Thomas Henry James (b. Maidstone 1848, d. Fylde 1896)

[Kendy]

Hello! I am trying to find more out about my gt-gt-grandfather Thomas Henry James (born Maidstone, Kent in 1848).  He married Ellen Enright (b. Westmeath, Ireland in 1857).  They married in Warrington in 1880 and had a daughter, Florence,  born in Fleetwood, Lancs in 1883 but who appears to have been brought up by her grandparents in Warrington despite having an elder sister and two younger brothers who lived with Thomas and Ellen in Fleetwood.  Thomas appears to have progressed his career on the railways from (possibly) train boy, railway porter/inspector, then railway policeman before his death around 1896.  However, on Florence's marriage certificate Thomas's occupation (although deceased by then) is shown as Pier Head Inspector but I am unable to find any information to support this.  Whilst having information about him from 1880 onwards I have nothing before and would love to fill in the gaps.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.

[groom]

They married in Warrington in 1880 and had a daughter, Florence,  born in Fleetwood, Lancs in 1883 but who appears to have been brought up by her grandparents in Warrington despite having an elder sister and two younger brothers who lived with Thomas and Ellen in Fleetwood.

How do you know that? Remember that the census only tells you who was in the house on census night. She may have just been visiting her grandparents for a few days rather than actually living with them.

[heatherjulie]

Hi
Do you have Thomas Henry's birth and marriage certificates?

The marriage is on www.familysearch.org and  gives his father as Thomas Herbert James
His age was 31

Heather 

[Kendy]

Thanks for both your replies Groom and Heather.

Groom:  you are quite right that Florence may have only been visiting on the night of the Census; that has crossed my mind.  My assumption (which may be totally wrong) is only based on the fact that on the 1891 and 1901 census Florence appears to be at her grandparents address both times (which of course could just be coincidence) and remained in Warrington until her death around 1945.  Her parents stayed around the Fleetwood/Thornton area.

Heather:  Thomas Henry James is a mystery to me.  I have seen his marriage certificate (with his father's name, Thomas Herbert James) and throughout all the census records his occupation seems to be railway related.  However, on his daughter Florence's marriage certificate he is named as Henry Herbert James, Pier Head Inspector (sounds more harbour related than railway).  I can't find any record of this Henry Herbert, but have found Thomas Henry and he is the right person for my tree.  (Just a thought, maybe if Florence did live with her grandparents she didn't have much to do with her father and 'guessed' at informtaion!)  I haven't been able to get his birth certificate yet as I can only find one Thomas Henry James from Kent born around the same year, but in Eastry about 30/40+ miles from Maidstone.  As for his father Thomas Herbert... all I have is his name... and there's thousands of them!  Any advice/suggestions where to go from here would be appreciated.

[heatherjulie]

Hi
This one looks interesting
1861
2 Folkestone Road, Hougham

Thomas James 44 born Milford WalesCoastguard
Mary Ann James 36 born Faversham Kent
Thomas H James 12 b Ramsey, Kent, England
Sarah Ann James 10 b Ramsey, Kent, England
William James 8 b Hougham Kent
Mary Ann James 6 b Hougham Kent
Martha James 2 b Hougham Kent

11/550/72/3




 

[Kendy]

This does look interesting and I think I should pursue it further to see if I can get more from it.

Thanks for your help Heather.

Regards, Julie