Find Ancestors

Hi all,
I have tried everything I can think of the find my gg grandfather James Matthew Cummings born 1864, and have drawn a blank.
I have him on the 1901 and the 1911 census, I have his marriage certificate, occupation horse keeper, father's name James Cummings, a farmer. Both census state he was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire. So why can't I find him anywhere?
I hope someone can help, thank you

regards
Welshbird

Hello Welshbird, where was he in 1911, and who with?

For reference:

CUMMINGS, James Head Married M 47 1864 Horse Keeper Caretaker Birkenhead Cheshire
CUMMINGS, Jane Wife Married 18 years F 47 1864 Birkenhead Cheshire
CUMMINGS, Alice Jane Daughter Single F 17 1894 Clerk Liverpool Everton Lancashire
CUMMINGS, Thomas James Son Single M 14 1897 Clerk Liverpool Everton Lancashire

Registration District: Liverpool Sub District: Exchange Enumeration District: 2 Parish: Liverpool

Address: 17 /21 Daulby St Liverpool County: Lancashire

Two children born, both living.

** Have you had a previous thread about him?

Have you found him on the censuses between 1871 and 1891? 1881 is free to search.

Maybe his father died, mother re-married and he took stepfather's name ... you do need to track him on the earlier censuses to see ...

Jill

Can you confirm if this is his marriage?

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages Dec 1892

>>Birch Jane Keeling W. Derby 8b 813
Blomer Charles W .Derby 8b 813
>>CUMMINGS James West Derby 8b 813
Phillips Deborah W.Derby 8b 813

** Could you confirm if it says his father was deceased or not on the marriage certificate.

1901 census - household transcription
Person: CUMMINGS, James
Address: 79, Roscoe Street, Liverpool

Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Disability Where Born

CUMMINGS, James Head Married M 34 1867 Foreman Horse Keeper Birkenhead Cheshire
CUMMINGS, Jane Wife Married F 36 1865 Birkenhead Cheshire
CUMMINGS, Alice Daughter Single F 7 1894 Lpool Lancashire
CUMMINGS, Thomas Son Single M 4 1897 Lpool Lancashire

Where have you got his middle name from ?

Could this be him in 1881 - Bebington is very near Birkenhead district?

Jas Cummings
Age 14
Estimated Year of Birth 1867
Relationship to Head of Household
Occupation Reformatory Boy
Address
District Wirral, Eastham
Parish Lower Bebington
Administrative County Cheshire
Birth Place Lpool
Birth County Lancashire

Hi Marieceleste and Tempest
Yes that is him on the 1911 census. Yes I have had a previous thread about him, I do know the rules, but I can't understand why I can't find him before 1901.

regards
Welshbird

Hi Glitterbaby

I got his middle name from a distant relative, they havn't been able to find his before 1901 either.

regards
Welsbird

Hi MrsGrumpy
I have looked for him on the earlier census, but havn't found him.

regards
Welsbird

Hi Marieceleste

He was married to Jane Keeling Birch in West Derby, Liverpool 1892

regards
Welshbird

Hi Flip

That is very interesting, I havn't come across this before. As you say Bebbington is very close to Birkenhead.
What is a' reformatory boy' ? Sorry to be thick.

regards
Welshbird

A reformatory was a punishment establishment (like Borstal) - where they sent children too young to go to prison.

what addresses are given on the marriage cert of James and Jane please, also what are the names of the witnesses?

Have you found Jane Keeling Birch before marriage?

They are both listed as born in Birkenhead but married in Liverpool so they could have been living in the same general location in 1891.

In the 1881 that Flip posted, that James is on a Reformatory Ship called the Clarence, which on census night was "off New Ferry, River Mersey".

Hi Flip
That's wonderful, as my Grand mother was like Hyacynth Bucket, I just love the thought of her Grand father being a bad boy.

regards
Welshbird

Hi Tempest
Both Jane and James where living at 6 Vicars Road, West Derby, Liverpool. Their witnesses where..Walter Crowder and Mary Louisa Reece.

regards
Welshbird

Could this be where the Keeling in her name came from?

Marriages Dec 1884 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BIRCH Jane Birkenhead 8a 681
Burton Kate Birkenhead 8a 681
BURTON Margery Birkenhead 8a 681
Hilditch Joseph Birkenhead 8a 681
KEELING John Edwin Birkenhead 8a 681