Index to Griffith’s Valuation - James Bradley

[minersgranddaughter]

Can anyone check the Index to Griffith’s Valuation for me?

I am looking for a James Bradley, who may be from the Londonderry area.

The only information I have about him is from one of his son's marriage certificates.  His son John Bradley was born abt 1839 and arrived in England sometime before 1861 where he worked in Aston, Birmingham as a coachmaker (and later railway coach builder).  John appears to have come over by himself - he is living as a lodger in 1861 and no Bradleys witnessed his marriage in 1868 - so I assume that his father James and the rest of the family remained in Derry. 

On John's marriage certificate his father is listed as a general dealer.  John was Roman Catholic and had three children named John William Bradley, Edgar James Bradley and Roderick Michael Bradley.

Any James Bradleys listed as general dealers on the Index to Griffith’s Valuation in the Derry area would provide a valuable lead for me.

Thanks

Sue

[aghadowey]

Bradley's a few common surname in Londonderry and not everyone is listed in Griffith's Valuation. Griffith's doesn't show occupations or names of other people in a household. See this site to search yourself:
http://griffiths.askaboutireland.ie/gv4/gv_family_search_form.php
P.S. this site will show you the scanned pages with full details not just a list of people.

[minersgranddaughter]

Thanks for this, I didn't know about this website.

You're right;  there's a lot of James Bradleys.  This has been a long-standing brick wall in my family research and it doesn't look like it's going to get solved any time soon!

[aghadowey]

Just remember that Londonderry/Derry can refer both to the City and the County which probably makes it harder to find your Bradleys.

[minersgranddaughter]

Well that's just great, isn't it!

It's only on the 1861 census that his place of birth is given as Londonderry.  On every census after that it just says 'Ireland, unknown' - any idea why this is?

[aghadowey]

Just the way it was done. In Irish census records usually just the county of birth is given but for those born outside Ireland sometimes birthplace is 'England,' 'Scotland,' etc.