Joseph L CARTER - St Albans and Stanstead (Abbotts)/St Margarets

[CatOne]

I like a mystery 

I was wondering if Ellen Doggitt (visitor in 1851 census) was connected in anyway, but having traced her on all censuses apart from 1841, she is with her parents, then her son (also Building trade) and no further connection with your Clay/Carters apparent. Cant find a marriage on IGI for her parents though.

It would seem Andrew is right and there are some pieces of 1841 census missing (with both Doggitt family and your family!!) I wonder if anyone has the complete census on disc, or whether they are lost for ever 

Good Luck
Catherine 

[benzon]

Well, I am now going to call Thomas Clay a "dirty old man" !!!!!

I found a baptism for Sarah Pearce in St Albans in 1804.  A bit adrift from the census returns but might be a late baptism.

Then couldn't find a Thomas Clay with a birth around the same time.  Widened the search.  A Thomas Clay was baptised at St Albans on 25 Jan 1772, father Nathaniel.  So this could give us a 46 year old man marrying a 14 year old !!!!!!!!!! 

Found a marriage for Nathaniel to an Elizabeth Thornton in 1752 at St Albans.

What can I say !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers
Denise

[CatOne]

I found that one too, but didn't like to comment on the character of someone elses ancestor! 

[CatOne]

If you've found the birth of Sarah Pearce, you've probably also found her possible siblings? Other chidlren of Joseph and Sarah?

Is so, on the 1851 census her brothers? Thomas and William are living together, with William's daughter Emma and Thomas's wife Sarah occupation "Brazilian Hat Makers" (+ children). Didn't have a clue what they were, but if you google it, this comes up -

http://www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/data/topics/t012-strawhats.htm

The addresses are of interest, Fishpool Street and Holywell Hill, as its where your family were living on various census isn't it?.......

Regards
Catherine 

[benzon]

Always knew that Luton Football Club were called the Hatters after the straw hat industry there (although I am not a footie fan !!) but didn't know it extended to St Albans.

Wonder if the straw hat manufacturer William Pearce has any connections with Sarah.  Will have a look tomorrow.

Well, we might not have found anything else out about the Carter Clay connection but reckon we have learnt something.

Cheers for now
Denise

[JLo]

Now you've got me interested.  I'm going to have to go back and read all this topic carefully as I'm related to the Pearce's (all in the Straw Hat trade) in St Albans.  I also have access to parish records in St Albans......

The straw hat industry was huge in St Albans.

There are a number of parishes in St Albans (including St Peters) missing on 1841 Census on Ancestry.  Rick has posted them all  on the Herts Lookup board, but they're not gone forever!

I will return .....

[benzon]

Just as a note which may be of interest to Andrew, I found William Clay Carter, a builders foreman, et al in Islington on the 1881 census and then a death for him in Islington in the March Q 1888 age 61.  Don't know what time frame you are looking at in Islington Andrew but thought I would post just in case.

The death for Thomas Clay in 1846 is not he.  This was St Albans RD but was at Harpenden and not the right family.  There is another though in 1850.

To JLo, watching this space, thanks for your message.

Cheers
Denise

[first-things-first]

Hi Denise

Thanks for the information. In 1871 they were in Finsbury, Islington - not a million miles away. Probably still around there for 1881 (nothing in census though).

Your ones seem the more well to do Carter's  - what with your servants Mine are of the more common or garden variety 

In 1841/51 all the young girls were involved in the Straw plait industry - but so I suppose were a lot of people in St. Albans.

Thanks

Andrew