The Mystery of John Thomas FOSTER

[Sands]

I have a brick wall on one ancestor almost from the start.  John was born about 1872-5, possibly in West Ham, though cannot be absolutely certain of that.  According to his marriage certificate, he married in 1916 at the age of 40, to Ellen May Bishop.  I know he worked for a paint making company called W A Rose in London, and died from lead poisoning (from the paint) in about 1932.
Before working for this company, he had been in the Marines ?possibly before he was married.  According to the information I have, because of a misdemeanour, he was "drummed out".  As it was in the strict Victorian times, it was a disgrace to his family, and he was disowned - so his origins are not known - hence my brick wall. HELP - Can anyone suggest where I go from here?

[Tati]

Hi Sands,

Welcome to Rootschat 

Does it give his father's name on the marriage cert?

[Necromancer]

Have you looked on the 1881 census - or later ?

Births - Theres a plain John born 1870 & 1875 West Ham, and specific JTs born 1872 and 1880 .... also a few more not far away in Edmonton and Ongar ...

Was his father named on the marriage Cert ?

[Sands]

Hello,  Thanks for responding - yes - his father is mentioned on the marriage certificate - guess what - it's JOHN THOMAS FOSTER !!    I have found John Thomas Foster with a John Foster as father on the census' that you mentioned, but was unsure if they could be THE ones.  What do you think?

[Necromancer]

and JT senior's occupation from the Cert ?

[Sands]

Oh sorry, I forgot to add the father's occupation.  It is listed as Excavator

[Necromancer]

Hmmmmmm - Ok, its not anyone in 1881 Essex then - at least spelled as might be expected !

Then again, a lot can happen between 1881 and a 1916 marriage... the 2 I saw were a Dock Labourer and a Carpenter ...

[Sands]

Maybe he (John Thomas senior) changed his occupation - depending on work availability.  By 1916 John Thomas junior, had left the Marines and on the certificate is listed as a 'Labourer' .  The marriage took place at the Parish Church of Plaistow by Banns.  Neither parent signed the marriage certificate as witnesses (His wife's father, William Bishop, had already died.)

[Necromancer]

sorry, cant link them together in 1891 (and looked in 1901 anyway ...)

Are you basing his PoB assumption on the marriage location ?