electoral roll

[lois24]

Hi there,

Was there an Electorial roll 1900 onwards in Jersey ?

Only asking as my G Grandfather was born in Jersey 1874 and came over to the UK possibly between 1900 - 1909. He married my G Grandmother in 1909 in Alverstoke, Hampshire

Clare

[Mike E]

Hi Clare -

I am fairly sure there would have been an electoral roll then.  It would have been recorded in the Parish in which he lived - do you know which one?  If you let me have more details of name and date of birth, occupation etc. I can see what I can find.  Do you know his parents names, too?

Mike

[lois24]

Hi Mike,

My G Grandafther was called Alfred John Butler, he was born in St helier.
In the 1881 census he was living at 14 Commercial St, St helier. On his marriage certificate it states he was a Mariner, however my mum thinks he may have been in the
army or navy possibly. His fathers name was John william Butler and his mother Elizabeth Jane Huard or Jane Elizabeth Huard. His father was a Seaman R N Reserve.

Any help you can give me would be most appreciative.

Thanks

Clare

[Mike E]

Clare -

The Jersey equivalent to the electoral roll is the Parish rates list - as I believe only rate payers were entitled to vote. 

In the 1881 rates list for St Helier, vingtaine de Rouge Bouillon (which would include Commercial Street) there is Elizabeth Butler ("immobilier" - i.e. she was occupying the property as a tenant).  This could be the wife (widow?) of John William Butler.  There is no indication of who was living there with her. 

Have you discovered the baptism / birth records?   In case not, they are as follows:
St Brelade, Jersey
John William Butler   bap.3/3/1839  b.5/2/1839 son of Matthew Butler and Elizabeth;
and also with the same parents:
William Butler bap. 26/2/1832  b.28/12/1831  godparent Daniel Butler
Elizabeth Butler  bap. 16/2/1834  b.12/1/1834
Matthew George Butler  bap. 7/7/1836  b.27/6/1836
Christopher Butler   bap. 10/12/1840  b.8/10/1840
Rose Mary Butler  bap. 3/4/1842  b.8/3/1842

The 1851 census, St Brelade, lists the family:
BUTLER
George  45  Carter  b. England
Elizabeth  39  -  b. England
William son 19  Mariner  b. Jersey
Elizabeth  dau  17  servant  b. St Brelade, Jersey
Matthew  son  13  labourer  St Brelade
John  son  10   at home  St Brelade
Rose Mary  dau  8  scholar  St Brelade
Jane  dau  6  scholar  St Brelade
Urick  son 3  at home  St Brelade.

I'm sorry I did not find the birth record for Alfred John Butler, 1874.  Do you need this - or already have a certificate?   .. and we still don't know exactly when he came to England. 

Regards

Mike

[lois24]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for finding the info for me.

Just a quick question, you mentioned that John William Butler's father was Matthew, however in the 1851 census it shows George ?

Clare

[Mike E]

... you mentioned that John William Butler's father was Matthew, however in the 1851 census it shows George ?

Yes, I noticed that!  I might speculate that after their fourth child, Matthew George, was born in 1836, it might be a bit confusing - so Matthew snr. might have used his second name which I would bet was also George (and so his son was named after him?). 

That's my guess - but I have seen a similar change before.  I wonder if anyone else on Rootschat has the same experience in their family research?? 

Mike