The Diary of Nathaniel Bryceson Revisited

[Ruskie]

Deb, i just typed up a huge new post for the Middx board to ask which would be the most likely death registration for Mary Ward. But while I was doing so, I thought that there is not really any point at the moment.

Firstly I will wait to see if Mongibello can find her death at Westminster Archives. If not, I will simply re order a d/c for Dec 1/4 1847 for a Mary Ward with husband Matthew. If that doesn't bear fruit, I will have a rethink. 

[Siamese Girl]

Out of interest, because I can't remember!- did we ever try to trace Nathaniel's real father - Nathaniel White? I just looked up his baptismal entry at St Marylebone - Nathaniel Son of Mary Bryson and Nathaniel White baptised 4 Julu 1826 born 5 June 1926 WH (for workhouse) pauper - although I don't know if the pauper refers to Mary or Nathaniel.

Carole

[deb usa]

Hi Carole

We did search for Nathaniel White.... Ruskie followed a NW through the censuses, I think he was chair maker.

[Siamese Girl]

There's a Nathaniel White aged about 50 chairmaker living in Gt Quebec St Marylebone in 1841 - I wonder if he was the father? I know we probably won't know the answer but I wonder why Mary didn't marry Nathaniel White? Was he already married? She thought enough of him to name her son after him. It's a shame the records of the workhouse don't go back to pre-1855. I can see a Nathaniel White died in the workhouse aged 77 om 4 December 1846, but it seems hard to imagine he could have lived there for 20+ years.

Carole

[Paul Caswell]

Hi Carole,

My 3rd gt grandfather John Turner went to the workhouse with his daughter and grandson in 1854-1860 aged about 60. He died there in 1882 having been there continuously (I assume) for a total of about 26 years. I guess once in it was difficult top get out, especially if you're comparatively old to begin with.

Paul

[Ruskie]

Hi Carole,

Deb is right - we did look for Nathaniel White. Not a particularly common name I don't think.

The chairmaker:
1841 census
Quebec St, Marylebone
Nathaniel White 50 chairmaker N

(I have this Nathaniel White through the censuses and his death in 1862. Unsure if he is the correct Nathaniel. He was born in Watford Hertfordshire.)

I think we focused on this one because when Nat married he sid that his father was Nathaniel Bryceson, cabinet maker, and chairmaker seems to be a related occupation. I think we presumed that Nat must have been told his father's first name and occupation but did not know that his surname was White.

One of the great mysteries has been how Mary got  involved with a pauper from the workhouse. But there could very easily be an explanation for this such as he was ill and unable to work at various times throughout his life. Perhaps he was in and out of the workhouse? I think this happened quite a lot with inmates of the workhouse.

Carole, I am very curious about the Nathaniel White death you found in 1846. I will have to have another look but I did find a Nathaniel White death in 1862 (see above). Of course I could have got that wrong and have mixed up my Nathaniel Whites. I do remember finding Quebec St which seemed to be a very well to do area, but perhaps Nathaniel White lived in the stables or out the back somewhere. 

Also, some good news - I heard from Mongibello and he will look for Mary Ward's death on his next visit to the Archives on Tuesday.  Fingers crossed.

[Siamese Girl]

Sorry I've made a mistake and got my notes confused! Nathaniel White died in the St Marylebone workhouse on 4 December 1862aged 77 - which would give him even longer in and out of the workhouse - if it is the same man.

The other Nathaniel White I was looking at was Nathaniel Charles White who married a Sarah Gelding (looks more like Golding to me) 28 April 1824 St George Hanover Square Westminster and then as a widower remarried Elizabeth Marlow Brown 1 September 1846 St Andrew Holborn.

I've just been trying to look for any clues - even in the time since we "did" Nathaniel before, so many more records have appeared online. FindMyPast's newspapers for a start, although I couldn't find any likely Nathaniel Whites there.


Carole

[Ruskie]

Yes, it really is worthwhile going over some of this research again. With a bit of luck we might find some additonal snippets.

Well if the Nathaniel White chairmaker is the same Nathaniel White who died in the workhouse in 1862, perhaps he might be the right chap and our Nat's real father?  Chronologically he would fit, and age wise he is about 10 years older than Mary, so a logical 'pairing'.

I wonder if there is any way we can find out more about him. Workhouse records? 

He might even have been married which might explain why he and Mary didn't marry. So Nathaniel Charles White would also be worth considering.

[Ruskie]

The other Nathaniel White I was looking at was Nathaniel Charles White who married a Sarah Gelding (looks more like Golding to me) 28 April 1824 St George Hanover Square Westminster and then as a widower remarried Elizabeth Marlow Brown 1 September 1846 St Andrew Holborn.

Any clues in his occupation?

It would be great to find some kind of connection between one of the Nathaniel Whites and our Nat's family .... which would explain how Mary knew him.