COE

[Harleston]

Has anyone come across a baptism of a George Coe, son of Samuel and Mary, circa 1818, anywhere in the county of Sussex? I would be very grateful for any information.

[Jane Masri]

Can't find him on the familysearch IG Index but I had a look on the Sussex Marriage Index surname distribution map and most marriages in the name of COE occured in FRANT & ROTHERFIELD right on the Kent Borders.  No marriage of a SAMUEL COE to be found anywhere at any time in Sussex, so might be worth looking in Kent.

Jane

[suey]

Checked the BVRI - Jane's right, lot's in Rotherfield. 

Sorry no sign of your's though,
Suey

[Roy G]

The nearest I could find was a George Coe baptised in Brighton in 1826, but his parents were given as Joseph & Susannah.

Roy G

[sillgen]

Hi
Can you give any more information?  How do you know who his parents are?  Have you found him in a census?   Is he the George Coe who is in Pound Rough, Frant in 1851?  Age is not right though so perhaps not but I will post it. 
HO107 1639 F542
George Coe Hd 42 Ag Lab b Frant
Ann Coe wi 39                        "
Obed Coe son 15 ag lab         "
Mary Ann Coe da 11 scholar     "
Elisah Coe son 8      schloar       "     
From the names this family don't sound C of E - or at least perhaps somewhat extreme if they are .  What churches of other denominations  were there in Frant and district?
Andrea             

[Harleston]

Many thanks for all your help and suggestions.

Here's what I know about the George Coe I'm looking for; George Coe was married in South Elmham, Suffolk. His father is stated (on the Marriage Certificate) as being Samuel Coe. (Samuel Coe was married in 1817 to Mary in Suffolk). On the census returns, however, George states that he was born in Sussex, circa 1818. I am therefore assuming that Samuel and Mary Coe left Suffolk for Sussex in either 1817 or 1818. George was then born in Sussex, and shortly afterwards the whole family returned to Suffolk.

I don't know if this might help.

[sillgen]

Have you looked at the actual image of the census returns that say he was born Sussex?    If not, it may have been mistranscribed.  Can you give the full details of one so that we can look?
Ah, I have just looked at 61 - 91 and he is fairly resolute on just Sussex except for 1871 when he says Essex.   Not a helpful fellow!  His age varies too.
Have you found him in 1851 and 41?  Who were his siblings?  Where were they born?  What was Samuel's occupation?
Lateral thinking is what we need now...
Andrea

[suey]

Suffolk and Sussex are easily confused, when you consider the old way of writing Sufsex or Suffex. 

This looks like the family in 1851.
The Workhouse of the Wangford Union, Shipmeadow, Suffolk
HO107/1804  Folio 282  page 19 and 20

George Coe 31 ag lab born UK
Mary Ann Coe 29 born Harleston Suffolk
Emma Coe 9 born Suffolk St Crofts
George Coe 7 born ditto St James
Mary Ann Coe 3 ditto
Victoria age 9 months ditto

Looking at this is it possible that George did not know where he was born?

Now you need him in 1841

Suey

[Harleston]

Thank you for your continuing suggestions. In the 1841 census, George is in South Elmham, Suffolk, and the entry in the "Whether born in same County" column is 'N'. In the 1851 census, George's birthplace is stated as "uk" (which I take to be short for 'unknown'), which isn't very helpful at all. His siblings are all born in South Elmham, Suffolk, the first sibling being baptised in April 1823. Samuel's occupation was Agricultural Labourer. It is possible that Samuel had to seek work far away from Suffolk, although I must admit that Sussex is quite a distance to travel!

By the way, in the 1881 census, it is clearly written Sussex in the "Where Born" column.