RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Topic started by: Arvanitakis on Thursday 10 December 20 13:43 GMT (UK)
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Dear all,
I am looking into an ancestor Rose Mocatta Wharton, born 18 November 1868 in Birkenhead, daughter of Thomas and Catherine Wharton. Her unusual middle name suggests some connection to the Mocatta family (Jewish bankers) but I cannot find any link so far.
Her father Thomas Wharton was born around 1841 in Liverpool and was a coal merchant, son of James Wharton, paver(?). Catherine was born Catherine Maxwell born in Ireland and the daughter of John Maxwell, Gardener.
If anyone has any ideas as to why she was given the middle name Mocatta I'd be very grateful!
Thanks!
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Middle names don't necessarily have to be family names. They can be given to honor someone who the family may (or may not) know - a prominent person in the community, an employer, a friend, neighbour ....
If Thomas Wharton was a coal merchant did he have any dealings with the Mocatta family?
Have you looked for your Whartons and Mocattas through the censuses to see if there is any obvious way their paths might have crossed? Occupations, addresses for example?
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GRO Birth registration index has Rose Mocato Wharton. Do you have any other records that show her middle name.
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Her baptism record has it written as Mocatta.
Yes I have searched censuses but cannot find any connection so far!
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Perhaps the Mocattas helped him a lot with his business around that time.
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Any clues in the names of the witnesses to her baptism?
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Any clues in the names of the witnesses to her baptism?
Transcribed on both Ancestry and FindMyPast as Rose 'Inocatta' Wharton (it does look like that on the original)
There are no witnesses to the baptism at Holy Trinity Birkenhead
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Thanks all,
Yes it's transcribed as Inocatta but if you compare the 'm's in the document it is actually Mocatta.
The nearest connection I can find is that the Whartons were living fairly close (Hamilton Terrace) to the Mocattas (Hamilton Square)...it just seemed a very odd choice of middle name unless there's more of a connection somewhere
I will keep looking! Thanks
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2 female members of my paternal line were given the middles names of Bullock & McDonald. Absolutely no connection to our FH so presumably close friends.
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I have George MOCATTA and Agnes MOCATTA née GUEST in Birkenhead. Married 1901. 3 daughters born 1905-1910. None of the daughters married. George was in wine trade. Related to architect of Brighton railway station - presumably to bankers too. George's father's family came from Chester. His mother is my relative - Georgiana MANNING.
What the connection is to yours - who knows, but perhaps this helps.
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Should add - I don't have any WHARTONs in my tree.