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Hi there,

After having tried for a while now, and mainly due to my limited knowledge of Southwark St Olave Parish, I was hoping that someone with better knowledge of the area than I might be able to help me track down a man named John William Banks, prior to 1842. On July 24, 1842, he marries "Anne Gardner" in Saint Dunstan's Church, District of Stepney, Tower Hamlets. He is recorded as a "traveller" and living at 13 Whitehall Street. She is living at 4 Sidney Street. His father is John Banks, a lighterman, while her father, Joseph Gardner, is also a lighterman. I found out that his middle name is William when I got hold of the birth registration for his daughter, Annie Banks (b. 7 Aug 1842, in Blackfriars).

I was hoping to find a baptism record (or any other document) to confirm the name of his father and to discover the name of his mother.

Later records of John William Banks show his as a "mercantile clerk" or "dock clerk" or "dock company clerk" or "scrivener".

Thank you so much in advance for any leads.

Erik

Hi there,

I am looking for an individual, Peter Venn, who shows up in the 1861 census. He is living at the home of William Hatton, a millwright, who owns the Millwrights Arms. Both William Hatton's home and his pub, the Millwright Arms, are located at 7 Russell Street, in Newport on the Isle of Wight. Russell Street was re-named Orchard Street in late 1861.

I believe the Peter Venn, also a millwright, who is living with William Hatton is my great-great grandfather, Peter Paul Louis Venn (PPLV). The 1861 Peter Venn was born in 1824, in Italy (according to the census). My great-great grandfather, PPLV, as far as I have been able to determine, does not show up in any records prior to his marriage to Elizabeth Dyer, in Andover, Hampshire, in 1863. The marriage registration for PPLV and Elizabeth Dyer shows that PPLV was born in 1832 (not 1824) and records PPLV's father as Joseph Venn, a farmer.

The problem is that PPLV, when he appears in the 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 censuses, states that he was born in 1832 and in Drury Lane, London.

There is a family rumour that that family was originally from France and spelt the surname Venné, but I have never been able to confirm this. However, based on the 1861 Peter Venn, born in 1824, in Italy, could PPLV actually have been born in Italy, in 1824. I have not been able to find a Peter Venn, millwright, born in 1824, in Italy in the 1841 or 1851 censuses, or any others for that matter.

Well, all this to say that I am wondering if there might be some way to find our more about the 1861 Peter Venn (b. 1824, in Italy) living in Newport on the Isle of Wight?

My thinking is that the 1861 Peter Venn could be my great-great grandfather, and that he came to England from Italy. He may have been been a journeyman millwright (if such a thing existed at that time), which might explain how he ended up in Andover. He may have lied about his age and place of birth when he met Elizabeth Dyer (maybe not to her, but at least when the census enumerator came around, or other authorities).

I do not have any issues with PPLV and his life after 1863, as that part of my family tree I have researched and have no issues with. It's just me wanting to know how he got to England and from where.

Well, I know that this might be tricky to research, but thank you very, very much for any help with this, it is very much appreciated.

Erik Aasland
Ottawa, Canada