Mohamddin Peterson of Liverpool

[Ruskie]

I suppose it all hinges on when Mohamddin came to the UK (he may not have been in the UK for the 1901) and whether or not he came alone or with parents, and whether it was Gulam who married the Scandinavian/Danish wife.

I suppose it's possible that Margaret is Mohamddin's second wife .... 

[sgrollitt]

You found birth/death records for Gulam Mohamed? I can't find any (except for the one in Poplar, Middlesex).

I'm thinking now that Gulam Mohamed married a Scandanavian lady, probably in India since Mohamddin was born there in about 1894, and then came to England. Mohamddin was well settled in England by the time he was 15 (1911) - he had assumed the name John and was training to be a sailor - a job he did until at least 1940 (apart from December 1922 when he married and was a labourer). Gulam became a labourer when he came to England. He must have been born about 1870, and was still alive in 1922 aged about 52. His Scandanavian wife might have died and he married again in 1923 in Liverpool to Matilda Andrews.

The marriage certficate states that Margaret McLachlan was Mohamddin's first wife - and Mohamddin was Margaret's first husband.

[Ruskie]

On freebmd, search for births, and marriages, and deaths, using simply the first name Gulam (nothing else), you get a couple of results. None of them are yours but I was surprised that there were any results at all. (sorry if I misled you into thinking one was yours  )

Your theory sounds very plausible. And my theory about a previous marriage for Mohamddin is incorrect. 

Apart from the obvious search for deaths, I can't advise you on what to do next - perhaps take the search to India? Perhaps a new thread on how to trace Indian records might be an option? You could include a link to this thread to make it easier for yourself and anyone who may be able to help.

I hope others may be able to help further as it would be a shame for your search to end here.

Good luck.

[sgrollitt]

I don't want to close the door yet on the possibility that my partner might be related to the famous and academic Peterson family of Scottish/Norweigan descent.

Her great-grandfather Gulam Mohamed could have had a relationship, even married, one of the daughters of John Peterson (merchant) and Grace Montford (nee Anderson). These daughters were:

- ANN PETERSON b.6 JUN 1845 in South Leith, Midlothian
- BARBARA MANN PETERSON b.29 NOV 1848 at Saint Cuthberts, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- MARGARET GRACE PETERSON b.25 NOV 1862 at Saint Cuthberts, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- GUILILMA FRANCES PETERSON b.17 MAR 1869 at Saint Cuthberts, Edinburgh, Midlothian

Date-wise, the last two seem most likely, but I can't find any more information about them.

[avm228]

This continues to be a fascinating thread!

Just to add that Mohamed Din Peterson had black hair and dark brown eyes, but his skin colour was quite light. My partner remembers him as a quite tall, very thin man.

This (tall, thin) fits in well with the 1940 passenger list I quoted at reply #1 above, in which he was said to be 5ft 11in and 65 kilos.

I just wish we could find Gulam Mohamed and/or Mohammddin/John Peterson arriving from India...

Anna

[sgrollitt]

UPDATE

John Peterson was born on 16 April 1894. He was christened on 23 November 1922 at Anfield, Lancashire aged 28. His father was Gulam Peterson and his mother was Susie.

So John (Mohamddin) was probably born in India, came over to England with his parents at a young age, became known as John and converted in 1922. His father might have converted at the same time as assumed the name Peterson too.

[avm228]

Congratulations - that's a great find!

Is there any evidence that Gulam/Susie were ever in England?  Who were the witnesses to the Dec 1922 marriage?

Anna

[sgrollitt]

Witnesses at the 1922 marriage were Edwin John Taylor and Sarah Ludwidge or Ledridge.

Are one or more of the parents normally witnesses? Do you think this means that Gulam and Susie were not in England?

[avm228]

No, the fact that the parents weren't witnesses doesn't tell you by any means that they weren't in England (but had they been witnesses it would have been proof that they were). 

This Nov 1922 baptism comes shortly before a Dec 1922 marriage, so I wonder whether he was baptised in contemplation of a forthcoming church wedding.

It seems to me possible that Mohammddin/John made his own way to England as a young man, rather then being brought here by his parents.  Regrettably I still can't find any of them in inbound passenger lists! I wonder whether in fact he first arrived as crew on a ship rather than as a passenger.

The 1911 census sighting of a 15 yr old John Peterson worries me a bit, in that the lad says he was born in Liverpool, not India.  And Mohammdin/John would have been 16 and very nearly 17 on the date of the 1911 census (2 April 1911).  John Peterson is a sufficiently common name that I'd be cautious about taking this as a firm match.

Incidentally, there is a short report on the wrecking of the Sea Rambler in The Times, 26 March 1940.

Anna