RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Devon => England => Devon Lookup Requests => Topic started by: kezmoo on Saturday 02 April 11 08:09 BST (UK)
-
I was wondering if someone could look up the Seaton & Beer Parish Baptism registers for a James Beasley born in 1882 or 1883?
He is my great grandfather on my mother's side and does not seem to have been born anywhere!! He is well documented from 1907 - his marriage. His marriage certificate states that his father's name was Charles, but prior to that he doesn't seem to exist.
There is a James Beasley appearing as a Grandson in the 1891 census in Devon, which says his place of birth is Seaton. However, the birth does not seem to be officially registered.
James states his birthplace as St Peters, Parkstone, Poole on his army record, however, someone has kindly looked up those registers and he does not appear there. So help to look up the Seaton registers would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
Kerri (Canberra, Australia)
-
The 1891 census shows a 10 year old James BEASLEY born Seaton living with his widowed grandmother Mary Ann and her daughter 25 year old Jane. (who is shown in 1881 as Mary J.)
The 1881 census also includes in the house a 3 month old Ernest BEASLEY, described as 'son' but there is a gap of 12 years between him and the next child, plus Mary Ann is 57 - a bit old to be his mother. It is more likely that he is the illegitimate son of one of the daughters - 21 year old Emma or 15 year old Mary J(ane). Grandfather is Robert. There is a Charles shown in 1881, but he is the 12 year old son of Robert & Mary Ann. It looks as though he may have been called Ernest James or James Ernest. If he was illegitimate, there is the chance he was registered using his father's name.
-
Thanks, I thought that too, until Ernest turns up on a later census with George (another son) as his father! I am working on the premise that James could well be Mary Jane's illegitimite son, but that is just a guess!
Oh, I just realised I meant 1891 in my original post instead of 1901 census (have corrected it). That James is the one I'm after :)
If he was registered as his father's name, wouldn't he have continued to use that name? I guess if that's the case I'll never find him!
-
Unfortunately I have examples in my own lines of being registered or baptised with father's name and then using mother's name in later life. (and vice versa! Presumably an attempt to obtain financial support).
Searching Seaton & Beer baptisms is probably the way to go - the Devon Record Office does offer a research service for a fee. Go to http://www.devon.gov.uk/record_office.htm and click on the enquiries link on the right hand side.
I couldn't locate Ernest in a later census at all, although I did find George with brother Charles in 1911.