William Long

[groom]

Death of his father?

Deaths Mar 1854
 
Long    Thomas       
Devizes    5a   73

[kanskar]

1881 Census - transcribed as LANG - Occupation - Gas Fitter born London living in Little Clacton Road, Great Clacton. Age - 25

Reference : RG11 1779 Folio 36 Page 7. 

[kanskar]

Look at this - could it be him in 1861 and so explain the two places of birth?

RG09 Piece 1293 Folio 108  Page 37
2, ... Court, St Marys, Devizes, Wiltshire

    
Elizabeth   Long       Widow       45    Charwoman   Devizes, Wiltshire
Thomas   Long   Son           11       Scholar          Westminster, Middlesex
William   Long   Son       M    9       Scholar          Westminster, Middlesex
John   Long   Son       Male   6       Scholar                   Devizes, Wiltshire

Notice that he called two of his children Thomas and John!

If the 1861 is accurate - then this could be his birth reg:

William James Long - Westminster 1-470 Dec 1851 Qtr

[Thunder Monkey]

Groom, Kanskar,

You are both amazing!  Thank you ever so much, I couldn't have got through this 'brickwall' without you.

Even after almost 8 years, I still need practice and lessons on searching for ancestors!

I am indebted to you both.

Cheers again.

Butch

P.S.  Apologies for the delay, I live in Cyprus and we are a couple of hours ahead and can only get online once I get my darling 4 year old little girl to bed.

[groom]

You're welcome. It was pure luck finding that 1861 census when I searched using Devizes as a keyword, it was lucky that he used that as a place of birth on one census.

It looks as if the family moved to London at some time between the marriage and the birth of the first son, and then returned to Devizes before the death of Thomas in the March quarter of 1854. His son was born just after his death, in the June quarter of 1854. Perhaps Thomas was ill and returned home to die and so that his wife would be near family. A similar thing happened in my family. My gx2 grandfather and family moved to London from Suffolk and my great grandmother was born there. Then the next thing I found, three months later, was his death from TB back in Suffolk, and the family there in the following census.

Perhaps your William was aware that he was born somewhere in London, but because he lived in Devizes as a young child, probably also considered that is where he came from.

[kanskar]

Happy to help. Kanskar

[groom]

Looking for Thomas Long born 1825 Wiltshire in the 1841 census there are two - one in Wilsford, Amesbury and one in Sutton Veney, Warminster. I think yours is the first one as it comes under Amesbury and also the Sutton Veney one is still there with a wife in 1851.

According to the 1841, Thomas's father is a coachman. I think that Hostler in 1851 could well be Ostler ie working with horses.

1841 HO107; Piece: 1186; Book: 20  Wilsford
All born in county

William Long  35  coachman
Sarah Long    40
Thomas Long 15
Caroline       13
Maria             11
John                9
Robert             7
William            5

[Thunder Monkey]

You're welcome. It was pure luck finding that 1861 census when I searched using Devizes as a keyword, it was lucky that he used that as a place of birth on one census.

It looks as if the family moved to London at some time between the marriage and the birth of the first son, and then returned to Devizes before the death of Thomas in the March quarter of 1854. His son was born just after his death, in the June quarter of 1854. Perhaps Thomas was ill and returned home to die and so that his wife would be near family. A similar thing happened in my family. My gx2 grandfather and family moved to London from Suffolk and my great grandmother was born there. Then the next thing I found, three months later, was his death from TB back in Suffolk, and the family there in the following census.

Perhaps your William was aware that he was born somewhere in London, but because he lived in Devizes as a young child, probably also considered that is where he came from.

Another lesson learned.  I'll add it to my ancestry-hunting lessons

[Thunder Monkey]

Looking for Thomas Long born 1825 Wiltshire in the 1841 census there are two - one in Wilsford, Amesbury and one in Sutton Veney, Warminster. I think yours is the first one as it comes under Amesbury and also the Sutton Veney one is still there with a wife in 1851.

According to the 1841, Thomas's father is a coachman. I think that Hostler in 1851 could well be Ostler ie working with horses.

1841 HO107; Piece: 1186; Book: 20  Wilsford
All born in county

William Long  35  coachman
Sarah Long    40
Thomas Long 15
Caroline       13
Maria             11
John                9
Robert             7
William            5

WOW, superb, that has just opened up so many avenues to follow. 
I think i'll be here a while tonight!