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Cornelius Nicholas was born in 1844 and his sister Eliza Dorcas in 1852 the second and fifth children I have found for John and Elizabeth Nicholas who were both born around 1815 in Sancreed, Cornwall.

The other children of John and Elizabeth were Elizabeth Ann (1843), Elisha (1849-1852) and Elijah (1850-1900)

The mother Elizabeth died between 1851 and 1861 and the most likely appears to be a death in 1855 but I'm waiting on the certificate to confirm. In 1861 John is alone with his children and a servant Grace Chapple. Chapple is I believe Elizabeth's maiden name so in reality Grace may be a relation.

In 1871 John is living entirely alone. I believe Elizabeth Ann has married a William Thomas Uren but I'm waiting on the certificate to confirm. Elijah was living though I cannot find him on the 1871 census I can find him on later census with his wife Elizabeth Jane Hicks (1851) who he married 3/12/1871 in St Just in Penwith, Cornwall.

However I can find no trace of Cornelius or Eliza Dorcas after the 1861 census. Can anyone else?

Maybe

1871 census
Dorcas Nicholas
Age: 20
Estimated birth year: abt 1851
Relation: Convict (Prisoner)
Gender: Female
Where born: Lande End, Cornwall, England
Civil Parish: Woking
Town: Knaphill
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England
Registration district: Guildford
Sub-registration district: Woking
ED, institution, or vessel: Female Convict Prison
Household schedule number: 1
Piece: 808
Folio: 142
Page Number: 33
Household Members:
Name Age

She was actually reg as Dorcas
NICHOLAS, DORCAS CHAPPLE
GRO Reference: 1852 S Quarter in PENZANCE Volume 05C Page 380 Order

death
VIEW England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915

Name: Dorcas Nicholas
Estimated birth year: abt 1850
Registration Year: 1873
Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun
Age at Death: 23
Registration district: Guildford
Parishes for this Registration District: View Ecclesiastical Parishes associated with this Registration District
Inferred County: Surrey
Volume: 2a
Page: 33

???????? if the correct cornilius
1911
Name: Cornelius Nicholas
Gender: Male
Age: 67
Birth Year: abt 1844
Relation to Head: Head
Residence Date: 2 Apr 1911
Townland/Street: Ballyvorheen
District: Abington
County: Limerick
Household Members:
Name Age
Cornelius Nicholas 67
Margaret Nicholas 65
Mary Nicholas 28
Bridget Nicholas 27
William Nicholas 26
James Nicholas 24
Cornelius Curran 3

1901
Name: Cornelius Nicholas
Gender: Male
Age: 50
Birth Year: abt 1851
Relation to Head: Head
Residence Date: 31 Mar 1901
Townland/Street: Ballyvorheen
District: Abington
County: Limerick
Household Members:
Name Age
Cornelius Nicholas 50
Margaret Nicholas 48
Mary Nicholas 19
William Nicholas 18
John Nicholas 16
Margaret Nicholas 14
James Nicholas 14
Cornelius Nicholas 11

son cornelius
1930
Name: Cornelious Nicholas
Birth Year: abt 1889
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Ireland
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1930: Bronx, Bronx, New York, USA
Map of Home: View Map
Street address: 3rd Avenue
Block: L
House Number: 3993
Dwelling Number: 25
Family Number: 167
Home Owned or Rented: Rented
Home Value: 30
Radio Set: Yes
Lives on Farm: No
Age at First Marriage: 28
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Language Spoken: English
Immigration Year: 1909
Naturalization: Naturalized
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Driver
Industry: Bread Co
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker
Employment: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Cornelious Nicholas 41
Alice Nicholas 42
Cornelious Nicholas 12
William Nicholas 10
John Nicholas 8
Michel Nicholas 2

He is recorded as born county Limerick so think this is a different man

That Cornelius Nicholas in Ireland was born in Co Limerick, according to both censuses, so maybe not the right one ???

He had been married for 34 years, so I expect this is his marriage:

Cornelius Nicholas
in the Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915
Name: Cornelius Nicholas
Gender: Male
Event Type: Marriage
Residence Place: Knockanoofause
Marriage Date: 11 Feb 1877
Marriage Place: Kilteely and Drumkeen, Limerick, Ireland
Parish Variants: Kilteely
Diocese: Cashel and Emly
Spouse: Margaret Lundon

England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935 Transcription

First name(s) Dorcas
Last name Nicholas
Age 19
Birth year 1850
Occupation Works In Fields
Year 1869
Date 29 Jun 1869
Court Bodmin
Place Cornwall
Victim's first name(s) Elizabeth Ann
Victim's last name Nicholas
Source A Calendar Of Prisoners Tried At The General Quarter Sessions Of The Peace
Series HO140
Piece number 5
Record set England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935
Category Institutions & organisations
Subcategory Prison registers
Collections from Great Britain, UK None

Feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling house of John Nicholas, at the parish of Sancreed, on 24th June 1869, and stealing therefrom, One mohair dress, one cotton dress, one skirt, one pair of shoes, one pair of stockings and several other articles, the property of Elizabeth Ann Nicholas.

She had previously (1867) deserted from Penn Yan Union workhouse stealing clothing.

I can't read it all but seems she had been charged under the vagrant act and also for prostitution and housebreaking and had served hard labour.

The image is on Findmypast.

Kath. x

rules him out then :-)

More about Dorcas:


Dorcas Nicholas
in the England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892
Name: Dorcas Nicholas
Date of Trial: 15 Oct 1867
Trial Year: 1867
Location of Trial: Cornwall, England
Sentence: Imprisonment ( 1 month, for breaking and entering and "stealing therein")


Dorcas Nicholas
in the England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892
Name: Dorcas Nicholas
Date of Trial: 29 Jun 1869
Trial Year: 1869
Location of Trial: Cornwall, England
Sentence: Imprisonment ( 7 years, for Housebreaking and stealing therein after previous conviction of felony.)

Thank you all for looking. That record for Dorcas looks promising and sad as it appears she went off the rails. Maybe because her mother wasn’t around. I’ll order the death certificate to confirm.

The death was in 1873 in Guildford.

As she was imprisoned in 1869 for 7 years, she shouldn't have been released until 1876.
Did they release prisoners early in those days, as they do now?

If her below...

Chris :)

Burial
Day Month 16-Mar
Year 1855
Parish Or Reg District Pendeen
Forename Elizabeth
Surname NICHOLAS
Age 46
Residence Carnyorth
Notes
Transcriber Notes
Transcriber Bob Bolitho

http://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/search-database/

(also on below, both can be useful for Cornwall)

https://www.freereg.org.uk/


30 June 1869 - The Cornish Telegraph - Penzance, Cornwall, England

THE PENZANCE CRICKET CLUB.
Dorcas Nicholas, a young girl who was not 18 until August, but who has frequently been before the magistrates, was charged with breaking into...


17 October 1867 - Royal Cornwall Gazette - Truro, Cornwall, England

DORCAS NICHOLAS, 16, for breaking into and entering the dwelling-house of her father, John Nicholas, ot Sancreed, and stealing various ...


(probably more items)


Baptism
County Cornwall
Place St Just-in-Penwith
Church name St Just
Register type Parish Register
Register entry number 233
Baptism date 12 Sep 1877
Person forename Cornelius Henry
Person sex ?
Person abode Bosvargus
Father forename John
Father surname NICHOLAS
Father occupation Farm Labourer
Mother forename Elizabeth
Register note 7yrs 6mths

(if above in family anywhere)

Edits (he is at below 1881, with another John and Elizabeth/Family)

4, Bosvargus, St Just in Penwith, Penzance, Cornwall,

That is the death record that I suspect to be Elizabeth (Chapple) Nicholas. The age would tie in with a year of birth of 1815. I found a christening record for Elizabeth Chapple in 1815 but was trying to confirm if Chapple was Elizabeth's maiden name. All the evidence though points that way.

It appears that Dorcas had been misbehaving for a while and her father eventually threw her out.

census 1861

Event Date:
1861
Event Place:
Sancreed, Cornwall, England
Registration District:
Penzance
Residence Note:
Tregonebris Croft
Gender:
Female
Age:
9
Occupation:
Scholar
Relationship to Head of Household:
Daughter
Birth Year (Estimated):
1852
Birthplace:
..., Cornwall
Page Number:
7
Registration Number:
RG09
Piece/Folio:
1596 / 18
Affiliate Record Type:
Household
Household
Role
Sex
Age
Birthplace
John Nicholas
Head
Male
45
Sancreed, Cornwall
Comelins Nicholas
Son
Male
16
St Buryan, Cornwall
Elizabeth Ann Nicholas
Daughter
Female
17
St Buryan, Cornwall
Eliza Dorcas Nicholas
Daughter
Female
9
..., Cornwall
Grace Chapple
Servant
Female
27
St Levan, Cornwall

Thank you that is the family in 1861.

this could be grace in 1841

Event Date:
1841
Event Place:
St Buryan, Cornwall, England
Residence Note:
Bosfranken
Gender:
Female
Age:
8
Age (Original):
8
Birth Year (Estimated):
1833
Birthplace:
Cornwall
Registration District:
Penzance
Parish:
St Buryan
County:
Cornwall
Page Number:
12
Registration Number:
HO107
Piece/Folio:
141/19
Affiliate Record Type:
Household
Household
Role
Sex
Age
Birthplace
Nichs Chapple

Male
45-49
Cornwall
Bettsey Chapple

Female
45-49
Cornwall
Bettsey Chapple

Female
25-29
Cornwall
Nichs Chapple

Male
20-24
Cornwall
Grace Chapple xxxxxxx

Female
8
Cornwall
Persila Chapple

Female
5
Cornwall
Christiana Chapple

Female
4
Cornwall
Dennis Chapple

Male
1
Cornwall

Event Date:
1851
Event Place:
St Buryan, Cornwall, England
Registration District:
Penzance
Gender:
Female
Age:
18
Marital Status:
Unmarried
Relationship to Head of Household:
Daughter
Birth Year (Estimated):
1833
Birthplace:
St Levan, Cornwall
Page Number:
6
Registration Number:
HO107
Piece/Folio:
1919 / 420
Affiliate Record Type:
Household
Household
Role
Sex
Age
Birthplace
Nicholas Chapple
Head
Male
57
St Just Penwith, Cornwall
Elizabeth Chapple
Wife
Female
55
Sancreed, Cornwall
John Chapple
Son
Male
20
St Levan, Cornwall
Grace Chapple
Daughter
Female
18
St Levan, Cornwall
Christiana Chapple
Daughter
Female
13
St Levan, Cornwall
Dinnis Chapple
Daughter
Female
11
St Levan, Cornwall

is this Elizabeth chapple born 1815 mother of Dorcas looks like she was a sister of grace chapple same father Nicholas

Nicholas Chapple
mentioned in the record of Elizabeth Chapple
Name:
Nicholas Chapple
sex:
Male
Wife:
Elizabeth
Daughter:
Elizabeth Chapple
Other information in the record of Elizabeth Chapple
from England Births and Christenings

Name:
Elizabeth Chapple
Gender:
Female
Christening Date:
05 Nov 1815
Christening Date (Original):
05 NOV 1815
Christening Place:
SANCREED,CORNWALL,ENGLAND
Father's Name:
Nicholas Chapple
Mother's Name:
Elizabeth

Nicholas Chapple
mentioned in the record of Grace Chapple
Name:
Nicholas Chapple
sex:
Male
Wife:
Elizabeth
Daughter:
Grace Chapple
Other information in the record of Grace Chapple
from England Births and Christenings

Name:
Grace Chapple
Gender:
Female
Christening Date:
22 Jul 1832
Christening Date (Original):
22 JUL 1832
Christening Place:
SAINT LEVAN,CORNWALL,ENGLAND
Father's Name:
Nicholas Chapple
Mother's Name:
Elizabeth

Thank you. It does appear that Elizabeth is Grace's sister.

Would be below...

http://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/search-database/

(good link above)

Chris :)

Day Month 12-May
Year 1842
Parish Or Reg District Buryan, St.
Groom Fn John
Groom Sn NICHOLAS
Groom Age Of age
Groom Residence Tredinney
Groom Condition Bachelor
Groom Rank Profession Labourer
Groom Signed / Marked (S/M) M
Groom Father Name Michael
Groom Father Rank Profession Labourer
Bride Fn Elizabeth
Bride Sn CHAPPEL
Bride Age Of age
Bride Residence Boscarne
Bride Condition Spinster
Bride Rank Profession
Bride Signed / Marked (S/M) M
Bride Father Name Nicholas
Bride Father Rank Profession Labourer
Banns / Licence (B/L) B
Witness Fn1 William
Witness Sn1 Thomas
Witness Fn2 Elizabeth
Witness Sn2 Williams


Baptism
Day Month Nov-05
Year 1815
Parish Or Reg District Sancreed
Forename Elizabeth
Surname CHAPPLE
Sex
Father Forename Nicholas
Mother Forename Elizabeth
Residence Sancreed
Father Rank Profession Husbandman


Baptism
Day Month 22-Jul
Year 1832
Parish Or Reg District Levan, St.
Forename Grace
Surname CHAPPLE
Sex F
Father Forename Nicholas
Mother Forename Elizabeth
Residence Treen
Father Rank Profession Labourer

(a possible 7 more children to couple)


Not seeing a Baptism for below, but reference...


Birth
NICHOLAS, CORNELIUS (CHAPPEL)
GRO Reference: 1844 S Quarter in PENZANCE UNION Volume 09 Page 180


1861 (Find My Past) (Reference)
John Nicholas Head Widower Male 45 1816 Agricultural Labourer Sancreed, Cornwall, England
Cornelius Nicholas Son Unmarried Male 16 1845 - St Buryan, Cornwall, England
Elizabeth Ann Nicholas Daughter Unmarried Female 17 1844 Agricultural Labourer St Buryan, Cornwall, England
Eliza Dorcas Nicholas Daughter - Female 9 1852 Scholar Cornwall, England
Grace Chapple Servant Unmarried Female 27 1834 Household Servant St Levan, Cornwall, England
Tregonebris Croft, Sancreed, Penzance, Cornwall,


(1851 at Sennen, Penzance, Cornwall)


Edits (possible for Grace)

County Cornwall
Place Pendeen
Church name St John the Baptist
Register type Parish Register
Register entry number 384
Marriage date 01 Nov 1871
Groom forename Thomas
Groom surname HARRY
Groom age 34
Groom condition widower
Groom abode Boscaswell
Groom occupation Mason
Bride forename Grace
Bride surname CHAPEL
Bride age 37
Bride condition spinster
Bride abode Trewellard
Groom father forename Thomas
Groom father surname HARRY
Groom father occupation Mason
Bride father forename Nicholas
Bride father surname CHAPEL
Bride father occupation Husbandman
Witness William WILLIAMS
Witness W. D. AITKEN


1901 (Find My Past)
Thomas Harry Head Married Male 63 1838 Stone Mason St Just, Cornwall, England
Grace Harry Wife Married Female 68 1833 - St Levan, Cornwall, England
Selina Chappell Niece Single Female 45 1856 Tin Dressing St Just, Cornwall, England
Boscaswell Place, Boscaswell, St Just in Penwith, Penzance, Cornwall