Birth/Baptism Look-up - THOMAS, William James (Drake)

[poppets]

Hi,

I'm looking for a birth/baptism record for a William James (Drake) Thomas. I have a date of birth for him of 24th February 1858 and I believe he was born in Cornwall. The middle name Drake appears in some records, but not in others.

I know that William emigrated to Australia in 1878 at the age of 20. I do not know the names of his parents as they are not recorded on his marriage or death certificates.

I've had absolutely no luck so far finding any trace of him in England, particularly as he may have been recorded merely as a William Thomas.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Casey

[KGarrad]

Cornwall OPC Database is showing 2 possibilities (there may be others!):

Baptism 25th January 1857, at Treslothan
William James Thomas, son of James & Margaret of Bolennoe

Baptism 30th May 1858, at Sancreed
William James Thomas, son of Ralph & Jane of Boslow

(Looks like the last one died aged 15 months)



However, the 1861 census is showing 9 William J Thomas, and 3 William James Thomas!

[shirl100]

Clutching at lots of straws here, but assuming the birth was registered in the first quarter of 1858 in Cornwall (which it should have been but doesn't mean it was of course) then there is only 1 William James Thomas q/e March Redruth District vol 5c page 308. Looking at a list of places in Redruth Registration District and comparing that to the 1861 census (free from http://www.freecen.org.uk ) with a William J/ William James aged 2 or 3 then there are these possibilities assuming the family hadn't moved of course

Tolcarne Street St Martin's Camborne

Jacob Thomas head age 27 or 29 copper miner Camborne
Sarah wife age 31 Devon Ashburdon ( Ashburton?)
Emma daughter age 12 work at tin mine Devon Ashburdon
William J son age 3 Camborne
Elizabeth A daughter age 1 Camborne

Jacob Thomas & Sarah Blewett married 21 May 1850 Camborne

Penponds Camborne

Head of house Richard Allen, wife Ann children Robert & Lavinia
Elizabeth Thomas lodger age 25 Breage
William J Thomas lodger age 3 Camborne
Elizabeth Helen Thomas lodger age 1m Camborne

Fore Street Redruth

James Thomas head age 24 engine worker at a mine, Falmouth
Joanna wife age 25 Redruth
Mary Ann daughter age 4 scholar Redruth
William James age 2 scholar (?) Redruth
Margaret daughter age 3m Redruth

James Thomas and Joanna Thomas married 21 Feb 1854 St Just in Penwith

Ages can be notoriously wrong of course, but at least there is a starting point and if he was just shown as William in the 1861 census there are a few more I am afraid. If you ordered the birth certificate and put his known date of birth on the form then if that one in the first quarter of 1858 isn't the right one I don't think you are charged for it (not too sure but worth checking out)

You could also try -  using freecen - following the William's above in 1871 and then if they appear in 1881 you can rule them out.

Good luck

Shirl

[poppets]

Hi Shirl

Thanks for all that information. You've certainly narrowed down the options for me.

I'll chase the Williams in the later censuses and see if I can exclude anyone.

He is proving extremely difficult to track down

Regards
Casey