JAMES of Much Wenlock

[Bugsy]

Can anyone assist with a lookup of the parish registers for my rellie Richard Edward James?  He was born circa 1871 listed as Much Wenlock to Ann James. However, on the census she is listed as unmarried.  I am holding on to a straw that she would have had him baptised in Shropshire and maybe told the vicar the father's name in the register (I have had this happen with another rellie!).  Ann came from a family who owned a shop throughout the years and subsequently set up her own business in Nottingham and married a John Hollis who also came from Shropshire.  Any help much appreciated! 

Anyone who has Shropshire James in their tree I would be glad to hear from!

[Lloydy]

Free BMD has the following birth:

March Quarter 1869
Richard James
District: Madeley (which covers Much Wenlock)
Volume: 6a
Page: 678

You may want to send for the birth certificate from the GRO in Southport to confirm this is the right one http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/


Can I ask what source has given you his full name?  I see that you mention that Richard's mother Ann married a John Hollis......have you seen this?

1901 census RG13/2720, Folio 19, Page 30

Living at 14 Edward Street, West Bromwich

Richard James Head M 32 Salop Tell Tale Furniture ? Manuf Much Wenlock
Elizabeth A James Wife M 29 Staffs West Bromwich
Gladys M James Dau 6 Staffs West Bromwich
Richard E James Son 2 Staffs West Bromwich
William G Hollis Half Brother S 19 Stock Keeper & Packer Salop Much Wenlock
Eva H Hollis Half Sister S 17 General Servant (Domestic) Salop Much Wenlock

[Lloydy]

1891 census RG12/2134, Folio 8, Page 10

Living at High Street, Newport, Shropshire

Richard James Serv S 23 Grocers Assistant Salop Much Wenlock

He's a Servant for Hope Brittain, a Widow, Grocer

[Lloydy]

1881 census RG11/2640 Folio 8, Page 8

Living at Barrow Street, Much Wenlock, Salop

Sarah A James Head Widow 52 General Shopkeeper Salop Sheinton
Sophia F James Dau Unm 17 Salop Much Wenlock
Richard James Grandson 12 Scholar Salop Much Wenlock
Charles T Smith Grandson 3 Warwicks Birmingham

[Lloydy]

Free BMD has two possibilities for Richard's marriage:

March Quarter 1894
Richard James
Elizabeth A Lloyd
District: W. Bromwich
Volume: 6b
Page: 1044

March Quarter 1895
Richard James
Elizabeth Plant
District: W. Bromwich
Volume: 6B
Page: 813

The first one sounds more promising because of the "A" for Elizabeth's middle name, which matches the entry in the 1901 census....but you never can be too sure!!!!!!

[Bugsy]

Thank you all for your replies!  I have the birth entry but haven't sent for the cert as I suspect it will state father unknown as did my other rellie's birth cert.  However her baptism entry had a note by the vicar naming the father "this woman did confess to me this day...."

I know he was Richard Edward James because my mother (his granddaughter) knew him as a child and also his wife was Fanny Burd who I have also traced.  Her aunts and cousins confirm this also.  He stayed in Nottinghamshire all his life after being in service as an Ostler where he met his wife who was a cook at the big house.

I know Ann later married a John Hollis because he was her lodger when she lived with Richard.  In later censuses Richard was shipped off to granny james and Ann married John and had two daughters.  Lloydy, It is interesting that there is a James family with Hollis half siblings in West Bromwich - suspect the James and Hollis families were more intertwined than I thought!

[Lloydy]

Hello again!

I can check the baptism record for you at the Shropshire Archives but have no idea when I will be venturing there, plus I do already have a huge look up list.  However, if you are prepared to wait then I shall take the details with me on my next visit

[Bugsy]

That would be lovely Lloydy!  Thank you!