James May Vernon

[sbodman]

I am trying to find information on this man and am failing miserably!  This is what I know (in reverse order)

He died in 1940 at 185 Cann Hall Rd.
In 1911 he writes on the census that he was born in 1874 in Tottenham.  He and his family were living in West Ham.
In 1901 they were living in Islington, he says he was born in 1874 in Cambridge.
In 1898 he married Lillie Chapman in Leeds, his address on the marriage certificate is 1 Lavender Walk, Leeds.  They had 4 children, James May Vernon, Liliy May Vernon, George May Vernon and Leonard May Vernon.  So, presumably the May meant something.  On the marriage certificate he gave his father's name as Gerald Francis Albert Vincent Vernon, occupation gentleman.  James himself was an artist of sorts.

I can find no trace of James before his marriage and no trace at all of Gerald.  I've searched for births and in the censuses.  Can anyone suggest any other routes I could go down to track either or both of them down?

I need all the help I can get, I've been after this man for the last 3 years with no success 

Many thanks
Sara

[Necromancer]

Marriage Witnesses?  Any chance one or more might be related to James ?

[sbodman]

Unfortunately the witnesses were related to Lillie Chapman.  So no luck there.

Sara

[rosie99]

.........and the address he gave on his marriage is where Lily was living with her mother in 1891 so that doesn't help much either 

Rosie

[Necromancer]

its interesting that the trail starts in Leeds  .... but a pity he's not consistent with PoB in later years.


It does have the hallmarks of fabricating a fathers name for Marriage respectability reasons (very common)

The name May is obviously a big clue, but hard to know where to start .... sadly, Search.Ancestry.co.uk is playing up at the moment ....

I see you have a few feelers out, so hopefully something will germinate 

[rosie99]

Out of interest have you the original of the 1911 - is it definately Tottenham or could it be Cottenham (Cambridgeshire)

Rosie

[lizdb]

Ancestry is playing up big time, and I am sort of on a trail, which may come to nothing. But as I have to go soon, and cant get any further as Anc keeps telling me to "Check back soon" I thought I'd post what I'd done so far.
There is a birth, Ap/may/Jun 1875 for a James Mayes Allensby, CAmbridge
He is on 1891 aged 16 with dad John, Mum Mary Ann and younger siblings, next one down being 8 yrs younger
He is on 1881 with just dad, a widower, so Mary Ann must be his step mum
Dad is John Mayes Allensby who married for the first time Jul/Aug/Sep 1874.  Just wont let me see possible brides names!
Could he have been conceived before marriage and later in life doubted John Mayes was his father and invented a more glamourous sounding one? If so, why Vernon? that swhy I wanted to see his mum's maiden name.

Probably just a clutch at a very thin straw.

modified to add: Susan Bright or Esther Todd are the possibles. No clues there.
I guess this JAmes Mayes Allensby guy is absolutly nothing to do with James May Vernon! Just born the same time, same place ...

[jorose]

Sounds like he may have been telling porkies on the marriage certificate, to me.

The first thought that comes to mind is that he may have grown up as James May, and Vernon may have been his father's real surname, or the stepfather's surname.
Or that he grew up as plain James Vernon, and May was his real father's surname, that he took as a middle name and also gave to their children.

I would look at combinations of the first name Gerald Francis Albert Vincent with surname Vernon or May.  (He may be mixing up several family names to get that impressive-sounding list of first names).
Also at the names of his children - obviously the first two are named after him and his wife, where do the names George and Leonard come from? Are they found in Lilly's family?
Who is at 1 Lavender Walk, Leeds, in 1901?

[sbodman]

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Don't you just hate computers?  I've just typed out a long reply to all the points people have made and apologised for being called away by real life just when everyone was kindly taking an interest when my computer decided to scrap the whole thing and start again.

So, I have the original transcript for 1911 which actually says Tottenham, Middx - no mistake there.

Since he is consistent with his date of birth I have looked at any James Vernon or May who was born around then but had no luck so far.  Although I did miss the one mentioned by Liz.  I'll look into that one further.

I don't know off hand who was in Lavender Walk in 1901 I don't think there will be a connection there but I'll check it out.

I think he just lied through his teeth about his father's name.  It is possible that he was the (illegitimate) son of a gentleman since he had no trade and was a painter - he says water colour artist in 1911.
I have a feeling that I am not going to solve this one but I am really grateful for everyone's interest and suggestions.  Please keep them coming.

This computer is driving me mad.  I'm going to bed I will check again tomorrow.
Many thanks
Sara