Finding James Thomas Reece of Sevenoaks

[J from Canada]

Hello Rootschatters!

I have a James Thomas Reece b. 1839 in Sevenoaks appearing in 1881 census and as Thomas Reece b. 1839 in Sevenoaks in the '91 census but cannot find him in any of the earlier census. His occupation at these later dates is bricklayer so would not seem to take him out of the country and I cannot find him by trawling through the 1841 Sevenoaks census. His wife is dead by the 1881 census so cannot track the marriage cert and ancestry.com, IGI and freebmd don't indicate anything under james thomas/thomas or james reece combinations. Help!!! How can I find him and his family prior to 1881?

Joanna from Canada

[Tati]

Hi Joanna,

This is a toughy !!

We'd expect them to be in Manchester in 1871, as the eldest daughter Elizabeth born ca. 1871 (by 1891 she's Hannah E) was born in Manchester but I just can't find them. (Nor can I see her birth  )
Here's the 1881 for anyone who wants to have a look:
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=uki1881&indiv=try&h=10303116
 

Lancashire BMD have a marriage for a Thomas J Reece to a Sarah Lowe in 1863 at Manchester Ancoats St Andrew ... a possible I suppose, but I can't see a death for a Sarah Reece between 1877 when the youngest child was born and 1881.

What I do see is this birth registration
Ada Reece
June 1872 
Manchester 8d 275

Her birth cert would give you her mother's maiden name which in turn would help you find the marriage ...

I'm not being much help here 

[Necromancer]

Looks good Tati !

Grasping at straws (which is not really a pun on Brickmaking ...)

Theres an enclave of Brickmakers in Edenbridge (Sevenoaks Regn District) - 3 or 4 families, one of which is RICE ...... with a 1 year old Thomas ..

HO107/482/7 - Edenbridge
Registration district  Sevenoaks 
Sub-registration district: Penshurst 
Folio - 48 
Page - 11

Theres a 'Male' Rice in the FreeBMD Birth Index, but in the Eastry District, so a full GRO search would have to be made to find any Sevenoaks entries....

If this is of interest, I'll transcribe it.

[Tati]

Hi Newfy  - looks good too

Blimey - I didn't even think of Rice   Have tried anything starting in Ree or Rea 

I can't find the birth for most of the other kids nor Thomas' death (I can't see him in 1901). Would be interesting to find out in what spelling of the name they were registered ... They seem to marry as Reece (Hannah Elizabeth and Ada, at least)  

[Necromancer]

Hmmmm no sign of RICE or variants in or from that area in 1851 tho .... except a g'son in Cambs, but the family is a bit 'up-market' ....

[Necromancer]

1861 - RG9/646; Folio: 64; Page: 7 - Alverstoke (Portsmouth area), Hants


wrong PoB, but a Bricklayer ...

 
James Rice 22 Unmarried LODGER Bricklayer born Kent, Brumley [sic]

[Blue]

Hi,

This could be a "possible" marriage for James in December 1871.
 
Baguley  Matthew    Ashton  8d 1029   
Gammell  Lavinia     Ashton  8d 1029   
Holland  Hannah     Ashton  8d 1029   
Reece  James     Ashton  8d 1029   

(Later census returns show that Matthew Baguley married Lavinia).

There is also a  death for a Hannah Reece aged 28 in September 1875 - 8d422 Oldham.
 
Blue

[J from Canada]

How marvellous! I just woke up and turned on the computer and found that my fellow Rootschatters have so very kindly provided me with several very promising leads. Excellent! Thank you so much for your efforts on my behalf.... it really helps to get a fresh pair of eyes (or three) to look at the data again.

Many many thanks,

Joanna