Harry Rowland BERKELEY was my 2G GF. I am desperate to know more about his origins and his life. Apologies if I’m missing anything obvious here, but I’m a relative beginner at genealogy. Main questions based on the records I have found :
i. No birth or baptism record found and no father on marriage certificate means he may be adopted/illegitimate. If so, is there any way of tracing the parents?
ii. No marriage traced for Henry R BERKELEY and Clara, and possibly they weren’t married. Where can one check to establish whether Harry and Maria divorced?
iii. Are there any records, eg professional bodies, to verify Harry’s claims to be a dentist, surgeon and professor of chemistry?
This is what I have unearthed. Names are transcribed as on records…………….
Harry Rowland BERKELEY was born sometime between 1825 – 1829, according to various census records and documents. Favourite 1826. I have not been able to trace any record of his birth or baptism, although the majority of records state St Pancras, London, whilst later ones state Islington.
Harry Rowland BERKELEY married Maria TASKER on 6.2.1849 at the Parish Church in Horncastle, Lincolnshire. There is no name for Harry’s father on the marriage cert, just a dash. Witnesses were Mrs Barton and Mary Ann Wood. Harry’s age was 23, bachelor, occupation surgeon, living in Horncastle
1841 census – [longshot] H BARCLAY, age 11, born Middlesex, scholar, at Christ’s Hospital School, London. [School no longer there today, but next door was St Bartholomew’s Hospital, including its medical and dental school.] Remote chance this could be him – ties in with stated profession, but age not quite right. No other H Berkeleys [incl spelling variants] found in 1841 census of approx age and place of birth
1850 – Son, Harry John BERKELEY, born at 59 Bayham Street South, St Pancras, home of Mary Sakker, where George/Elizabeth Barton [born Burgh, Lincs], were visitors at 30.3.1851 census. Was this the Mrs Barton, witness at marriage? [Elizabeth Barton may be red herring, but provides some continuity]
1851 census – Hy BERKELEY, 22 Great College Street, St Pancras, dentist, age 23, born St Pancras. Maria and son Harry John also on record.
1852 - Son Harry John BERKELEY’s christening record : parents are Harry and Maria of 49 Great College Street, occupation surgeon.
1861 census – HR BERKELEY, 28 Church Terrace, Kentish Town, commission agent, age 32, born St Pancras, with Maria and Harry John.
1871 census – Harry R BERKELEY, 4 Bartholomew Villas, Kentish Town, art metal worker, age 42, born St Pancras, with Maria and Harry John.
He then he disappears
1881 census – Harry R not found
1881 census – Maria BERKELEY, age 52, b Horncastle, visiting Elizabeth Barton, [born Burgh, Lincs], 10 Chapel Lane, Spalding.
And Harry R possibly reappears with a new family. I have no proof that this is the same person, but there is no-one else I have found with a similar name
1891 census - Henry R BERKELEY, 212 Burlem Rd, Lambeth, 61, professor of chemistry, born London, wife Clara, 32, born Brixton, son Harry Percy,8, born Cheltenham. No record found of Clara’s birth or their marriage [maiden name unknown].
1891 census – Maria BERKELEY, age 60, b Horncastle, alone, 34 Albert Street, Spalding
1901 census - Rowland BERKELEY, 1 Colebrooke Row, Islington, boarder, age 73, born Islington, analytical chemist
1901 census – Clara BERKELEY, 39, born Brixton and Harry P, age 17, born Cheltenham, staying in holiday apartment in Margate
Harry Rowland BERKELEY dies 18.4.1901, age 74.
Death certificate : place of death 1 Colebrooke Row, Islington. Occupation, Analyst. Widow present at death is CN Berkeley.
Thank you for taking the time to read this
Peter
