Seeking Parents of William James b c1850 who married Emma Double 1873

[Robincrook]

Some great work there jonw65, many thanks. I need to take that all in. I'm sure we will get a breakthrough because I know there are people on Rootschat who are so good at what they do. I love doing genealogy but my experience is pretty limited. Regards Robin.

[jonw65]

We perhaps need someone to look at that court martial, see what it was all about.
The 50th foot we know were in Colchester in 1873, presumably with your William.
You would think the "lath splitter" occupation of George would help
John

[Robincrook]

I was beginning to think that father George James, lath splitter may be an alternative target, I have made tentative steps to find him. I thought I would have a chance of finding a George with lath splitter as trade in say 1861 with a 10 or 11 year old William! It aint been easy! 

[Pennines]

Just looking in Monmouthshire in 1851 there are a couple of children named William James with a father, George - but one George is an Ag Lab and the other a Coal Miner at that stage.

The first is in Caldicot and the second in Risca -- the latter is within Newport Reg Dist. for sure.

There are also a couple of Williams living with a grandparent - which is no help.

[Robincrook]

Thanks for taking the time Pennines, much appreciated! 

[Ladyhawk]

I have now received the Marriage Certificate for William James (23) who married Emma Double (19).
The information is as posted by "Ladyhawk" previously ie

William James
Residence   Golden Hill
Marriage 15 Oct 1873 Essex Colchester, St Giles
Spouse Emma Double Spouse's marital status   S
Father George James  occupation   Lath Splitter
Spouse's George Double  occupation labourer
Essex Record Office

In addition, the Certificate gives William's Rank or Profession as Private 50th Regiment.

Have you looked at the witnesses to see if there might be any clues there?

Were they relatives?

I've also been looking but not found a George James with an occupation lathe splitter 

I did look at this George

1861c Lower Church Street, Chepstow, Monmouthshire
George James   Head                           1809   Chepstow occ Labourer Timber
Eliza   James   Wife                           1809   Chepstow
Eliza   James   Daughter                   1854   Chepstow

then I looked at 1851 census same address George's occ Ship Labourer they do have a son named
William but he's born c1836 Chepstow

[Robincrook]

Thankyou Ladyhawk. William's parentage does seem to be presenting a problem. I was hoping that William being in the Army may have shed light somewhere on his parentage. Certainly trying to find a fit for George, his father, in any Census preceding the marriage of William and Emma in 1873 is proving to be challenging! The witnesses are John Jones and an L A Jones

[jonw65]

A bit more on the army...
The 50th Foot were in Bristol in 1870 (did they arrive there in Dec 69?)
It seems that William might have joined up then.

WO 97 pension records for some in the 50th Foot with similar numbers to WJ in 1871, John Morse, b. 1852 (1411), Henry Duck, b 1850 (1415), Edwin Delve, b. 1852 (1419) - all born Gloucestershire
Thomas Coleman, b Staffs 1850 (1408) , etc

Now the two guys highlighted were both discharged in 1871, pension exam date 18 July
For those of us without access to their WO 97 documents we can see their records in WO 116 on the TNA image viewer for free
Images 29 and 30 (of 242)
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C613577

They are not the only men from the 50th on that date, but their numbers suggest they must have joined up about the same time as the William James from Monmouth.
And their records say they had both served 7 months.
Thomas had a hernia, poor Henry phthisis

There should be a record in 1872 for Edwin Delve (1419) but I haven't found it.

First child of William and Emma?
JAMES, MARY  ANN JANE    
Mother's Maiden Surname: DOUBLE 
GRO Reference: 1874  S Quarter in COLCHESTER  Volume 04A  Page 323

Baptized at St Botolph, last year of the BT's!
4 October 1874, just Mary Ann
Father William a Labourer
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YSL7-Y8H?i=518&cat=489962

Some trancriptions on FreeReg
John

[Pennines]

Wow -- great info Jon.

Out of interest a Lath Splitter (or variant name) -- appears to do the following job - this is taken from the Old Occupations website;

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Lath Renders or Lath Rivers

Lath rending by hand died out about 1936.
There were two types of lath renders, or lath rivers, one a standing river, the other a sitting river. The sitting river was the older version, using a bench with pegs to hold the wood in place. The standing river used a small axe, sharpened on two edges. The sitting river used a riving knife. The riving tools were made by local blacksmiths.

Three types of lath were made: single laths, laths and a half and double laths.
Double laths were used for roofs to hold tiles. Single laths for ceiling foundations,
Laths and a half were used for partitions. Fir wood was used for making laths: the trunks were split in half and the heart wood taken out. The sapwood was sliced along the grain, giving strength and elasticity to the lath.

At the height of their output, eight benches were being used, producing 60-70 bundles of laths in lengths varying from two to five feet, equivalent to 360 feet a week.

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I suppose we need to bear in mind that if George was still alive - that was his occupation at the time of William's marriage - and not necessarily earlier in his life.