Bluecoat schools

[david54]

Good evening,

Can anyone please tell me how you can search for people who entered the Bluecoat schools in the early 1800s.

I am trying to find my GG grandfather family prior to him coming to Australia. James Bennett Gibbs. The only family info I have on him is that on his marriage certificate here in Aust he lists a Alfred L Gibbs as father .... not sure if fact or fiction as cannot find an Alfred L anywhere.

I know from family that he went to one of these schools..... and there it ends. Is becoming a quest and a little frustrating at times.

Thanking you in advance.

[Maggsie]

Hi,
Year of marriage in Australia?
Maggsie

[Maggsie]

is it 1909 married to Matilda Petts?
Maggsie

[Kay99]

Hello David

To help establish the age of James was his marriage to  Ellen Fisher Cotter on  13 Dec 1864 at Nuccaleena, Frome, South Australia - Father  Alfred L Gibbs?   Does the cert list his father's occupation and James's age /occupation?

Kay

Edit - There were quite a few Bluecoat Schools - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charity_school

[david54]

Hi kay,

Thanks and yes, you are correct. James would have been 29 ish.... and no the marriage cert does not list any other details of his father.

I have not heard my family talk of his father, except to say no one knew of him.... so a mystery.

When he married into Cotter family they were respected family in SA, first surgeon to the state and to the governor .... Ellen being first white girl born in the new state.

Too many questions and no answers.

Thanks for the link to the bluecoat schools, more research,

thanks for the help

david

[ribbo39]

Hi David,
Have a look at this site about Reading, Berks Blue Coat School;

http://www.rbcs.org.uk/about-reading-blue-coat-school/

One of my uncles went there in the 1920/30s and they wore from memory a black cape, white shirt and a yellow ?tie.

May not be the school your after but am sure they would have records of past students.

Alan

[Ruskie]

Trying to trace him via school records from the 1800s is probably going to be difficult or impossible. Records may not have been kept at the time, and may not survive today. Best to go via the usual route of censuses, etc.

Do you have his immigration record? What date did he arrive in Australia?

It is not unusual that parents of someone who immigrated were not known. Noticable by blanks on and sometimes incorrect names on death certificates.

[david54]

Good evening,
Thanks to all for the replies and so my quest continues

Immigration records into Australia at that time were dubious at best and the access to them now seems to record only those who came with government assistance, not those who paid their own way.

I know he came to Adelaide so maybe now a trip to the Immigration Records here might be one avenue to pursue.

Thanks again, and find the whole concept of these schools sad, and same opinion of workhouses (found both my grandmother and her mother spent time in them)

Thanks again.

[Kay99]

You have probably already considered this, but just in case thought I would mention it 

There is  a baptism on Anc of a James Bennett Gibbs at Cheltenham on 5 Oct 1834 however the parents were James and Jane Gibbs with James listed as a gardener.  Although it is the wrong father's name I can't see the family in any census at the moment or a marriage/any other baptisms  for the couple    

Kay