Which of your ancestors have disappeared?

[MarieC]

I think there is a little nest of them hiding somewhere, CJL!  Yours is so similar to two of mine -

Gggrandfather Edward Martin (born 1806) disappeared in London in the 1850s, wife Mary noted as married in 1861 and 1871, widow in 1881.  She died after 1901 - date and place of death and burial unknown.

Gggrandmother Eleanor Bentley, born ca 1805, disappeared in London after 1861.  She was already a widow.

No trace of either of them can be found!  

A reward for anyone who finds the hidey hole of missing Victorian gggrandparents!!!  

MarieC

[clottedcream]

Mine is a child who appears on the 1871 Census and who cannot be found -
birth/death or census apart from that. I feel that she may have died young as her next sister took the name when she became a nun but where are the records?

[Gaille]

I seem to have the opposite problem to most of you!

My gt-grandparents married in 1913 - I have the original marriage cert.

The problem I have is that the grooms paper trail ends in 1902............. before this he doesnt seem to exist, no birth record, not on ANY cencus prior to the 1911 one.................

All I have is his Marriage cert - and a "sworn statement under oath" stating his name, date of birth & where he was born.................. only he appears to have made it up, cos I cant find any info on him in the right area or time.

His Marriage cert gives his fathers name & occupation...... only I cant find HIM either!


Maybe he stumbled out of that pub???

Gaille

[cornishpasty]

What an interesting thread.  Have read all 14 pages ...

Johngirl I checked suburbs and towns in Tasmania for you and the closest I got to Donford is "Orford" which is about 58 kms from Hobart.

  http://www.postcodes-australia.com/areas/tas/tasmania/orford

I just love your story and hope you can find where he is buried.

Have any of you checked this website?  Many husbands (and some wives) fled to Australia and their spouses were looking for them.  This is an interesting website with some interesting stories.   Some even have photos on file (but you have to pay for these).  Do have a look at the website though.  There's an "Index to Missing People" and "Wife and Child Deserters" etc.

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~hdharris/

I also have ancestors who have disappeared but will post later. 

Thanks for all the laughs, you crazy bunch

CP

[cornishpasty]

Don't forget that many people also emigrated to South Africa so it would be worth looking for "lost ancestors" there.  Shipping lists maybe or NAAIRS.  All the websites are on RC.

[tiggi]

MarieC
Is this your family ?
http://w3.icr.com.au/~mcameron/The%20Martins.html

I am just wondering if it is your information could Edward Martin be in a debtor's prison ? just a thought
Or have you looked up Hospitals etc ?


I don't understand National archives ,but thought this might help

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=253

[johngirl]

Hi cornishpasty,

Yes my story of my elusive John Thomas Jones is a good one.
Yes I know where Orford is in Tassie.Its a good spot for fishing and holidaying.
My John Thomas Jones was born in Sorell in Tassie which is quite a few miles from Orford but on the same side of the Island.
We are yet to find out if it is really our John Thomas Jones buried at Barraba Cemetery.
Will check out the link of the Missing people and the Wife and Child deserters. I still have one missing person[male of course] not yet accounted for in my tree.

  Johngirl

[vickifperry]

My ancestor Abraham Vendyback (Bendyback/Bendy) ‘appeared’ and then ‘disappeared’! He’s first found in Medbourne, Leics in 1778 when he married Ann Ashby. I have a suspicion he may come form the Van de Beck family in Thorney, Cambs, but I’ve never been able to find a baptism. Then his last child is born in 1795 and he completely disappears from the record. There’s no burial for him and in 1799 his wife, Ann is recorded as having an illegitimate child in the parish registers. He’s definitely my most frustrating brick wall!

[RichardK]

Another disappearing act for the collection:
My 3g grandfather, William Ralston - married in Birkenhead in 1845 to Ellen Coghlan / Coughland.  Marriage certificate says his father is also called William Ralston, a stone mason.  William and Ellen appear with various children in the 1851 census in Birkenhead - he says he is a 26 year old stone mason from Scotland (and seems to be in Bothwell, Lanarkshire in 1841 as an apprentice mason from Lanarkshire).  Ellen died aged just 32 in 1858 (typhoid) - and is described as William's widow.  The children in 1861 were living with their elderly maternal grandmother, and in 1871 the youngest were in an orphanage.  The youngest child was born in 1854.  No sign of a plausible death between 1851 and 1858 (I have a small collection of English and Scottish death certificates which are not him).  Where did he go?

Plus, in the 1861 census, there is a William Ralston in Birkenhead (RG9/2642/73/63) - but he's a 55 year old labourer from Ireland - could this be William's father, perhaps moved down to help his 6 orphaned grandchildren?  But he says he's single, and guess what - he disappears after that too!