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I have just come across John Cooper's Steam Boot Factory which was built in South End, Croydon, approx 1870s, which produced boots for agricultural labourers - aside from the Factory houses were built for his workers in Bynes Road, along with several shops (with the area apparently given the nickname Snob's Island - snob being a term for a cobbler.) I was wondering if anyone knows how or where to find out more information about the Factory?

I have Thomas Barnett and family in the 1841 census, however am having difficulty finding any other trace of them other than that one census record.

1841 Census - Little George Street, St Pancras, Somers Town, piece 685, book 11, folio 10, page 14

Thomas Barnett, 1804, Carman, born in county
Mary Barnett, 1809, born in county
Mary Ann Barnett, 1832, born in county
Thomas Barnett, 1839, born in county
James Darvill, 1823, engineer j, born in county

I have found James Darvill who is listed with them in 1841 with no problem. Any help locating any of the Barnetts appreciated.

Has anyone come across the surname Calden as being a variant of Callaghan? I have Calden ancestors (in England from 1860's) who all originate from Cork. However a search of the Cork parish registers results in no Caldens at all in the 1830 -1840 period I am researching. The first census record I have them in in England they are listed as Callan, and in subsequent censuses always as Calden. So I was wondering if there's a possibility that they started out as Callaghan or something similar.

I am trying to locate my great x 3 grandfather Henry Darvill and his family in the 1861 census, but with no luck. I know he would have been living in Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon at that time as his son Alfred was born at that address two months before the 1861 census. (and the next child was born there too so am assuming there would be at that location.)


Henry Darvill - born 1821 - occupation: rail labourer/ general labourer
Eliza Darvill - born 1828 Croydon
Martin James Darvill - born 1849, Wolverhampton
Mary Ann Darvill - born 1850, Hastings, Sussex
William Henry Darvill - born 1851 Hastings, Sussex
Caroline Darvill - born 1853, Croydon
Amy Darvill - born 1855, Croydon
Elizabeth Darvill - born 1856, Croydon
Sarah Darvill - born 1858, Croydon
Alfred Darvill - born Feb 1861, Croydon.

I don't know whether the records for that area are actually missing or I just haven't been able to find them, but any help would be appreciated.

Am searching for any birth/baptism record of Thomas Raine, born approx 1850 in Richmond, Yorkshire. I have his father's name from his marriage certificate as John Raine, coal miner, and from one of the census records his mother's name as Sarah.

He's proving fairly elusive.