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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: CassieP on Thursday 06 March 25 12:18 GMT (UK)
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Please can anyone help me to find what happened to James Pearce born 1853 who "disappears" after the 1911 census. I have been researching him for some years and would love to know what became of him.
It is an interesting story I think. When I first began my family tree in 2014 my cousin Brian asked me where the middle family name of "Pearce" originates from, his father was William Arthur Pearce Leake. The middle name of Pearce has been passed to Brian's children and grandchildren.
I found that Brian's grandmother Emma Amelia Leake nee Harris (1871 - 1935) was deserted by her husband James Henry Leake (1866 - 1952). He appears on the 1911 census at Emma's home, but it seems she gave this false information, I expect, to look respectable. James Henry Leake was in fact living in Staveley, Derbyshire and is on the 1901 and 1911 census there, he remarried presumably bigamously in 1916 and died in Derbyshire.
In 1901 Emma is a lodger at the home of James Pearce, and in 1911 he is listed as her boarder - living at 35 Bournville Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham.
In the absence of her husband James Henry Leake, it is clear that James Pearce was the father of Emma's two children Lily Evelyn Pearce Leake born 1900 and William Arthur Pearce Leake born 1903. Brian's father was William.
If I have found the correct records, James Pearce was born 1 August 1853 in Swansea and was baptised 5 June 1863 in Bridgwater, Somerset along with his older siblings. Parents were William and Mary Pearce.
The 1901 census shows James Pearce born in Bridgwater, Somerset but according to the 1861 census (where he is listed at his grandparents home) he was born in Swansea.
The 1871 census lists James Pearce living with his parents William and Mary in Bridgwater, Somerset. I have been unable to find him on the 1881 or 1891 census.
My cousin Brian found it hilarious that the name Pearce originates from who we call "Roger the Lodger"! It would be great to find out what happened to James "Roger the Lodger" Pearce after 1911, I've been unable to discover a possible death for him.
With many thanks for your very kind help with this long standing mystery, I very much look forward to hearing from anyone who can help.
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You do realise that all the links you have provided are only viewable by those RC Users who have an Ancestry subscription?
I don't!, so I can't offer much help.
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You do realise that all the links you have provided are only viewable by those RC Users who have an Ancestry subscription?
I don't!, so I can't offer much help.
"I do realise???" Of course!! As I'm only an Ancestry user I have no other way of providing a link.
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FamilySearch?
FreeCen?
FreeReg?
FindMyPast?
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Are we looking for James LEAKE or James PEARCE? I'm a bit confused. ???
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Deleted. Goodbye Rootschat.
Please would you repeat your request, I’m sure there are people around who would like to help if they can :)
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Are we looking for James LEAKE or James PEARCE? I'm a bit confused. ???
I only asked for clarification because there were two James's
I don't see why OP should take exception to that.
I'm sorry if he / she did, I didn't mean to offend
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Are we looking for James LEAKE or James PEARCE? I'm a bit confused. ???
I only asked for clarification because there were two James's
I don't see why OP should take exception to that.
I'm sorry if he / she did, I didn't mean to offend
No I haven't taken offence to you, it was the first message I received from KGarrad - I don't usually get upset like this, just caught me at a sensitive time. Wish I hadn't deleted my enquiry now, it took me ages to write! It is James Pearce I'm looking for, it is a muddly story I know. Many thanks for your reply. I'll re-write my question!
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CassieP,
I have made over 26,500 posts on RootsChat - proving that I can be helpful :D
But I can't help if you post attachments from a subscription site?
Ancestry is not the be-all and end-all of Family History research!
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CassieP,
I have made over 26,500 posts on RootsChat - proving that I can be helpful :D
But I can't help if you post attachments from a subscription site?
Ancestry is not the be-all and end-all of Family History research!
You could start a fight in an empty room! :D
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Please note that Cassie has now reinstated her original enquiry.
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Cassie ~
Have you searched for alternative spellings to Pearce as I have affines in my tree who flip from Pearce to Pierce and back!
Gadget
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Have you searched for alternative spellings to Pearce as I have affines in my tree who flip from Pearce to Pierce and back!
Gadget
[/quote]
Yes, thanks for the reminder though.
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1901 census
Name James Pearce
Age 45
Estimated Birth Year abt 1856
Relation to Head Head
Gender Male
Birth Place Somerset, England
Civil parish Kings Norton
Ecclesiastical parish Kings Norton St Nicholas
Town Stirchley
County/Island Worcestershire
Country England
Registration District Kings Norton
Sub-registration district Kings Norton
ED, institution, or vessel 14
Neighbors View others on page
Piece 2805
Folio 34
Page number 10
Household schedule number 54
Household members
Name Age
James Pearce 45
Emma Ledlie 30
Alice Ledlie 10
Albert Ledlie 7
Lily Ledlie 5/12
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1911 census
Name James Pearce
Age in 1911 58
Estimated Birth Year abt 1853
Relation to Head Boarder
Gender Male
Civil parish Kings Norton
County/Island Worcestershire
Country England
Street Address 35 Bournville Lane, Stirchley
Marital Status Single
Occupation Porter In Factory
Registration District Number 383
Sub-registration district Kings Norton
ED, institution, or vessel 20
Piece 17843
Household members
Name Age
James Henry Leake 46
Emma Leake 40
Alice Leake 20
Albert Henry Leake 18
Lilly Eveleyn Leake 11
William Arthur Leake 8
James Pearce 58
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A very outside possible in 1891 in Preston
James Pearce Lodger, m. 42, Bootmaker, b Bridgewater
RG12/3442/12/17
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Maybe;
Deaths Sep 1912 (>99%)
PEARCE James B 64 King's N. 6c 411
Although the age is a few years out
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Hi CassieP,
I checked 35 Bournville Lane against the 1921 census and it appears Emma Amelia is still living there but is now the wife of Thomas Collins, do you already have this information?
No help with what happened to James Pearce of course but I’ll keep trying.
Pinetree
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Different spelling,;
Deaths Jun 1941 (>99%)
Pierce James 87 Weston super Mare 5c 1288
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Maybe;
Deaths Sep 1912 (>99%)
PEARCE James B 64 King's N. 6c 411
Although the age is a few years out
I thought that looked promising, but the GRO index shows his name as James Bayliss Pearce, who can be found living in Smethwick in 1911, and was born in Liverpool.
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A very outside possible in 1891 in Preston
James Pearce Lodger, m. 42, Bootmaker, b Bridgewater
RG12/3442/12/17
Thanks, much appreciated
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Maybe;
Deaths Sep 1912 (>99%)
PEARCE James B 64 King's N. 6c 411
Although the age is a few years out
I thought that looked promising, but the GRO index shows his name as James Bayliss Pearce, who can be found living in Smethwick in 1911, and was born in Liverpool.
Thanks, also I've not seen that he has a middle initial anywhere.
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Different spelling,;
Deaths Jun 1941 (>99%)
Pierce James 87 Weston super Mare 5c 1288
Thank you
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Hi CassieP,
I checked 35 Bournville Lane against the 1921 census and it appears Emma Amelia is still living there but is now the wife of Thomas Collins, do you already have this information?
No help with what happened to James Pearce of course but I’ll keep trying.
Pinetree
Thanks, yes Thomas Bagnall Collins was my mother's step-father, he and Emma Amelia adopted her in 1919. I appreciate your help in trying to find the elusive James Pearce!
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Presumably she said she was a widow on the 1915 marriage to Thomas Collins?
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Presumably she said she was a widow on the 1915 marriage to Thomas Collins?
I don't have her marriage certificate - think I'll order it, should be interesting! As far as I know she didn't divorce James Henry Leake (I believe most people couldn't afford to divorce in those days) as far as I know she was still married to him and he died in 1952.
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Probably a complete red-herring but. . . .
My grandfather's 2nd wife was Daisy Pearce, b 1880 in Piddle Hinton, Dorset.
Parents Robert Cooper Allen Pearce (1843-1889) and Francis Susan Hann.
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Probably a complete red-herring but. . . .
My grandfather's 2nd wife was Daisy Pearce, b 1880 in Piddle Hinton, Dorset.
Parents Robert Cooper Allen Pearce (1843-1889) and Francis Susan Hann.
Piddle Hinton ;D
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Puddletown was once called Piddletown, as the River Piddle runs by it.
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Puddletown was once called Piddletown, as the River Piddle runs by it.
Great name! Close to where I was born in Wyre Piddle, a village on the river Avon close to Piddle Brook. :)
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Thanks to everyone who joined in the hunt for James Pearce, it is much appreciated. For the time being he will remain a mystery!
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I have gone at this from every direction I can think of and come up with absolutely nothing.
Sorry not to have been able to help.
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I have gone at this from every direction I can think of and come up with absolutely nothing.
Sorry not to have been able to help.
Thank you so much, I really do appreciate your effort and for taking the time. At least I know I've not missed anything. Isn't it funny how people can just disappear! I wonder if he went abroad, but it doesn't seem likely in those days.
I've just noticed this - James Pearce lived at 65 Bournville Lane in 1901 when Emma Amelia was his visitor. In 1911 James Pearce and Emma were living at 35 Bournville Lane - and in 1911 Thomas Bagnall Collins lived at number 65, who she married in 1915!