Puzzle at The Red Lion

[johnP-bedford]

Thanks again Tazzie, it could be her, short of finding an alternative.

When she married William Besant Jackson in Nov 1846 at St. Pancras parish church they were both of St Pancras. On 1851 she is age 26 born Lambeth & living in Conduit Street Bedford.

John

[Shalena]

John,

You really are on the trail of this family!  Great work by you and Tazzie.

I have a question......when looking at the London Gazette for 25th Feb; 1881, I found an article regarding a George Stillwell Jenks who was being petitioned for bankrupcy (as from 7th Feb; 1850).  This petition carries on for another two issues of the paper.

It is a fairly unusual middle name I would have thought, so could this be the same person???

His address is given as 12, King Streeet, Hammersmith, Middsx; and he is described as 'Cheesemonger, Dealer and Chapman', trading under the company of Jenks & Co;.

It just doesn't tally with your locating him as a railway clerk at about the same time!

Thanks,
Shalena

[tazzie]

  On the marriage cert George Stillwell Jenks lists himself as a railway clerk father John a Lic Victualler living New Street.

 I will have a look for a cheesemonger.

 Tazzie

[johnP-bedford]

"What'd he say ?",  "Blessed are the Cheesemakers I think"
From Monty Python's 'Life of Brian'

Anyway, the George & Eliza Jenks with 1 year old son Charles on the 1851 census living in Hammersmith who is the railway clerk says he's born Bedford. OK that is probably & then John & Sarah went home to St Pancras & baptised him later. 

& from 1851 census there is a George Jenks born Bedford, married age 39 lodging in St Marylebone, without wife & family.. & he's a Ironmonger's fireman. ? toasted cheese anyone

John

[Shalena]

Oh dear...the cheese has gone to my head I think!  Let's see where we are.

'Our' JJ married Sarah and they had a son, George Stillwell Jenks.  The date of birth for him I have written down is 29th August 1821, with him being baptised on 17th August 1823 in London.  This fits as it appears our JJ had 'connections' in Bedford (if not family - recall the William Jenks who was registered as the licencee at the Red Lion prior to John taking over).  There is also the report of a John Jenks (Shopkeeper of St Pauls Bedford), prosecuting Isaac King and others in July 1820.  So it is more than likely that the birth of George would have been there, and not in London.

George S. Jenks, goes on to marry Eliza, and they have a son , born 13th April 1850 in London, who they name George Charles Jenks, (the man who went to the USA in 1872, who had been in the printing trade in London, and took up as editor and a writer and critic when in the States).  My notes from the paper say George S was at 12, King St, Hammersmith in Feb; 1850 and on to Feb; 1851.

This would tie in with the 1851 census showing George C Jenks as 'Charles - 1 year old'; but why the different address?  Would it be one was his home address, and the other his business address?  Or perhaps he had to change addresses due to the bankrupcy...and this just happened to be between the date of the court hearing and the census?

Fine so far...but who is the other George Jenks, Ironmongers fireman??  His age wouldn't fit with our George S.(who would have been 30), unless it is one of those anomalies you come across.  But why a third trade?  He can't have been a rail clerk, a cheesemonger and work at an ironmongers all within the same year!!!

The Life of Brian is looking pretty straight forward in comparison with this.   

Shalena

[johnP-bedford]

In 1871 he's an accountant

Living in St Andrews Holborn is George age 49 born Bedford, accountant; & wife Eliza age 40 born St Lukes, Charles (= George) age 20 born Hammersmith, printer; Frank age 14 born St Pancras, Law writers clerk; & Annie age 12 born Paddington, Scolar

Where are these in 1861

[Shalena]

So George and Eliza had at least two more surviving children...Frank and Annie.

And he has now gone from being a railway clerk to an accountant!

It's funny that you are having trouble locating them on the 1861 census, as I had trouble locating our line from Augusta and Thomas Priestley during that year as well.  They married in 1851 and we have her listed on the 1871 census as living at 339, Kentish Town Road, but no mention of Thomas.  He could have travelling as part of his job of course.  Living with them is her sister Rosina, who is noted as being a governess.

In 1881, we find them living at 37, Osney Crescent, St Pancras.  Thomas has since died.
Augusta Amy Priestley-widow-54-Proprietor of a Governess Institution
Charles Albert-son-29-Builders Surveyor
Edith Rosina-daughter-24-no noted profession
Ernest Thomas-son-22-born Bedford c1858-Commercial Clerk Bidder
Herbert Walter-son-18-born c1863 Lambeth-Solicitors Clerk

Ernest Thomas is 'our line'.  He marries Annie Eliza Cousens in 1889 at Hampstead.  She was noted as living at Lee High Road and worked as a Cook/Servant.  They had two known children, and from the 1891 census we find:-
The family are living at 44, Douglas Road, Hendon, and they have their first child Ruby W. Priestley aged 2 months.
On the 1901 census:-
Ernest Thomas-Head-42-Private Estate Agent
Annie Eliza-Wife-32
Ruby Winifred-daughter-10-Scholar
Kathleen Amy-daughter-7-Scholar.....she went on to marry Sidney Mew on 6 Jan 1916 at the  Parish Church, Wimbledon.  They were my Grandparents on my Fathers side.

Shalena

[johnP-bedford]

On 1861 census these are mistranscribed as Pristty & Augusta aged 54

Living at 14 Fosters Street, Bedford
Augusta Priestly, head, married, age 34 born Lambeth; Commercial Traveller's wife
Charles Priestley, son, age 9 born Newington
Edith Priestley, daughter, age 5, born Kingham?, Middlesex

RG9/989 Folio 105 Page 5

Regarding Thomas Priestly do have has birth year & birth place to help the search for him.

[Shalena]

Thank-you John,

Have Edith Rosina born at what looks like Ringstead/Kingstead (?), Middlesex;  Ernest Thomas born Bedford, and Herbert Walter born Newington.

As for Thomas's details...all we could find were the two censuses:-
1851 says he is 32 and living in Francis Street, St Pauls, Newington with his 7 year old son, also Thomas, from his first marriage (so birth year would be c1819), plus 20 years to the 1871 census and he is now noted as being 48 (which would be a birth year of c1823).  Which it is I do not know for sure.  Neither do I know what happened to his son as he is never mentioned after the 1851 census.  As he would have been c 17yrs in 1861, I suppose he could be working/living away from home.  Or maybe he died.

One other point...Thomas's father was named James Priestley, so I have been advised.

Shalena