INDIA: James BIRD disappeared in INDIA

[pollycat76]

James BIRD was my gt gt grandfather, but I have no knowledge of his Birth, Marriage or Death.

On the 1851 Census my gt gt Grandmother Alice BIRD, nee SANDS, was unmarried living in London as a Servant. She was born c1823 in Hawkhurst, Kent.

On  the 1861 Census she is living in Hawkhurst, Kent , Married, as "Head" with two children Thomas born 1856 in Lambeth and Richard my gt grandfather, born 1858 in Gillingham, Kent. Against her name the enumerator has written "She is supported by her husband, employed on The Rail-INDIA"

On the 1871 Census she is still in Hawkhurst with the two children and beside her name are the words "Absent Husband"

By the 1881 Census in Hawkhurst she is a "WIDOW"

The only knowledge of her husband's name is that he is named as JAMES BIRD, the father, on both children's birth certs. On the first child's he is a Labourer and on my gt grandfather's a Driver or Diver (not clear).

I have searched the GRO site through every year from 1851 to 1861 for a marriage of an Alice SANDS but have found no matching husband of James BIRD.

I am guessing James may have been born around the same time as Alice. early 1820s but he is a complete mystery.

On the IGI there are some James BIRD birth entries for India around that time, but of course have no idea if one of them could be him.

I really would appreciate any help and suggestions.

With thanks
Polly

[hepburn]

http://www.fibis.org/



http://indiafamily.bl.uk/UI/


you may find his death on these.

[pollycat76]

Thanks very much for your suggestions, unfortunately I have not had any luck in finding my James Bird.

Thanks again

Polly

[Shirley Sura]

Hi Polly

there is a very slight chance that your Great Grandmother Alice Bird could be related in some way to my 2 x great grandmother Mary Alice Sands, born in Mumbai India around 1864.  I have a little information, some of which I got from the FIBIS website.  If you would like me to email you what I have please send me your email address.  I will also look out for the name Bird in my research

Good Luck

Shirley

[ShaunJ]

I suppose this chap must be considered a possibility: James Bird, an engine Driver on the Indus Valley State Railway. From Gloucester. Died 1873 at  Adaminahu aged 40.


 http://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_detail.php?id=1059990

[pollycat76]

Thank you for your suggestion, this could be a possibility as I have no idea where he was born etc, although this James Bird would have been about 10 years younger than his wife, Alice nee Sands who was born in 1823. Supposedly he had two sons in England, but he could well have had another family in India, as I have not found a marriage for him and Alice in England.

[ShaunJ]

I did look at a James Bird born in Minchinhampton, near Stroud in Gloucestershire in 1822 who had served with the army (62nd Foot) in India and was discharged at Chatham in 1855. Prior to joining up in 1844 he was a coal porter.

Nothing really to connect him with your James except the general themes of his age, India, and Chatham. And the fact that I can't see him on any UK censuses.

[ellerydesign]

Have you checked the marriage and death certs of Thomas and Richard to check if there are any further clues re. their father James?

Craig

[pollycat76]

Thanks for the reply, yes I have the marriage certs for Richard and Thomas and they both just give father's name as James Bird (deceased) so not much help I am afraid. James's granddaughter, my Aunt , was still alive when I started my research and she knew nothing of her grandfather, not even his name. He is a complete mystery. I think I am going to draw a blank as a distant cousin paid a researcher who came up with nothing at all.

Polly