Is it him?

[booger]

I'm still trying to identify my great-grandfather in any of the available census records.

Known facts:

Charles Arthur Cullen, died May 1936 in Billericay, Essex. Never married my great-gran, but they had 4 children. Confused by the fact that my great-grans maiden name was Surridge, but the name on my grans birth certificate and her brother's birth certificate is given as Seymour! I've no doubt at all that she was born Rose Jane Surridge. I've searched the indexes for any record of a Rose Surridge or Seymour marrying between 1900 and 1923. She was born in Dec 1888. She is a young girl still living with her parents in the 1901 census. I'm told that her family didn't approve of her relationship with Charles. Rosa married two years after Charles's death and became Rosa Jane Everitt - 49-year-old spinster. She died an Everitt in 1973.

Newspaper report and death certificate give age of CA Cullen as 58 years. No marked grave in Great Burstead, Essex.

Looked at 1881 census and found Charles A Cullen b. 1875 and Charles Cullen b. 1878. Both in Lancashire.

No idea where he was born. Always remember my mum saying that he was Irish. I see that Charles A Cullen married in early 1900's possibly to a woman named Rose (FreeBMD). A Rose Cullen died a few years later aged 26-yrs (FreeBMD). Could he be a widower?

What else can I try to confirm his identity? Feel really stuck on this one and it's so frustrating that he is such a recent ancestor. Only one known photograph of him with my gran.

[trish251]

Hello Kris

a couple of ideas - probably not super helpful
1. Given that they did not marry & the parents disapproved, it could well be that Charles was married to someone else - who may not have died as early as Rose. I HATE suggesting/using 1837online because you can spend a fortune, but either thru that or alternatively lots of time searching St Caths find any marriages for Charles A Cullen. I assume you have his death certificate -although spouse /children details are not given (I am used to them in oz), sometimes the informant can be a relative which may provide extra information.
2. Is your newspaper report the funeral notice? If not, can you find same - Family members are often mentioned.
3. I had a browse of the 1881 Census - There is an 1877 Charles Cullen, born Liverpool whose mother was Irish and an 1880 CC with an irish father.
4. Have you tracked the four children or their descendants. There could be some hidden information. I have found in my families that often the oldest or youngest child will end up with the family "heirlooms" - photos, family trees, inscribed bible etc.
5. Maybe you will need the 1911 census (only another 7 years!)
Trish

[booger]

Thanks Trish.

I'll try finding living descendants of my great-gran and grand dad. I know that my gran was alarmed at the prospect of me researching my family tree when she was alive in 1995, but I don't know if that was because I'm LDS or because of the real reason behind my great-grandfather's suicide in 1936. I only came across the newspaper article a few weeks ago.

I know, from the article, that their eldest daughter had lived with them in the cottage for 18-years. That means they were living there in 1921. Just hope the entries for 1921/31 are specific about his place of birth.

Regards,

Kris.

[Christopher]

Hello Kris,

I had a look at Griffiths Valuation of Ireland which took place in 1848 - 1864 to see if the Christian names Charles and Arthur were commonly given to males with the surname Cullen. Charles was frequently used but Arthur was not so common if your surname was Cullen. I hope this is of some help. http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths.php

Best Wishes,

Chris 

[booger]

Thanks for that.

Regards,

Kris.

[lizdb]

What do your gran and her brotherr's birth certs say for:
a) mother - does it say Rose Surridge, or Rose Seymour or one formerly the other??
what surname does gran and bro have?

b) father - does it give Charles C?

What years are we talking about for gran/gran's bro's birth + names, and also for great gran Rose's birth?

ALso what do you know of other child (living at cottage in newspaper article) Name? etc

Finding out all you can about the family may help find out more about CC

Is it only the CC side you want to pursue?