Totally stuck looking for Robert Mennie

[PeterMHerts]

Hello, I am totally stuck looking for my ancestor Robert Mennie and I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to proceed.

I have found his son James Mennie in the 1841,1851,1861,1871,1881 censuses, at Roebuck Terrace, Newington (1841), 50 Brunswick Street (1851), 57 Trinity Street Lambeth (1861), 24 Falmouth Road Newington (thereafter), and I also got a copy of his Will. 

James Mennie married Caroline Levell on 27 Nov 1838 and the certificate gives his father as Robert Mennie, a Clerk in the India House.  My guess is that means someone who worked in the UK, rather than India...?

My theory is the attached is a christening record of James and (I assume sister) Maria Husbands Mennie, living at Bray Court in Islington, on 13 Apr 1808.  James is shown as born on 17 Oct 1805.

However, I cannot find Robert Mennie anywhere, I've tried the censuses, and I've tried the transcriptions I'm aware of in Parish registers.

Would be really greatful for any points on how to proceed!

Many thanks

Peter

[lizdb]

Hi and welcome

It would seem he probably died pre 1837, thus before Civil Registration and before censuses!

So you are reliant on Parish Registers for Christenings, marriages and burials.
The difficulty will be to know what parish he might have been in for these events. You know he was in Islington in 1808 - but he could have been born anywhere in the country and also could have moved anywhere before dying.

Difficult one.
HAve you found out any more about the sister - I wonder if that will produce any clues.
Possible of course that her middle name, Husbands, was her mums maiden name (might not have been, but is a possibility) Any sign of a Mennie/Husbands marriage? I dont know if Islington Records are online anywhere for that time, you may have to go to the LMA to search. And of course, it might nothave been Islington, though I would start there and then work out to neighbouring parishes

[keyboard86]

Hi Peter, the only thing I could locate is a possible marriage for Robert Mennie:_

Robert Mennie to Grace Ware 14th April 1799 St Marylebone, Westminster. By Banns
Taken from the London, England, Marriage and Banns 1754-1921.

Keyboard86

[PeterMHerts]

Hello, thank you both for the replies.

On the christening record, it refers to James and Maria as being children of Robert Mennie and Christiana, daughter of James Sheath.  So I had guessed that the Grace Ware possibly partner was wrong, but I guess the Christening records might be wrong.

The names Christiana and the middle name of Husbands seem very unusual, I have never heard of Husbands as a middle names before, so it sounds a very plausible line of research that it could be the mother's maiden name.

I have tracked Maria Husbands Mennie through her life, she married very well to a Hewitt Davis who became a wealthy land agent, but I haven't been able to see anything about her in the censuses that particularly helps in tracing her parents unfortunately.

Many thanks to both of you for the comments

Peter

[keyboard86]

Hi Peter, from the IGI Pilot search is this:-

Robert Mennie to Christiana Lacey 13th February 1805 St Martins in the Field,Westminster.

Keyboard86

[karenlee]

Morning....  come to see if I can help out

There is this too...

Croydon Surrey
George MENNIE son of Robert and Christiana MENNIE baptised 30th Aug 1818

Burial Register
St Marylebone
Westminster

George MENNIE of North Street aged 38 buried 23rd June 1851

Keyboard... can see the original of that IGI entry you found.

Karenlee

[keyboard86]

Hi Karenlee, "Image not available for this record on Family Search" Imagine what I said when I first spotted I could not look at original!

That birth of George you found in Croydon, is in the same area as where Hewitt and Maria Davis nee Mennie are living in 1841 at Spring Park House, Addington, Croydon, Surrey.

Keyboard

[karenlee]

Hi Karenlee, "Image not available for this record on Family Search" Imagine what I said when I first spotted I could not look at original!


Keyboard

Oooh.. got a good imagination I do...

On An****** Robert is transcribed as ALLENIE..... not MENNIE.

[karenlee]

Wonder if the middle name HUSBANDS came from the mother's side of the family as I am not seeing a marriage between that surname and MENNIE.... but that does not mean there is not one... just not seeing it yet.