James smith born 1837 in st Ives.

[ciderdrinker]

Hi
Anyone fancy a challenge?
I have a James Smith born 1837 in st Ives.
He turns up in Wolverhampton c 1874 as a clock maker ,repairer and meets up with Sarah Moore ,a local girl from Aston Birmingham born c 1844.
There seems to be no marriage but they go on to have 12 children.
In 1911 on the census he is a OAP but also mentions ten years service in the Army as an officers servant.

I can't find anything on that.
There is a possible James smith on the 1841 census son of William and Elizabeth in St Ives.On the 1851 dad William has died and he is with his widowed mother and siblings.The youngest George was born in 1850.If these are his parents then his mother was a Miss Richardson.

Can anyone find anything on James?
It doesn't seem like the records from the parish of St Ives are on line.
Any ideas welcome.

Ciderdrinker.

[trish1120]

Hi ciderdrinker,
Worth checking out?

SMITH, JAMES mmn CLEMENTS 
GRO Reference: 1838  D Quarter in ST IVES UNION  Volume 14  Page 186

Baptism for James 04 Aug 1839 Holywell-cum-Needingworth to WILLIAM/SARAH

FreeREG has a Marriage 1834 of William SMITH/Sarah CLEMENTS

1851 Census
Holywell cum Needingworth
William Smith 38 Ag Lab
Sarah Smith 36
JAMES Smith 11**
Emma Smith 7
Joseph Smith 5
John Smith 3
All born Needingworth, Huntingdonshire

1861 Census has a James Smith 1840 Weedsnworth, Huntingdonshire (sic) Second Battalion 17th Regiment of Foot, Camp Shorncliffe (Kent)

Trish

[ciderdrinker]

Hi
Trish
Yes it could be him.
it's difficult to know because the name is Smith but I'll follow that up.
Hopefully I can find his military record and he will have served for 10 years.

Ciderdrinker

[trish1120]

Good luck with Military Records

[PeterC66]

I research the history of my village (Holywell-cum-Needingworth) and have a website with information about our people, that I try to update regularly. The details I have found in the past for the James Smith mentioned can be found at https://www.hcnhistory.org.uk/blank-for-people/getperson.php?personID=P1582&tree=hcn.  I don't know if it helps, as the birth is definitely 1839, not 1837.
 
Peter

[ciderdrinker]

Hello Peter
Thank you for your interest and the extra info.
The censuses I have for James give him as born 1837 at St Ives and range from 1881-1911.
The possible 1851 census in St Ives gives him as 1836 .
So yes James from Holywell's date of birth is two years out.
But the marriage to Elizabeth might explain why he and Saran Moore didn't get married.
It's difficult.I can find any Army records.Even with the Regiment I had no luck.

I looked for children of James Smith and Elizabeth Kenzey on the GRO site births.
These are the ones I found
Henry William Sep 1858 Marylebone
Alfred June 1861 Marylebone

No sign of them after that or on the censuses.
Being Smith it is just so difficult.
But thank you

Ciderdrinker