Why go to Southampton in 1847?

[Helen Mary]

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can help and think of a reason why a  John Jarvis (from Thurnby Leics) and Elizabeth Duffin (from Oadby, Leics) travelled to Southampton in 1847  and got married (8th March) and had their first son John Job in 1848 in Southampton, died 1852 Billesden leics. Do not know where they were until 1851
By 1851 they were back in Thurnby (Son Willian Duffin Jarvis born) before travelling to Evington, Liecs (Prascilla born 1853) Fillingham Lincs (John born 1854) and Ingham Lincs (Alfred born 1856) before finnally setting in Nottingham.

Any ideas as to why would be appreciated. Thanks
Helen

[copperbeech5]

Hi Helen Mary,

Welcome to Rootschat!

People moved about for many reasons.  Work is one of the  main reasons, but maybe they felt they had to go away to get married, perhaps their families did not approve of their match?

Just a thought, did they get married by banns or licence?  That might give you a clue, if you can find that out.

Good luck,
Copperbeech5

[groom]

Hi

Welcome to Rootschat.

What was his occupation, that might give you a clue?

Jan

[Valda]

Hi Helen


Do you know they travelled to Southampton in 1847 to get married? One of them may very well have been working in the Southampton area and the other travelled in 1847 to marry them there.
John doesn't appear to have been with his parents in Leicestershire on the 1841 census.
Have you obtained the details on the marriage certificate to see what John's occupation was on his marriage. Women also had occupations but at this date they are rarely recorded on their marriages.


Regards

Valda

[Helen Mary]

Hi,

Thanks for your replies

They married by banns at 'All Saints in the Town' Southampton. John Jarvis is down as a servant  of 4 Prospect Place and Elizabeth Duffin has no occupation and is living at 2 Below Bar? both of them signed their names.
I know he is not with his parents in 1841 as they are in Bushby leics (Job and Ann) and by 1851 he is living with his parents and wife and 2 children (John Job and William Duffin) in Thurnby leics and still a servant.

I can understand moving around the country (leics, lincs, notts) as a servant, as my grandmother was in service and she remembered the servant markets!!!! but to go all the way down to Southampton!!!  Where did he go between 1848 when John Job was born in Southampton and 1851 when they are living with his parents in Thurnby leics??? I have only found one other child William Duffin Jarvis born 1851 in Thurnby  just before the census but I have not found any more children being born between 1848 ans  beginning  of 1851, so no idea where they went.

So any ideas would be appreciated , I did wonder if they could have gone to America and come back with Southampton being a port??? (may be silly I know)

Any ideas would be appreciated

Thanks
Helen

[groom]

Hi

It doesn't look as if they were just passing through Southampton if their first child was born there. Perhaps the people John worked for moved to Southampton and he went with them. Also as Valda said they probably didn't travel there to marry,they may have both been servants and met there.

Have you found him in 1841?

[Helen Mary]

Hi Groom,

No, I have not found him in 1841 there are 3 possibles all in leicestershire  and 1 in Southampton ( born in Warwickshire)  and my John Jarvis was supposedly born in Thurnby Leics  but I do not have access at present.


Helen

[Plummiegirl]

Do not discount the fact that no occupation is given for the wife.  If she too was in service then upon marriage should would have had to leave her job.  Many of the larger establishments frowned on their staff marrying as they knew that the wife would have to leave and a replacement found.  If the couple were older and were higher up in the household heirarchy, they may have been allowed to continue in their jobs, especially for Head Butler and Housekeepers. 

As said before, most women at this time did work, but lots of jobs were those they could do "at home" such as taking in laundry or looking after children of other women who did work.

[bearkat]

Perhaps they were both working for the same household who relocated to Southampton from Leicestershire