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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: suttontrust on Monday 17 May 10 16:16 BST (UK)
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I have Thomas Morley, b.1838 in Wakefield, who by 1862 at the latest was in the Royal Artillery. His children were Martha (1862, Gibraltar); Mary Jane (1865, Gibraltar); Thomas George (1867, Gibraltar); William James Esau (1869, Nova Scotia); and two others who were born in Halifax, Yorkshire. By 1871 the family were quartered in the Woolwich barracks, and in 1881 and 1891 they were living in Halifax, Yorkshire. Thomas's wife was Mary Anne, born in Ireland. But I can't find a marriage. Any help in identifying Mary Anne would be appreciated.
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The two other children I have in my tree for Thomas and Mary Anne were:
Mary Ann Morley b.1879 Halifax UK
John Morley b. 1873 Halifax UK
I've been unable to find a marriage certificate for Thomas and Mary Anne either.
I have Mary Anne (Thomas' wife) listed as being born in 1844 and passing in 1891 but that's the extent of my info.
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Mary Ann seems to be uncertain of her birth place in 1871 they say Ireland, 1881 Gibraltar and 1891 Woolwich, which made me wonder if she was the daughter of a soldier. I have found the following-
6 March 1860 at St. Saviour, Southwark.
Thomas MORLEY full age, bac, Sergeant Royal Artillery , Woolwich, Kent father Thomas MORLEY clothier..
Mary Ann COLE. minor, spinster, Woolwich, Kent. father Thomas COLE, Sergeant Horse Artillery.
Witnesses name not too clear, but one was Ruth BURBAGE
There are some Army records for Thomas on Find My Past.
Jebber
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I can find no Army records for a Thomas COLE of the right age, certainly not a Sergeant, it is possible that information on the marriage certificate was
an error or false. However, the following1861 census entry looks to be a strong contender for the family, the daughter Mary Ann born in Limerick is the
right age to be the one who married Thomas MORLEY
1861
HO107 piece 1588 folio 72 page 25
56, Warwrick Street, Woolwich, Greenwich
COLE, Thomas Head Married M 33 1818 Laborer St Giles in the Wood Devonshire
COLE, Ann Barbara Wife Married F 30 1821 Listowel Kerry Ireland
William Son Unmarried M 10 1841 Scholar Dublin
Mary Ann Daughter F 6 1845 Scholar Limerick
Jane Daughter F 4 1847 Woolwich Kent
Thomas Son M 1 (12 M) 1850 Woolwich Kent
John Son M 1 (12 M) 1850 Woolwich Kent
In 1871 Thomas and Ann COLE are on their own in Taylor's Uppacott Cottage Tavistock, Deveon RG10 piece 2193 folio 48 page 14
The son William married Esther CROUCH in 1863, William by this time was also in the Royal Horse Artillery.
Jane married Joshua GENDERS in 1868, Joshua was in the Ordnance Store Corps.
William and Jane were witnesses at each others marriages.
On his marriage certificate William said his father Thomas was stoker, and Jane said he was a ship's cook, but they are definitely the same William and Jane in the census entry above.
A bit more digging uncovered the following marriage in Ireland .
Area - KERRY (COI) , Parish/Church/Congregation - LISTOWEL
Marriage of THOMAS COLE of N/R and ANN MURPHY of HENRY ST on 29 August 1839 by Licence
Husband Wife
Name THOMAS COLE ANN MURPHY
Address N/R HENRY ST
Occupation GUNNER IN ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY
Jebber
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suttontrust and newmodernist,
You may be interested in the book The Morley Families of Halifax, West Yorkshire by J.A.E. Morley and C.S.B. Morley. It is available for free online viewing at http://www.MorleyOfHalifax.com. Your Thomas Morley is featured in "Family D". As you know, Thomas came from Wakefield. His father (another Thomas) came from Holbeck, Leeds, and it seems his grandfather and great-grandfather did as well.
Arriving comparatively late in Halifax, your Morley family is not the main focus of my book, so my information is limited. Nevertheless, my book contains about 20 pages on the descendants of your Thomas Morley, and offline I have additional information on Thomas' ancestors and the descendants of his brothers John and James.
I'd be interested in comparing notes; my preference is that you contact me through my website.
C.S.B. (Chris) Morley
Corresponding Author
The Morley Families of Halifax, West Yorkshire
http://www.MorleyOfHalifax.com
PS: Kudos to Jebber for finding Thomas' marriage record.