Asking on behalf of a friend. We are trying to sort out one James George Routledge.
James and Louisa Routledge (other spellings available!) were in St George Bloomsbury between the 1861 and 1891 censuses. I haven't found their marriage. Children who survived included James (around 1837), Augustus (1841), William (1845), Louisa (1850), Wallace (1852) + others. James's POB was Whitehaven, Cumberland; yob between 1812 - 1820; occ variously french polisher, taxidermist and songwriter (!). The GRO suggests MMN as Spark(e)s.
The only possible Whitehaven baptism I can see for James George was 1820, parents William and Margaret; a brother, William Hunter Routledge, was baptised at the same time.
There was a marriage in 1818 in St James Piccadilly between William Routledge and Margaret Hunter, both OTP. In 1841, this family seems to be in Blenheim St, St Geo Hanover Sq; William age 60, tailor; Margaret, 55; James age 20, french polisher; Augustus age 15 (can't read his job). None but Margaret born in county.
Because he's a french polisher (not a very common trade) and has a brother called Augustus, I'm inclined to think that this is the James who married Louisa, also was a french polisher and had a son called Augustus.
BUT in 1851, there are 2 possibles:
1.The family in Blenheim St; now comprising William (widow, age 73, tailor); William age 32, tailor; James age 30 french polisher; and Augusta (still male!), age 15. All now allegedly born in county, though James's POB also says "White???". So age and occupation still fit; some question mark over POB, and apparently unmarried. (Both William and James POB is "Middlesex St James" - but the Whitehaven parish is St James so if that's all that was said, I can see how the enumerator would presume that they meant a local church).
OR:
2. James Routledge age 33, french polisher, born in Cumberland; living at Marsden St, Somerstown, with wife Laura (not Louisa), children James (11), Augustus (
, William (6), Laura (not Louisa) 3 months. Age, occ and POB fit, wife's name wrong but sons' names correct.
So is either of these James correct? Could it be that he's been enumerated twice? How many french polishers of the same age and name from Cumberland were living in London at the same time?!
Can anyone see a marriage for him? Or help disentangle this? It's probably simple but I've got all knotted up!
TIA
