RootsChat.Com

Recently I started a wider post looking for John Grigg

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=763660.0

As I had no replies about his death I thought I would try a more local audience.

The only census appearance for John was at Anglesea Barracks, Portsea in 1871. He married Sarah Ann Forman Q4 1871 Portsea. On both occasions his age was 33 so born around 1838.

His son, James Aaron Grigg, was born in Portsmouth on 10 May 1875.

Sarah Ann had a son, David Percival Herbert, born on 26 May 1878 in Newbury BRK by David Herbert. Although she used the style “Herbert late Grigg formerly Forman” they did not marry until 14 July 1879.

So I assume John Grigg died between 1874 and 1878 or 1879. But nothing on FreeBMD.

The family story is that one day John went to meet a friend off the Isle of Wight ferry, was blown off the quayside, and drowned. But I can't find an online newspaper report of an inquest.

Sarah Ann used to take my grandmother and great-aunt on holiday to Portsmouth (I assume in the 1910s) and there were connections to people called Dangerfield. I'm not sure if this helps; I've never found anything.

Fresh eyes and any thoughts – even the “bleeding obvious” -  from RootsChatters would be appreciated.

In the search for my 2xgreat grandfather John Grigg's missing birth, I followed up the suggestion that he might have been born illegitimately and taken his step-father's surname.

There are two John Richards show in Helston district for 1838 with a dash instead of mother's maiden name. However, it turns out that the two sets of parents had married in 1819 and 1835 respectively !

In the mother's details the Helston registrar did not use the usual formula "(first name) (husband's surname) formerly (mother's maiden name)" . He just used "(first name) (maiden name)".

I recall this was mentioned when the new indexing came out, but perhaps we should remember that a dash instead of a MMN can also mean deviations from the standard wording.

My 2xgreat grandfather John Grigg married Sarah Ann Foreman at Portsea Register Office on 16 October 1871. The certificate gives his age as 33 and his father as Henry Grigg, deceased carpenter. He was a private in the 7th Foot at Anglesea Barracks.
In 1871 census (RG10/1133/81/18)  he is aged 33 (again) and born in Cornwall.

He enlisted at Barnstaple on 14 July 1859 and was described as an 18 year old labourer. He was discharged at Dover on 31 March 1874, which record gave his birthplace as Cornwall, and intended residence as Portsmouth.

He and Sarah had two sons; John Henry born North Town, Aldershot on 21 January 1873 [father John Henry Grigg], and James Aaron born Wilmots Place, Landport (Portsea) on 10 May 1875 [father James [sic] Henry].

On 26 May 1878 a David Percival Herbert was born in Newbury, Berks to David and Sarah Herbert, she “late Grigg, formerly Foreman”. However, they didn’t actually marry until 14 July 1879. The new family are in 1881 census (RG11/1270/26/17). 
David Herbert senior was in the army with John Grigg.

Where did John Grigg go to around 1875-1877? The family story is that he was awaiting a friend off the Isle of Wight ferry, was blown off the quay and drowned. But I can find no death registration or inquest.

Birth in Cornwall around 1837-1841? The nearest fit for father Henry Grigg, carpenter is in Wendron (see HO107/1912/251/4) but there appears to be no likely son called John.

Perhaps “John Grigg” was telling lies about name and bithplace when he enlisted? Perhaps his marriage broke down and he  “disappeared” allowing Sarah to remarry?

Perhaps the answers have been staring me in the face for 30 years and I can’t see them!   
Which is where the RootsChat bloodhounds come in ……..