Missing a Marshall born 1885/6 Camberwell

[watsonbrown]

Hi everyone.

Marshall is a common name, and there are many James Marshalls in London in the 1910s!  The one I am interested in was living in Paddington, London as a boarder in 1911, where it was stated he was born in Camberwell, London in 1886.  Army records exists of him where his date of birth is given as 1885. Also stated there is his next of kin as his sister, an Alice Marshall who lived in Devons Road, Poplar, London in 1915.

This James Marshall would later go on to marry Sarah Jacobs in 1920, and live in Poplar (different address to Alice, and not with Alice).  From there all is well documented, however I cannot find any records of James' parents or of Alice, and none of the man himself James Marshall prior to 1911.

I have a copy of the 1920 marriage certificate, which states James Marshall's father was another James Marshall, but was deceased at the time.

I was hoping I would find a 1891 census of a James/James/Alice Marshall family household but to no avail.  Neither could I find any record of James or Alice in the 1901 census.  Also tried seeking census records by street name in case they were still there at the time, but again, no avail.

I've hit a dead end and thus seek advice, support, ideas, etc.  All welcome.  Also conscious, as you would expect, that there are many James Marshalls and so figuring the right one can also be a task of itself.

Many thanks.

[mckha489]

Occupation of father?

[louisa maud]

If you say James is well documented from 1920 have you found a death and what about the 1939 register?

Louisa Maud

[Kay99]

Welcome to RootsChat 

There is a tree on Anc. that lists him as dying in 1926 in Poplar which is presumably this on FreeBMD
James Marshall  age 39  Dec Qtr 1926    Poplar 1c   439

I don't suppose the witnesses at his wedding were any help 

Kay

[watsonbrown]

Hi everyone, thanks for your replies thus far.

I have found a death for James Marshall (junior) 1926 in Poplar, that may well be my tree you found on Ancestry, Kay!  I have ordered a copy of that certificate in hope it may shed some more clues around his birth and per-marital years.

I have found his wife in the 1939 census at a very familiar address in Essex that would become my grandfather's house, which confirms she was a widow at that time.

James Marshall Senior (the father) was marked as deceased on his son's James Marshall Junior's wedding certificate in 1920, so the rank or profession of father was left blank.

According to the 1911 census, when James Junior was a lodger in Paddington, his occupation was that of an Umbrella Manufacturer.  Army records from 1915 and his marriage certificate from 1920 confirms the same address, so he had been living there for at least 9 years.

Again, welcome any help/advice!

[watsonbrown]

Regarding the 1920 Marriage Certificate, there are witnesses listed as :  H. Grier and J. Dennis (could be F. Dennis?)

I'm not finding these names helpful personally...  just adding to the mystery of this elusive man!

[louisa maud]

I stand to be corrected here but do I understand as at 11/12/1915 he was aged 30 years 4 months, does it narrow it down a bit

Cant find a birth registered  Camberwell to help either

Louis Maud

[watsonbrown]

Hi, yes, i think you are right.  To add to the mystery, his date of birth is inconsistent.

The maths do not add up when comparing the 1911, 1915/6, 1920 and 1926 records.

He was 24 in 1911, 30 in 1915/6, 33 in 1920 and 39 in 1926.

I’m sure it’s the same James in each scenario given the same addresses and wife.

I understand it was common for people to lie in order to join the army for example, but he was plenty old enough at the time, not as if he’d just turn 18 or anything.  And of course, such as the time, details weren’t as well documented and accurate as they are today.  I even forget my own age sometimes and have to do some mental maths!!


It could be the case he was born anywhere between 1885 and 1887 or even some years either side.

[Dundee]

I have ordered a copy of that certificate in hope it may shed some more clues around his birth and per-marital years.

That is unlikely as there is very little useful info on a death cert.

https://www.bmd-certificates.co.uk/images/death_large.jpg

Debra