Family Surname Dilemma.

[Geoff]

Hi all,

I am having difficulty trying to confirm a family on my tree.

In 1868 John HENRY coal miner married Mary Agnes BUCHANAN, one of their children was my wife's grandfather.
John James HENRY born 1878 at Seghill Northumberland.
It is known he had two older sisters, one becoming a Governess.

His two elder sisters left the family when either one or both married and they were said to take a younger sister with them.

I have been unable to locate this family on the 1871, 81 & 91 census's, but I have a family, located with help, were the firstnames match,along with ages and birthplaces, also occupations.

They are recorded under the name LAVERICK and in the '81 census reside at Green Lane, Harton.Durham.
In the '91 census they are located in the parish of Westoe.   
The certificates I have all show the HENRY Surname, no mention of LAVERICK.

The mother Mary Agnes HENRY ? LAVERICK ? was buried as Mary Agnes HENRY at St Peters, HARTON, DUR in 1915

My Question is, How in Hell do prove that the HENRY /LAVERICK family are one and the same ??

Cheers
Geoff

[MINOR]

This is along shot, but the BVRI shows that Henry and Laverick families appear around the same time in the registers of Hunstanworth.

[Geoff]

They are also prolific in Chester-le-Street and surrounds.

If someone wanted to hide, then using such a popular name helps, doesn't it.

Geoff

[janmoore]

Hi Geoff

I presume this family from 1881 (which matches names) has been discounted?

John HENRY Head M Male 45 Derry Co, Ireland Coal Miner
Mary HENRY Wife M Female 40 Derry Co, Ireland
Susanna HENRY Daur Female 16 Breston, Northumberland, England
Mary HENRY Daur Female 11 Felling, Durham, England Scholar
Charles HENRY Son Male 8 Usworth, Durham, England Scholar
John HENRY Son Male 6 Usworth, Durham, England Scholar
Margaret HENRY Daur Female 3 Washington, Durham, England
Isabella HENRY Daur Female 8 m Usworth, Durham, England

89 Washington New Row
Usworth, Durham, England
RG11/4984 Folio 109 Page 18

What other given names are you looking for?

[Geoff]

Hi Jan,

Yes, this family has been discounted.
I know for certain that the son John was only 3 years old at the '81 census and he was born in Seghill,NBL.

The father was born in 1847 and was 5 years younger than his wife, so at the '81 census he would only be 33/34 yrs old, not 45 years of age.

There was no older brother for John and only one younger sister.

It's a real mystery that has had me puzzled for quite a while.
Thanks to the new National Burial Index I've Found Mary's {wife} burial, awaiting the arrival of her death cert and hope it offers up some clue.

Cheers
Geoff