Where's george in 1861

[Paul Caswell]

Hi All,

I understand that there are some census books missing from the 1861 census. I am willing to accept that great granddad George was on them but not without a fight. I would appreciate some true experts taking one last look before I abandon all hope.

George was born 1855 in Gravesend, Kent. He was baptised 30 Aug 1855.

His first appearance in census is in 1871 RG10/123/59/13 with his three brothers Richard, Robert and William and his mother Mary.

Richard and Robert appear in 1851 HO107/1608/197/46 and 1861 RG9/54/25/53 but there is no sign of either George or his brother William in 61.

Where was he in 1861? Any ideas?

Paul

[Necromancer]

we'll get his surname from the 1871 then 

[avm228]

I'm guessing it's SPEIGHT

Anna

[Necromancer]

Do you know Mary's maiden name - have you searched for George and William as Grandchildren or similar relationship in 1861 ?

[avm228]

I'm thinking along the same lines, Newfy.

George's IGI baptism record shows that his parents were Robert and Mary.  The only likely marriage I can find is Dec 1846 North Aylesford 5 622 - only Mary on the page is FERNIE.

Paul, have you traced Mary's parents (if surviving) to see if they have grandchildren with them?  I see that Mary was deaf (per 1861), so would have faced even more challenges than any other widow with four children.  Perhaps someone in her family was helping out, and George is there but under a different surname. I certainly cannot find him or William as SPEIGHT or anything resembling it.

Anna

[Necromancer]

1851 would seem to confirm your findings - that Dad was a Robert .....

[Paul Caswell]

Sorry, yes it is Speight. 

I think Mary is Maryanne Fernie but that is not backed by a lot of data right now.

I have tried so many different tricks finding George in 61 I forget which I have tried. Even looking for George born in Gravesend seems to show no likelys.

His father Robert b1821 is also missing but of course he may not be alive.

Paul

[Paul Caswell]

And with even less confidence it is possible that Mary's father was Ebenezer b1786.

HO107; Piece 722; Book: 17; Civil Parish: St Michael Cornhill; County: Middlesex; Enumeration District: 3; Folio: 6; Page: 11; Line: 21;

Paul

[avm228]

Paul, have you obtained George's birth certificate?  That would tell you reliably what his mother's name was, including maiden name.  I don't see any very suitable candidate for Mary/Maryanne as FERNIE in 1841 unless her age had shifted considerably, and given that she would have been (on the basis of 1851/1861 census ages) around 26 or 27 at the time of her marriage to Robert SPEIGHT it is entirely possible she could have been married before.  Unless you know otherwise...

She was at least consistent with her birthplace - St Andrew's in 1851, Holborn in 1861 (St Andrew's is the parish in Holborn) so that should help find her before marriage, if we can be confident of what her name was.

Anna