HENRY ARMSTRONG b abt 1825; Brighton area

[Ian at 25]

Looking for info for Henry Armstrong  b about 1825, died before 1874, occupation listed as accountant on marriage cert of son Henry Edward Armstrong in 1874. I have no other info on Henry Snr.   Can any person help? 

[lizdb]

So where did his year of birth come from? (as that wouldnt be on son's marriage cert...)
Have you found son in early censuses with his parents? If not, then when/where was son born and we can look for the family via him, rather than jumping ahead - one step at a time usually works best!

[Ian at 25]

Hi lizb  .... the dob for Henry Snr was just a guess. The only earlier cen. for son (HE) is 1871 living with mother at 6 Newhaven St., Brighton. I do have a note that HE in 1861 was at 180 Devonshire St., Brighton; I dont  have a copy of census for that yr. HE was born Brighton 1846.
Have not been able to find B cert for HE to get mothers name.

[lizdb]

OK - so the ONLY ref we have for Henry senior is on his sons birth cert  ... hmmm ... it could be that Henry junior was illegitimate and just made that up! But we wont go there yet. Before trying to find Henry seniors birth (and NEVER guess!!!!!) we need to establish his existance and that he is Henry junior's father .....

so lets get hunting!

1851 - I cant see a Henry born 1846ish with father Henry. This coupled with the fact that there also isnt a birth for him in 1846ish shows that we cant assume these facts are correct.

So lets take a step back - who does Henry junior marry? Have you found him on censuses after marriage - if so what does HE say for date and place of birth? If not, that is where we must start.

[lizdb]

Is this the 1861 that you refer to?

RG9 593 95 29
12 Devonshire Street Brighton

Elizabeth mar 34 Dressmaker bn Middx London
Henry 12 son Errand boy bn Brighton

Cant see them in 1851

How do you know this is the same one that marries in 1874?

[lizdb]

Still answering my own questions here!

Is this him in 1881?
RG11 1090 33 20
Greengrocers shop 32 Centurion Rd Brighton
Henry Edward 32 greengrocer
Rosa wife 29
Rosa 5
Henry William 3
Eva Gertrude 1           all bn Brighton


fits in better with being an Errand boy as a child than having an Accountant as a father...

but both this census and the 1861 (if that is him) indicate a year of birth of about 1849 rather than 1846 dont they?

[janan]

Hi Ian and Liz

I've been looking too and on every census his dob is c1849- assuming we have the right man No other candidate jumping out though. Mum in 1861 and 71 is Elizabeth?

Hmm she says she's married in 1861. Notice her place of birth is Middlesex, so maybe if Henry senior does exist he was from there too?

Jan

1861 address is 12 Devonshire St

[lizdb]

She says married..but who knows?

I did wonder if she married Armstrong after having young H, but the only Henry Edward's born 1849 in Brighton are Philcox and Picknell - and I have ruled them out as have found them on 1851 with parents and mum not tying up with the Elizabeth we have found.
Other Armstrongs born 1849 Brighton likewise (Osmond and soemthing else, cant remember now) I checked, in case he was actually registered with a different Christian name and took Henry later on ..... but no.

Bit of a mystery still.

[janan]

No sign of them in 1851

Jan