RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Topic started by: pascoegreg on Wednesday 14 March 18 05:41 GMT (UK)
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I have been looking into my wife’s ancestors for over a decade now and despite much investigation, I have been unable to satisfactorily resolve the origination of her GGG Grandfather James Edward Fewkes. We were informed by a relation that James was born in England. We do have a photo of him and this is likely.
James was firstly married to Charlotte Soraine in Dacca, India 12/6/1863. Records show James, Full Age, Draftsman, Father, William Fewkes, Baptist Missionary. Charlotte died 1874. This record is the earliest I can find for James in India or anywhere.
Next James Edward Fewkes married Eliza Deonies in Trichinopoly, India 10/12/1874. Records for this marriage shows James 31, Widower, Municipal Inspector, Father William Ebenezer Fewkes. It is from this marriage that my wife descends.
I have searched all births in England for a number of years either side of 1843 and there is no birth for James Edward Fewkes that fits. The closest I have come is James and Eliza’s first son was named William Henry Leopold Fewkes. and there is coincidentally a William Henry Fewkes born 29/3/1843 at Compton Gifford, Plympton, Devon. Father William Fewkes, coachman, Mother Fanny Beale. Maybe James Edward was a Henry William and changed his name???
William Fawkes, Full Age, Coachman, 15 Baker Street, Father William Fawkes, butcher married Fanny Beale, Full Age, 32 Exeter Street, Father Richard Beale, Farmer (Deceased) on 25/5/1842 St Marylebone, Middlesex, England. Banns Trinity Church, St Marylebone. I have not located any certain prior or subsequent records for these two either. So the possibility of William Henry being James Edward cannot yet be discounted.
I have also queried the BMS World Mission for guidance on whether they have any record of a William Fewkes as a Baptist Missionary but no reply received.
Over the years, I have traced the Fewkes name in India back to a William Fewkes born 1798, Leicester, Leicestershire, England. I am yet to locate his birth in England. He joined the India Army and a 1814 Muster Roll shows the entry Fukes William, England, Ship Moffat, Arrival 1813. William Fewkes married Elizabeth Badder 12/6/1823 in Vizagapatam, India. They had a number of children but I cannot find a direct record linking James Edward Fewkes to this particular William Fewkes. One of William Fewkes’ children was named Willam Ebenezer Fewkes, birth July 1838.
I have managed to piece together quite a vast family tree for the Fewkes and this has been posted on Ancestry under Fewkes Family Tree. This may be viewed to obtain the full details of all Fewkes entries determined to date.
Being a draftsman in Dacca, perhaps James worked for the HEIC.
In summary, it would be greatly appreciated if anyone could assist me to locate any further records which will throw light on the Fewkes Family’s past, including the birth or ancestry of James Edward Fewkes.
Thanks in anticipation
Greg Pascoe
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Duplicate post India Board
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=789713.
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Have you considered the baptism at Seagrave, Leicestershire:
8 December 1800 - William son of William and Faith Fewkes
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Two more to consider:
St Margaret, Leicester
William son of John and Margaret Fewkes, born 1 October, baptised 11 October 1798
St Mary de Castro, Leicester
William Hunt, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Fewkes - 28 November 1798
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Thanks BumbleB. I have looked at all Leicestershire baptisms - I purchased Jenny's County list and went through the lot. I get the feeling that William Fewkes b1798 from Leicestershire, first Fewkes in India that I located, is not even from the same family as James Edward Fewkes, the ancestor I am specifically looking for.
Gregregards
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I suppose then the only other possibilities are that the family were not Church of England, so perhaps he was baptised elsewhere. Or even that he was not baptised at all. :'(
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Try the Angus Library
http://theangus.rpc.ox.ac.uk/
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Thanks AntonyMMM. Tried every William every site every year etc....no go!!
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Greg are you still with us, messages I try to send to you don't seem to be sent
Sue