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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Yorkshire (West Riding) => Topic started by: imt on Tuesday 31 August 10 22:06 BST (UK)

Title: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: imt on Tuesday 31 August 10 22:06 BST (UK)
A distant relative has given me the birthplace of my g grandfather's brother as Secas, Leeds.  I have googled Secas but to no avail.  Can anyone enlighten me please?  Is it a parish, a district etc or merely a misspelling?  Any help would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: harvo on Tuesday 31 August 10 22:25 BST (UK)
Hi, as an old Leedsonian there is a district called SEACROFT to the east/north /east of LEEDS maybe this is what you are looking for? Secas Doesn't make sense to me.
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: Calverley Lad on Tuesday 31 August 10 23:29 BST (UK)
Have we a name and a year?
It is Leeds West Yorkshire not Leeds Kent you are looking at.
Could it be Sheepscar?
 Regards Brian
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: dave the tyke on Wednesday 01 September 10 08:23 BST (UK)
Hi
perhaps this is a colloquialism e.g. Shadwell might be called Shadders or Shaddas by local people.
I agree with Brian, we need a name and approximate date of birth to take this further.

Dave
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: Sandymc47 on Wednesday 01 September 10 08:45 BST (UK)
Coming from Leeds and originally speaking broad Yorkshire I agree with the main name that Secas was meant to be Seacroft.
I am sure we used to call it that name when younger but as its along time ago and I dont live in Leeds anymore you brought back some memories for me lol
Some Yorkie will know for sure
regards Sandymc
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: harvo on Wednesday 01 September 10 09:08 BST (UK)
Hi again ,another thought struck me about your Secas,could it be SEE CAS ,cas is used by locals to refer to CASTLEFORD which is not far from LEEDS.
       Good Hunting
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: imt on Wednesday 01 September 10 16:35 BST (UK)
Thanks to all who have replied. 

I am struggling with this side of the family as they have a common name - Foster - and I have no local knowledge of Yorkshire.

George Foster was born abt 1858 (according to the censuses).  He was the son of William Foster (b 1825 Skelton Nr York) and Eleanor Pullen (b 1827 Wighill, W Yorks).  Father William moved the family around as he was a journeyman tailor.  The first three children were born in Boston Spa.  The fourth (George), fifth and sixth were born in Leeds.  Then the whole family moved to Bristol where another three children were born.  I haven't bought certificates to verify the facts I have picked up from the censuses as it would be too costly.  There are far too many Ann, William, John, George, Allan, Eleanor (Ellen) and Elizabeth Fosters to enable me to hit on the correct ones.

George is an elusive fellow.  On the 1891 and 1901 censuses he declares himself married but neither time is a wife at home with him.  Neither can I find a marriage for him in Bristol and because of his common name I can't pinpoint a marriage elsewhere.

Why do we put ourselves through this?!
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: dave the tyke on Wednesday 01 September 10 17:07 BST (UK)
Is this him in 1881 ?
 Elenor FOSTER     Head     W     Female     54     York, England     Ladys Nurse (Sub Med)     
George FOSTER     Son     U     Male     23     Leeds, York, England     Artists Son (Service)     
 Allen FOSTER     Son     U     Male     18     Bristol     Painters (Laborer)

The family are living at
1 Lower Park Hill
Bristol St Michael, Gloucester

If this is your family then George married between 1881 and 1891 and if he was in Bristol St Michael in 1891 then that is where you should look first.
I'm not sure about the word (service) after his occupation or indeed if artist was his occupation. Perhaps this is the wrong family, the father's occupation should have been Tailor (journeyman means that he was a master tailor, not that he moved from place to place).
I think that in Bristol library you should find the electoral rolls for 1 Park Hill and if you follow them through the years from 1881 to 1891 George should either disappear when he marries or his new wife should appear. Assuming that address belonged to the family from from 1881 to 1891.

hope that helps
Dave
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: sillgen on Wednesday 01 September 10 18:34 BST (UK)
I think that if you look at the 1881 image closely it says Artists model for George's occupation.  Service is written over the top of it in larger letters and a different hand so it is difficult to read.
regards
Andrea
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: imt on Wednesday 01 September 10 21:58 BST (UK)
Thanks Dave and Andrea.  This is the correct family in the 1881 census.  I've looked again for a marriage for George Foster in Bristol between 1881 and 1891 but without success. 

I have interpreted his occupation as artist's assistant.  He goes on to become a labourer and died as a result of an accident in 1919.
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: Calverley Lad on Wednesday 01 September 10 22:11 BST (UK)
Could the occupation of George be artisan, ie craftsman, skilled mechanic, manual worker?
(Sorry I don't have access to actual record).
 Brian
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: dave the tyke on Thursday 02 September 10 07:09 BST (UK)
Don't forget that the marriage would most likely have taken place in the parish where his wife was living and not where he lived.
The 1911 census would give the length of time of the marriage if his wife was still alive.

Dave
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: imt on Thursday 02 September 10 13:14 BST (UK)
Thanks, Dave, especially for the tip about 1911 census.  Unfortunately I don't have access to this but I have a friend who does!
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: libby9 on Saturday 04 September 10 02:17 BST (UK)
In 1851 the family were living in Back Rockingham St, Leeds, the street no longer exists, but was very near to the city centre in the Woodhouse Lane Merrion Street area.

I cannot understand Secas - there's no area near Woodhouse Lane/Merrion St which resembles Secas.
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: imt on Monday 13 September 10 18:00 BST (UK)
Thanks, again to all who have responded.  I've just returned from a week's holiday in York.  I managed to go back two further generations after visiting the Borthwick Institute at York Uni.  Now I have to sit down and input all the data on my PC and I can maybe get back even further using our local Mormon facility.
I'm still confused by the Secas reference but have too many other lines to follow to worry about that just at the moment.
Title: Re: Fosters
Post by: binsey on Sunday 08 September 13 16:49 BST (UK)
Hi,

      I've just discovered Rootschat and registered.  I see you have been researching the Fosters of York, later of Bristol.  Allen Foster, brother of George, was my paternal grandfather.  His third son, Allan, was my father.  Like you, I've had a problem trying to find George's wife and his death. 

      Do get in touch if you'd like to exchange family history information.

                         good wishes,   Binsey
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: Calverley Lad on Sunday 08 September 13 17:21 BST (UK)
Binsey: Once you have made another 2 posts you can freely exchange messages using the personal message system.- Likewise people can't contact you till that 3rd message by yourself.
Providing you don't put onto this board a valid e mail address you will be o'k.
 Brian
Title: Re: Secas, Leeds?
Post by: Clever clogs on Sunday 08 September 13 19:29 BST (UK)
There is a baptism at Leeds St Thomas in 1859 for a George Foster to William and Ellen. William is a tailor, and address given at what looks like Templar Street.

Street still there today off Vicar Lane, runs parallel with Lady Lane, under the inner ring road.

Secas reference might be Sheepscar, a contracted mumble of word like Shecar possibly?

George is in 1911 census still without elusive wife, living in Bristol and working as a nurse in a lunatic asylum (I think) says he has been married 37 years, which puts it at 1877. Bit early?