replies. I have learnt that I need to either learn where counties/cities are around the UK or find an atlas or decent map .... must admit geographically challenged about UK.
Brentor, thanks for the idea, do you know if it still exists and if they would have records back far enough.
Kay, the record I saw was for a marriage at about 60yo which is why I did not give it another thought. I have come to much the same thought as you, not married at the time.
Sure I saw in Ancestry Uk ..... so heading back there again.
Thanks to you both.
david
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Powell's C of E primary school, Gloucester Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, still fully functional.
I''m afraid I cannot help as far as records go. Sorry.
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Thanks ... will send them email and ask, you never know
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Hi David,
Records show James Bennett Gibbs arriving SA 1850 per ship Bengal, no other Gibbs on board
http://www.familyhistorysa.info/shipping/passengerlists.html
Also many newspaper articles on TROVE in Vic & SA in 1860 trying to trace James, similar to the one attached, did he inherit something, I wonder?
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Good evening,
Thanks and yes have that, family had talked about that advertisement since I was small.... still not sure what it was all about. Whatever it was , was important as the lawyers carried that advertisement in every state's paper.
He arrived SA by himself as a 14y/o .... could not imagine today's kids doing that.
The stuff before leaving England is my problem... seems the bluecoat schools still have walls around them.
Thanks for the help
David
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Good evening and back to the hunt for James Bennett GIBBS
I have found that a James Gibbs was apprenticed to the "Bengal" and then a James Gibbs left the Bengal in Port Adelaide, South Australia, 4 years later.
Not a believer in co-incidences it would appear that he joined as a apprentice to the Bengal and left on completion, that being on arrival to SA.
I now have 2 issues, who signed him to his apprencticeship (that may guide me backwards there) , second being where was he and what was he doing in SA up to when he married
Any help appreciated.
Thanks in advance
David
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co-incidence??
1841
James Gibbs age 6 living with a couple of other Gibbs children in a household of other names. In the same street there is an Edward Bennett - attorney
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Good evening lancsann,
Ok, please more information ..... please as this has me intrigued and may close gaps as age is close to right. Location ??
As far as I know he ended up in a Bluecoat school .... but anything else is vague at best.
The lawyer being in same street cannot be co-incidence.
Thank you very much for your help
David