James Wayman of Great Paxton/Graveley

[JAKnighton]

This person has eluded me for years. James Wayman was born in 1835 at Great Paxton to parents John Wayman and Ann Chamberlain. He is living with his parents at Great Paxton in the 1841 and 1851 census, and then in the 1861 census he is a visitor staying in the home of his sister Sarah (married name Hook), also at Great Paxton.

After that he disappears until the 1901 census when he is once again a visitor, staying in the house of his nephew Malta Corn at Graveley. His occupation is 'labourer on road'. He is single.

I can't find a death for him. I ordered a death certificate for a James Wayman who died 1906 in Solihull, Warwickshire but that turned out to be a different person.

I'm wondering if he worked abroad and possibly died while overseas?

[Milliepede]

Have you looked for him on passenger lists? 

I would agree as a single chap he may have travelled abroad for work.

Are his parents alive in the missing years, if he had other siblings can check census to see if he was staying with any of them (if you haven't already checked)

[maddys52]

There is a newspaper item mentioning James WAYMAN of Great Paxton in 1863:

"James Wayman, of Great Paxton, labourer, ordered to pay 1s. 6d. a week for the support of the child of Amy Jenkins of Toseland, born on the 17th June last."
Cambridge Independent Press, Saturday,  Oct. 17, 1863

Also in 1866:
"STEALING FOWLS - Russell Wayman and James Wayman, two labourers, residing at Great Paxton, were charged with stealing two fowls, value 3s., the property of Mr. James King, farmer, of Great Paxton. The former prisoner, Russell Wayman was sentenced to two months imprisonment with hard labour, and the other was discharged."
Cambridge Independent Press, Saturday,  Dec. 1, 1866

And possibly in 1868:
"A man named James Wayman, labourer, of Offord, in the employ of Mr. Cawcutt, was charged with riding in the bottom of a cart on the fair day in a state of which he was incapable, through drink, to control the horse. The defendant pleaded guilty. Mr. Cawcutt, his master, gave him a good character, and the defendant was fined 2s. 6d., and 14s. 6d. expenses."
Cambridge Independent Press, Saturday,  Apr. 25, 1868

[JAKnighton]

Have you looked for him on passenger lists? 

I would agree as a single chap he may have travelled abroad for work.

Are his parents alive in the missing years, if he had other siblings can check census to see if he was staying with any of them (if you haven't already checked)

I've taken a look but haven't seen any with ages that would fit. I have all the census records for his parents and siblings, James is the odd one out with the gaps in his records.

There is a newspaper item mentioning James WAYMAN of Great Paxton in 1863:

"James Wayman, of Great Paxton, labourer, ordered to pay 1s. 6d. a week for the support of the child of Amy Jenkins of Toseland, born on the 17th June last."
Cambridge Independent Press, Saturday,  Oct. 17, 1863

Also in 1866:
"STEALING FOWLS - Russell Wayman and James Wayman, two labourers, residing at Great Paxton, were charged with stealing two fowls, value 3s., the property of Mr. James King, farmer, of Great Paxton. The former prisoner, Russell Wayman was sentenced to two months imprisonment with hard labour, and the other was discharged."
Cambridge Independent Press, Saturday,  Dec. 1, 1866

And possibly in 1868:
"A man named James Wayman, labourer, of Offord, in the employ of Mr. Cawcutt, was charged with riding in the bottom of a cart on the fair day in a state of which he was incapable, through drink, to control the horse. The defendant pleaded guilty. Mr. Cawcutt, his master, gave him a good character, and the defendant was fined 2s. 6d., and 14s. 6d. expenses."
Cambridge Independent Press, Saturday,  Apr. 25, 1868

These are helpful, thank you. The one with his brother Russell Wayman is definitely him. Russell was in the papers a lot due to all the crimes he committed! I will have to investigate this illegitimate child, it may very well lead to some clues.

[maddys52]

These are helpful, thank you. The one with his brother Russell Wayman is definitely him. Russell was in the papers a lot due to all the crimes he committed! I will have to investigate this illegitimate child, it may very well lead to some clues.

I had a quick look, but couldn't find anything helpful at this stage. In case you try to find the JENKINS (I think this is the right family), they're a bit hard - children registered as JAKINS mmn BILLINGS.

In 1841 at Toseland (all born in County):

 William Jenkins        40
Catherine Jenkins    37
Sarah Jenkins           16
Joseph Jenkins        12
Amy Jenkins             5
Susanah Jenkins      3
William Jenkins        1
H0107/454/4 pg3

in 1851 at Toseland (all born Toseland except Kitty - born Graveley):
 William Jakens       51
Kitty Jakens            46
Amy Jakens           16
Susan Jakens        13
William Jakens      11
Betsy Jakens           7
Mary Ann Jakens   5
H0107/1750 / 14 pg20

I can't see Amy in 1861, though her family is still at Toseland:
William Jakins      61
Ketty Jakins         57
William Jakins     20
Betsy Jakins        18
RG09/982 / 12 pg 18

[maddys52]

There are 2 James JAKINS registered at St Neots in 1863 - in the Jun qtr with mmn SHEPHARD (however there is also a Sarah JAKINS with same mmn registered at the same time).

 The other is in the Sept qtr with no mmn. If the child was born in Jun 1863 I would have expected it to be registered in Jun qtr?

There is this Amy JAKINS in 1871 at Toseland with 3 children - all registered with no mmn.
Amy Jakins    30   Toseland (widow?)
James Jakins   8
Joseph Jakins  6
Arthur Jakins  3
 GBC/1871/1533/0039

She also appears in later census with Jos CHAMBERLAIN in 1881 RG11/1610/96 pg 20
 Joseph Chamberlain     52    Eynesbury  (boot and shoe maker)
Amy Jeakins (Chamberlain)   44    Toseland  (boot mender)
James Jeakins         14      Toseland
Joseph Jeakins        13       Toseland
Arthur Jeakins        10       Toseland
RG11/1610/97  pg 20 &21


and later census too, with David CHAMBERLAIN.

(I have to go out now, but can write up the details later 

[maddys52]

I think this is Amy in 1861 at Great Paxton:

 Mary Goodjohn       62    Great Paxton (widow, formerly house servant)
Joseph Goodjohn     25    Great Paxton (ag lab)
Amy Jakins  Lodger  20    Toseland  (lace maker)
RG09/ 982 / 22 pg9

1891 she is at Eyensbury

 David Chamberlain     30    Huntingdonshire  (pensioned soldier)
Amy Jakins  Boarder    46    Toseland  (boot mender)
Arthur Jakins  Boarder  21  Huntingdonshire  (ag lab)
Gertrude Jakins Boarder  2 Huntingdonshire
William Jakins  Boarder  50   Huntingdonshire
RG12/1242/ 87 pg29


In 1901 she is at Eyensbury
Amy Jakins          53    Toseland  (living on own means)
James Jakins       35    Toseland  (house painter)
Arthur Jakins      31    Eaton Socon, Bedfordshire  (farma labourer shepherd)
Gertrude Jakins  Grand Daughter   14    Hemingford, Huntingdonshire
David Chamberlain   Lodger             43   St Neots  (house painter)

In 1911 she is at St Neots
Amy Jakins   79    Huntingdon  (single)
David Chamberlain  Boarder   48   Toseland (general labourer)
 GBC/1911/RG14/08794/0089/1

[JAKnighton]

I think this is Amy in 1861 at Great Paxton:

 Mary Goodjohn       62    Great Paxton (widow, formerly house servant)
Joseph Goodjohn     25    Great Paxton (ag lab)
Amy Jakins  Lodger  20    Toseland  (lace maker)
RG09/ 982 / 22 pg9

1891 she is at Eyensbury

 David Chamberlain     30    Huntingdonshire  (pensioned soldier)
Amy Jakins  Boarder    46    Toseland  (boot mender)
Arthur Jakins  Boarder  21  Huntingdonshire  (ag lab)
Gertrude Jakins Boarder  2 Huntingdonshire
William Jakins  Boarder  50   Huntingdonshire
RG12/1242/ 87 pg29


In 1901 she is at Eyensbury
Amy Jakins          53    Toseland  (living on own means)
James Jakins       35    Toseland  (house painter)
Arthur Jakins      31    Eaton Socon, Bedfordshire  (farma labourer shepherd)
Gertrude Jakins  Grand Daughter   14    Hemingford, Huntingdonshire
David Chamberlain   Lodger             43   St Neots  (house painter)

In 1911 she is at St Neots
Amy Jakins   79    Huntingdon  (single)
David Chamberlain  Boarder   48   Toseland (general labourer)
 GBC/1911/RG14/08794/0089/1

There are 2 James JAKINS registered at St Neots in 1863 - in the Jun qtr with mmn SHEPHARD (however there is also a Sarah JAKINS with same mmn registered at the same time).

 The other is in the Sept qtr with no mmn. If the child was born in Jun 1863 I would have expected it to be registered in Jun qtr?

There is this Amy JAKINS in 1871 at Toseland with 3 children - all registered with no mmn.
Amy Jakins    30   Toseland (widow?)
James Jakins   8
Joseph Jakins  6
Arthur Jakins  3
 GBC/1871/1533/0039

She also appears in later census with Jos CHAMBERLAIN in 1881 RG11/1610/96 pg 20
 Joseph Chamberlain     52    Eynesbury  (boot and shoe maker)
Amy Jeakins (Chamberlain)   44    Toseland  (boot mender)
James Jeakins         14      Toseland
Joseph Jeakins        13       Toseland
Arthur Jeakins        10       Toseland
RG11/1610/97  pg 20 &21


and later census too, with David CHAMBERLAIN.

(I have to go out now, but can write up the details later 

Thank you very much for all this research! This is very compelling as I didn't think James Wayman had any descendants. The fact that Amy lived with people called Chamberlain is interesting as James Wayman's mother was a Chamberlain. These men are no doubt cousins of his.

I have added this to my tree and will see if this will lead to anything that might explain James' whereabouts. I wonder if he deliberately moved away to avoid taking ownership of his son?