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Essex / Re: Gane and Knight in Harwich
« on: Monday 16 July 18 14:20 BST (UK) »
I have only just discovered this thread. These Gane mariners are my ancestors and I have been chasing them for well over 20 years.
My gt grandfather Philip Gane's birth certificate states he was born 31 May 1840 at Harwich, Essex, mother Catherine KNIGHT and father Thomas Gane, mariner (DECEASED). Unfortunately it was purchased in 1990 when photocopies of the originals were not given and I have known the registrars to make mistakes in copying the details or misread the original handwriting. However, I have never managed to locate Thomas's death, so I am not certain whether he died at sea, died abroad or simply left Catherine! Philip and older brother Edward Thomas b 1837 were both baptised at Harwich St Nicholas in 1843. but no mention was made of their father Thomas being deceased. In 1851 his mother stated that she was a widow, but interestingly Philip does not give his father's name on his marriage certificate in 1863, though in 1856 sister Isabella states her father's name as Thomas with no mention of 'deceased', but brother Edward Thomas states father Thomas 'deceased' when he married in 1865.
I have seen the original parish register entries for Thomas and Catherine's children and it is my research from 30 years ago which was displayed in the public trees, copied from Rootsweb without my knowledge and littered with place name errors as my Chapman's codes eg Mx for Middlesex were altered (became Mexico!) W Ham, Essex became West Hampshire, USA! However, I think most errors have now been rectified. Consequently none of the sources are noted.
Catherine Knight's age differed on successive censuses, but she stated her birthplace consistently as Harwich, the last census entry being for 1881 when she was at the Alms House in Harwich aged 71. However, her death has escaped me. She doesn't appear to have died, remarried or been posted under 'GAME', a common error and I have been unable to locate her baptism in Harwich either. (Some of the family were non-conformist) However, there is a possibility her father was Philip Knight, Ann's brother, in which case Thomas and Catherine were cousins..........
I finally tracked down Thomas Gane and Catherine Knight's marriage in Ipswich St Clements in 1830, where Philip Gane also married some years later, despite being born and living in Harwich. Mariners were far more mobile than the average population at this period and Ipswich was an important port, so I think this was the correct entry. It does state that Thomas was a widower (at age 19, if this is the correct Thomas b 1811) but I have not located a former marriage. However, as Thomas died before the 1841 census, it is difficult to be certain. I am still not certain that I have the right man.
However, I have recently had a DNA match with 2 descendants of what I believe to be 2 of Thomas junior's 8 siblings, William Lawe Gane and Eliza Gane, though the link could be via either the Gane or Knight side. However, Eliza gives her father's name (incorrectly, I believe) as Thomas Pool Gane, whom I think was her older brother, which suggests I am on the right lines.
I have the marriage licence for Thomas snr and Ann Knight, confirming her parentage and have linked Ann's youngest sister Sarah to Thomas and Ann's eldest son William Lawe Gane on the 1841 census and through Sarah's second husband's will. (Sarah's first husband was William Law)
My gt grandfather Philip Gane's birth certificate states he was born 31 May 1840 at Harwich, Essex, mother Catherine KNIGHT and father Thomas Gane, mariner (DECEASED). Unfortunately it was purchased in 1990 when photocopies of the originals were not given and I have known the registrars to make mistakes in copying the details or misread the original handwriting. However, I have never managed to locate Thomas's death, so I am not certain whether he died at sea, died abroad or simply left Catherine! Philip and older brother Edward Thomas b 1837 were both baptised at Harwich St Nicholas in 1843. but no mention was made of their father Thomas being deceased. In 1851 his mother stated that she was a widow, but interestingly Philip does not give his father's name on his marriage certificate in 1863, though in 1856 sister Isabella states her father's name as Thomas with no mention of 'deceased', but brother Edward Thomas states father Thomas 'deceased' when he married in 1865.
I have seen the original parish register entries for Thomas and Catherine's children and it is my research from 30 years ago which was displayed in the public trees, copied from Rootsweb without my knowledge and littered with place name errors as my Chapman's codes eg Mx for Middlesex were altered (became Mexico!) W Ham, Essex became West Hampshire, USA! However, I think most errors have now been rectified. Consequently none of the sources are noted.
Catherine Knight's age differed on successive censuses, but she stated her birthplace consistently as Harwich, the last census entry being for 1881 when she was at the Alms House in Harwich aged 71. However, her death has escaped me. She doesn't appear to have died, remarried or been posted under 'GAME', a common error and I have been unable to locate her baptism in Harwich either. (Some of the family were non-conformist) However, there is a possibility her father was Philip Knight, Ann's brother, in which case Thomas and Catherine were cousins..........
I finally tracked down Thomas Gane and Catherine Knight's marriage in Ipswich St Clements in 1830, where Philip Gane also married some years later, despite being born and living in Harwich. Mariners were far more mobile than the average population at this period and Ipswich was an important port, so I think this was the correct entry. It does state that Thomas was a widower (at age 19, if this is the correct Thomas b 1811) but I have not located a former marriage. However, as Thomas died before the 1841 census, it is difficult to be certain. I am still not certain that I have the right man.
However, I have recently had a DNA match with 2 descendants of what I believe to be 2 of Thomas junior's 8 siblings, William Lawe Gane and Eliza Gane, though the link could be via either the Gane or Knight side. However, Eliza gives her father's name (incorrectly, I believe) as Thomas Pool Gane, whom I think was her older brother, which suggests I am on the right lines.
I have the marriage licence for Thomas snr and Ann Knight, confirming her parentage and have linked Ann's youngest sister Sarah to Thomas and Ann's eldest son William Lawe Gane on the 1841 census and through Sarah's second husband's will. (Sarah's first husband was William Law)