RootsChat.Com
Some Special Interests => Occupation Interests => Topic started by: Carole A on Monday 20 May 24 20:18 BST (UK)
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Hi, I have a mystery to solve. My 3G grandfather (birth and death dates not established but around 1775-1815ish) was Christopher Curtis/Curtes. I think he originated from Dilton Marsh in Wiltshire, but married in Manchester in 1799 (described as a cloth draper), had my 2G grandfather in Falmouth Harbour in 1806 and another son in Battle in 1811. His widow and boys were in Dilton Marsh by the 1820s. The only thing that makes sense to me is that he travelled for the cloth trade and I am wondering if he was involved in supplying the military (navy for Cornwall, army stationed at Battle).
My question is, does anyone know where to access either cloth trade or military information that might shed light on this? I haven’t found his death date or location, nor his birth.
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Is this related to your fellow? Is there a possibility it's his son?
Wiltshire Social & Institutional Records 1123-1968
First name(s) Christopher
Last name Curtis
Year 1833
Record type Non-Conformist
Place Dilton
Notes Named on a list of friends who contributed to the memorial tablet for Rev PHILIPS of Penknap Providence Chapel in Dilton, after his death in March 1833. (Amount contributed is given).
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Yes, that is his son, also Christopher, born 1811 in Battle. I have a gap in the family history between 1811 [in Battle) and 1826 (in Dilton Marsh, the marriage of Edward born 1806). Thanks for responding!
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What record source and date has his wife Martha as "widow"?
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Just the censuses, 1841 on. These give her birthplace (Manchester) so I’ve been able to link her to the 1799 marriage to Christopher Curtis.
I might also add that I have a distant DNA connection to Curtis in Dilton Marsh (likely eighteenth century) but no direct lineage found, i.e not his baptism records. I’m pretty sure that he came from there and is connected in some way to the Curtis families there - e.g. his son Edward (b 1806) is executor in 1850 for a Thomas Curtis whose lineage I can indeed find. So it’s the gaps round Christopher’s life that are the challenge! The fact that his job appears to have taken him around the country suggests he may have died elsewhere.
Thanks for applying another mind to this!