Puzzle at The Red Lion

[Shalena]

Sorry to be a nuisance...but having just noted down these new dates I can see a problem with John.

We thought we had him born in Northamptonshire c 1794.

On the 1841 London census he comes up as being aged 40yrs...not the 47 he should be if 1794 was right.

Then on the 1851 Bedford census he comes up as being 57yrs...correct for the 1749 birthdate., but not for the 1841 census

Finally, on the 1861 Bedford census he is now aged 62yrs...not the 67 he would have been if 1794 was correct.

Would it be errors in record taking or badly written records?

Shalena

[ShaunJ]

Just a possibility for John's marriage to Sarah: a John Jenks married a Sarah Wright at Hanwell 4 September 1825.

And looking at Jenks in Potterspury: a John Jenks of Potterspury, widower, married Elizabeth Maynard of Towcester ( a minor, but with the consent of her father) at Towcester on 9 April 1787.

[ShaunJ]

Shalena

Ages of adults in the 1841 census were rounded down to the nearest 5 year interval - so you would expect someone born around 1794 to show up as aged 45.

Then for all the censuses you have the problems of people understating their age as they get older, and the fact that we are looking at manuscript pages transcribed from other manuscript returns by an enumerator. Ages in the censuses are most unreliable.

[Shalena]

How interesting Shaun,

I didn't know about the age rounding down.  And the marriage you have found regarding Potterspury could be John's father, John.

If the 1825 Hanwell marriage is correct, then it seems they had George Stillwell Jenks (b 1821), before marrying...and Augusta the year after.

S
 

[johnP-bedford]

From Historical Directories online, in the 1854 Post Office Directory of Bedford

Jenks John, Red Lion tavern & commercial tavern, agent to the Great Northern railway comp. & excise office, High Street

He is also listed in the 'Carriers to' section of the Trade index

John Jenks, booking office for passengers & goods, to & from all parts on Great Northern & London & Nort Western railways, meeting same at all stations by coach & flys; office, Red Lion Hotel High Street

Also take a look at this .....

http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/CommunityAndLiving/ArchivesAndRecordOffice/CommunityArchives/Bedford/TheLittenTreePublicHouseBedford.aspx

He gets a mention....

cheeeeerrs John    (oh dear that's cocked up the page format)

[johnP-bedford]

What about the Bedford St Paul's Marriages....

25 Oct 1819 John Jenks to Sarah George
We already seen the death index of a Sarah Jenks at St Pancras in March quarter 1847

Then on 6 Dec 1847 John Jenks to Mary Tebbs 
There is a Death index of Mary Jenks in Jan-Mar 1851 in Bedford RD

** could be, no it's most likely,  The Beds FHS has just produced a transcription the MIs of St Paul's Bedford,  I've just checked it out ...

In memory of Mary wife of John Jenks who departed this life on March 15th 1851 aged 59 years ...............

& in the next plot;

Sacred to the memory of William Tebbs late landlord of the Red Lion commercial inn in this town who died June 23rd 1845 aged 59......     

[johnP-bedford]

.... continuing on...

from the list of licencees of the Red Lion (from the Beds Archives article)

William Tebbs, senior 1841 - 1844
Mary Tebbs, 1844 - 1847
William Jenks, 1849
John Jenks, 1850 - 1854

So did John marry Mary Tebbs so he could be the landlord ...?
& who is William Jenks

John

[Shalena]

'Morning John,

You're an early bird!  You beat me to it...I had already found the link you noted down regarding John Jenks time at the Red Lion...and the court case!  But I really appreciate your getting into the digging.  Thank-you.  I also have pictures of the Hotel over the years, and the church he married in, so they will be good for our 'Family Book'.

During my wanderings I also found a copy of an Old Bailey Proceedings which mentioned that there was a man called John Jenks who was a 'Parish Officer', taking a particular defendant to the watch house on arresting her, and recounting his part during the trial for 'feloniously stealing'.  Thought it may be 'our guy', but looking at the dates he would only have been 19 years old at the time, and I am not sure if that would have been right.  Shame, it was a good tale, the girl he arrested was only 14 years old, and was sentenced to death...the jury recommended mercy though, due to her youth.

Off to do breakfast and prepare for the dreaded trawl of the shoe shops for a son who has managed to wreck his school shoes in a couple of months.  And they say girls are the fussy ones!

S

[Shalena]

Couldn't resist popping back quickly...

Saw your latest posts and it seems that our John Jenks is a bit of a mover and shaker, to say the least!  All these marriages...and how convienient that Mary is a Landlady of a going concern! 

I also wondered about William, and where he fit in, especially as he was only there for such a short while.  Think he told his 'relative' John about the position and John came running with a ring in one hand and a wallet in the other?    This may also be the way he managed to get enough money together to call himself "A Gentleman" when it suited him.  He must have something about him to rise from tallow chandler, to straw hat maker, to Landlord.  Whether good or bad remains to be seen.

S

S