James Nicholls Dead ?

[Lensmeister]

Born in 1814 in Beccles James Copeman Nicholls the illegitimate son of Judith Nicholls.

Now James moved to South London (well Newington/Walworth) and is on the 1851 census.

I have always thought that James died in 1884:

NICHOLLS, JAMES       67 
GRO Reference: 1884  J Quarter in LAMBETH  Volume 01D  Page 254

Yet another researcher think he died in 1868 but there are two 1868 deaths:

NICHOLLS, JAMES       47 
GRO Reference: 1868  M Quarter in ST GEORGE THE MARTYR SOUTHWARK  Volume 01D  Page 86

And

   NICHOLLS, JAMES       52 
GRO Reference: 1868  M Quarter in ST GEORGE THE MARTYR SOUTHWARK  Volume 01D  Page 85

Any ideas on how I can tell which one is the REAL James Copeman Nicholls?

[Milliepede]

Would a death certificate help - was he married at the time?  If so the informant may be his widow or a child to confirm the right one.

If you have your James in 1871/1881 then the 1884 is likely as the others have already died!

[carol8353]

Someone on Ancestry has a 5th January 1868 Southwark death cert for him, he is listed as a shoemaker and the informant was Eliza Nicholls(his wife?)

You need to narrow him down by relatives names and what job he did.

And possibly see if he left a will.

[Milliepede]

Just about to add that, yes what occupation does he have in 1851?

[Milliepede]

1861 has a James in Newington with wife Eliza and is a cordwainer

James Nichols 45 born Beccles
Eliza 38 wife
Richard 18 son
Rebecca 15 daughter
Ellen 13 daughter
Maria 6 daughter
James 4 son
Joseph 4 son

[carol8353]

1861 has a James in Newington with wife Eliza and is a cordwainer

James Nichols 45 born Beccles
Eliza 38 wife
Richard 18 son
Rebecca 15 daughter
Ellen 13 daughter
Maria 6 daughter
James 4 son
Joseph 4 son

Looking good Millie 

[Lensmeister]

OK so this is where it get VERY complicated.

James was married to Rebecca who died in 1849.
By 1851 he was with Eliza who it appears is his wife's sister (see https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=842063 )
I haven't got the 1861 census return as an image (When Ancestry is free again I will )

The person on Ancestry I have been in touch with but she doesn't have a death Cert (she does now)

I have a Death Cert for the 1884 and the informant is a George Taylor a nephew, when I got it it looked right (cannot remember why as it was obtained in April 1997).

[Milliepede]

I have a Death Cert for the 1884 and the informant is a George Taylor a nephew,

So we can rule that one out and the 1868 death with informant Eliza is the correct one.

When daughter Ellenor (Ellen) marries in 1869 she says father deceased boot maker

I think in 1871 Eliza is a convict widow

[Lensmeister]

I have a Death Cert for the 1884 and the informant is a George Taylor a nephew,

So we can rule that one out and the 1868 death with informant Eliza is the correct one.

When daughter Ellenor (Ellen) marries in 1869 she says father deceased boot maker

I think in 1871 Eliza is a convict widow

I've had a look on the GRO and on FreeBMD but no Ellen/or Nicholls birth

Convict Widow? Please can you explain ?