who lived in this house?

[taffess]

Hi all, Can anyone find who lived at 4 St. Mary Street Swansea in 1881. It is the address my gt grandfather William Rakes gives on his marrriage cert. in 1884. I tried FindMyPast, but gives no result. I can find no trace of William Rakes prior to the marriage, so hoping he is at that address in 1881. Thanks. 

[NadT]

The marriage certificate should give William's age at marriage (which should give you an approximate year of birth)and also his father's name and occupation.   Have you tried using those details to search the 1881 census for him?  I had a quick look and there are a few Rakes in both England and Wales.  There are also misspellings, Reakes and Raikes.  He doesn't turn up in Swansea doing a search so he could be one of the other ones elsewhere. 
Nad

[ShaunJ]

In 1875 the occupier of number 4 was Michael James, provision merchant.

The 1881 census page goes 1, 2, 3, 6 with no gap which is a bit odd.

[taffess]

Thanks so much for the lookup.  All I have on WR is age 21 in 1884 father John Rakes labourer. Later name is spelt Raikes.  I have WR upto 1911 census - states born in Oxford, but can find so such person. The marriage certificate gives bride's address 3 St. Mary Street Swansea, so he is the boy nextdoor!

[NadT]

Hi,

Tried looking again using the details you gave, but like you have drawn a blank.  Sorry.  I think he may not have been born in Oxford, or if he was , his surname may not have been Rakes.  The possibilites are many.  I have a 3 x great grandfather who appears to be illegitimate from the only baptism record we can find, but he puts a fathers name of John on his marriage certificate.  I have another family in Wales who were all born illegitimate registered with their mothers surname, but when she eventually married they were recorded on censuses under the step fathers surname - some married under his name, others their original registered surname.  Perhaps if you get his second marriage certificate or his death certificate they may have some additional info on. 
Good luck

[taffess]

Thanks for the reply. I don't think he was born in Oxford either.  There is an Oxford St. in Swansea near the address he gives! I found a Martha Raikes, Mariners wife in Swansea 1881 census with a son William age 15 born Swansea, but no trace of her or family in 1891! I found that by chance while going through all the pages on Ancestry. If I put their names in search for 1881 they don't show up. Strange!!