John James look up request

[Clockmaker]

I have asked this question before, however after some more research I have found out that some information was wrong.

I am looking for John James born 1825 Dorset - Master Mainers #19175 ticket issued 1858 liverpool. Death listed as 1895 possible Newfoundland.  According to the marriage certificate his father was John James and was listed as deceased in 1881.

Could some one please take the time and see if he is listed in any census he was in Swansea Wales in 1881 on board the Richard Fisher.

[Dave Francis]

Hi there

I can see ten lads called John James in Dorset in the 1841 Census, ages 10 to 20.
One is a male servant and a little to old to be yours.
Eight appear to have fathers whose names are NOT John.
And the tenth?
I'll leave you to make your own mind up ...

1841 Census of Lyme Regis, Dorset
HO107/294/8 folio 27 page 12
"Silver St"
John James, 40, mariner
Mary James, 40
Samuel James, 15
John James, 10
Mary James, 15
All recorded as born in Dorset

[Clockmaker]

Dave

Thank you very much for your efforts.  In John James Marriage certificate it states that his father was Coast Guard I would assume that would match with mariner.

Also although his Mariners Certificate says he was born in 1825 Dorset, his Marriage license from Swansea says he was 51 in 1881, which would place him around the right time frame as per the 1841 census.  Note he did marry a much younger lady which could have caused him to stretch the truth.

Question, do you know if you had to be a certain age to be a master mariner that would cause him to lie?  Note - I am positive that John James marriage certificate and Mariners Certificate are the same person because of the ship he was on matched in both documents in year and dates listed.

One last note the family bible says his name was William John James (in one area) however his Mariners license says his name is John James.  Could there have been a William John James in the 1841 census meeting the same parameters.  He may have just went by John in his later years.

Hi there

I can see ten lads called John James in Dorset in the 1841 Census, ages 10 to 20.
One is a male servant and a little to old to be yours.
Eight appear to have fathers whose names are NOT John.
And the tenth?
I'll leave you to make your own mind up ...

1841 Census of Lyme Regis, Dorset
HO107/294/8 folio 27 page 12
"Silver St"
John James, 40, mariner
Mary James, 40
Samuel James, 15
John James, 10
Mary James, 15
All recorded as born in Dorset

[Dave Francis]

Hi

I don't know anything about the rules for acquiring a Mariners Certificate, but what you say does make some sense - i.e. overstatement of age.

If his real first name was William ....

Like before, I can see nine possible candidates in the 1841 Census.  Seven can be discarded because the father's name doesn't appear to be John.  Number eight is with mother, no father in sight.  The ninth looks possible and a little too old:

1841 Census of Wool, Dorset
HO107/279/14 folio 11 page 16
(Address not specified)
John James, 60, carpenter
Fanny, 52
William, 18
James, 16
Fanny, 15
Mary Ann, 13

I think you may have to take the long way round.  Have you identified any brothers or sisters who married before 1881?  If so, their marriage certificate might reveal their father's occupation.  You'd have more to go on then.

Cheers
Dave

[Clockmaker]

I do not know who John James' immediate family were.  That is why I am trying to search him out. 

He was very old when my grandfather was born and he died shortly after his birth.  Over the years very little information filtered down to the family and my uncles are just as mystified by it all.  I am also unsure of his grave, however I do believe I may have found it in nfld.

He left Swansea Wales sometime in the 1880's as he shows up in Nfld in 1890.  Two years later the city burned down in the great fire.  From the description of the fire and where his residents was I assume all of his belongings were destroyed.

I was told that an Ann James lived in the 1851 census

Ann James abt 1801  Charmouth, Dorset, England Wife  Lyme Regis  Dorset   
View Record John James abt 1801  Lyme Regis, Dorset, England Head  Lyme Regis  Dorset   
View Record Mary M James abt 1823  Charmouth, Dorset, England Daughter  Lyme Regis  Dorset

However I do not think this is him or his parents, what do you think?

I am also wondering if he was previously married because on his Marriage cert he says he is a widow.  So if that is the case did he have other children because he was fairly old in 1881 (51/56).

Any other suggestions?