RootsChat.Com

Hello!

Thanks for all the great ideas and the weblink!  Much appreciated!  I'll look into them.

Kathy

Hello,

I've been trying to figure out some of the events in one of my relatives' lives and I've come to a confusing finding.  I know no one can say for sure what happened, but I figured someone might have fresh perspective on it  or may have come across a similar finding in their research, so any ideas much appreciated!!  Sorry it's a bit long! 

Here's a bit of a timeline:

1851 Census:  Brothers John Binney Curner (approx 1843) and William Bate Curner (1846) are both living at home with their parents in Beer Ferris, Devon

1868 :  "John Binney Curner", Occupation: Sapper, marries "Margaret Thomas"(approx 1845), Medway (or Chatham)Kent

1871 Census:  No "John and Margaret Curner" found. However there's a "John Binney (mistranscribed as Birmey) working as a Sapper in Aldershot, Hampshire. He is married (but living on the 'base' or whatever it was without his wife).  He lists Plymouth Devon as his birthplace (which isn't too far from Beer Ferris, Devon relatively speaking)

1871 Census:  Margaret Binney (written "Benny") is living with her family with father Thomas Thomas (just as on the marriage certificate). She is married, but no husband living with her.

1871 Census: Wiliam Bate Curner (the brother) is still living with his family in Beer Ferris

1873:   December quarter.  "William Bate Curner" marries "Susannah Williams" in Mile End

1873:  December quarter "William Curner" marries Elizabeth Baigent in Chertsey Surrey

1881: John Curner (written as Kurner) and Elizabeth (from Windlesham Surrey) live in Windlesham Surrey. He is a mason (family occupation)

1881:  William Curner and Susannah Curner live in Deptford, London. He is a mason

So my big question is that John Binney Curner was married to Margaret Thomas in 1868 and also the 1871 Census, but by the 1881 census he was married to Elizabeth Baigent.  The only problem being that  the marriage certificate says that "William Curner" married Elizabeth Baigent.  BUT  "William Bate Curner", the brother, married Susannah Williams that same year, that same quarter.  He could not have also married Elizabeth Baigent.  The 1881 Census also puts John and Elizabeth together and William and Susannah.  There is no William and Elizabeth.  All the birthplaces and ages match up about right and the father's name on the marriage certificate, along with his profession of mason also correct.  Why would the name 'William' be used on the marriage cert.  if it was 'John' marrying her.  His second name wasn't even Wiliam, it was Binney.  Could the official document have been written wrong at the time?  I thought maybe there was another William, but I cant find another William Curner from that area.  I also could not find a death of a Margaret Curner or a Margaret Binney, but also, could not find her living anywhere else on the 1881 census, even under the surname Thomas.  Perhaps I missed it somewhere?

Also, was it common for someone to use their middle name as their last name?  John Binney Curner was listed as John Binney in the 1871 census and his wife Margaret was also using 'Binney' as a last name.


Sorry this so long; I just wanted to give the right details.  Any ideas?  I don't know what to do now.  Thanks!!

Kathy 
Canada

Hello,

I only have a bit of information on him :

Charles Castle born approx 1815 "Melton" Oxfordshire (on 1871 Census).  He married a woman called Phoebe born approx 1823ish who lists Shoreditch, Middlesex as her birthplace on the Census.  They have several children:  Charles (1847) but listed as being only 4 years old on the 1871 census (the 2 was left off of the transcription of 24 when you look at the image) born Battersea, Surrey, William (1849) born Misley, Essex,Thomas (1852) born Nottingdale, middlesex, John (1857) born Nottingdale, Middlesex, Caroline (1862)Southall, Middlesex, Richard (1865)born Nottingdale, Middlesex, and a granddaughter Ann Bush (1868)  born in Nottingdale, Middlesex, living with them on the 1871 census. 

At the time of the 1871 Census they were living in Hayes, Middlesex.  Charles was a Brickmaker and so were most of his children who were old enough to work. 

I found them on the 1881 Census, but it was just Charles, Phoebe and Richard (and some boarders).  Charles only gave "oxford, England" as his birthplace.  They were living in Hammersmith, Middlesex. 

The other funny thing about the Census is on the 1871 census they have "Caroline Castle, 9 yrs old, daughter from Southall, Middlesex.  Then on the 1881 census , 10 years later, they have "Caroline Grant", 19yrs old , Lodger, from Southall Middlesex.  Perhaps it's just a coincidence?  Something for me to look into...keeps it interesting! 

I will check and see if I can find anything for him in the Milton and Merton areas of Oxfordshire as well.  Maybe it was not transcribed properly or the census-taker heard "Melton" instead of "Milton". 

Thanks for all your help! Much appreciated!

Kathy
Canada

Hello!

I think you should definitely try the free trial before deciding.  I tried it and decided against it just because I found that they only had some of the information I was looking for and I didnt' think it was worth the money (in my case), but it might be great for you...you never know.   

And it's true that it's not a big hastle to cancel your free trial or anything...you just have to remember to do it.  The person I had tried to sell it to me when I wanted to cancel, but they accept 'no' for an answer after a few tries, so they're not too pushy (or not in my case anyway).  That way you can see if the information they have there will really help you or if it is the correct people that they have listed for your relative.

Kathy
Canada

Hello!

I just sent an e-mail to one of the coordinators for FreeBMD and I got a reply already, so I'm going to get everything ready and start transcribing once I'm all set.  I'm looking forward to doing this.  As you said, you feel like you're contributing and helping other people in a round-about way!    

Kathy
Canada