Genealogy Chat

Has anyone got suggestions on finding a family on the censuses?

I've tried searching for the family in 1851 thru 1871.

George Davis is the father - no idea where or when born.

Alfred Davis the son was born according to later cenus about 1844 in Bloomsbury - though on his wedding cert in 1872 he's only 25 so that makes him born a bit later.

George his father was deceased at the time of Alfred's marriage.

Any suggestions on finding this family would be appreciated greatly.

Gypsy joe

Thanks Island

I've tried BMD with the same results but that doesn't help me with the census unfortunately.

Does anyone know if ancestry and find my past will throw up different results? I'm searching FMP since I don't have ancestry. I've also tried family search but no luck.

What about witnesses to the marriage ?

Does it give any occupation for father or is it just shown as deceased

Two possibles in 1851 on Ancestry but not listed as born Bloomsbury

Glitter Baby

George's occupation was clerk and office keeper. It also lists George's middle name and although not clear it looks like Bellil or Bellul.

The witnesses are John Lewis (I'm sure it' not the shop - LOL) & Elizabeth Harding.

What about the Alfred Davis on the 1851 census in Westminster.

Born 1846, Middlesex, London. His father, George, works for the police force. His mother's name is Louisa and he has a sister named Dinah. Is your Alfred Davis the one who had daughters named Louisa and Dinah? If so, perhaps this is him.

Chistina

I think you found the winner there.

Alfred married Clara Quinton in 1872 and he was stationed in Aldershot at the time and was a private with the scots greys.

They had three children Alfred, Dinah (my great grandmother) and Louisa.

Where can I find him please?

|sland

thanks for that but it would appear it is not the right family.

Still can't cut and paste - so this is what I can tell you:

HO.107/1479
1851 census - St. Stephens, Westminster - Police Court

George Davis - head - 40 - Officer ? Westminster Police - Mdx.London
Louisa ? Davis - wife - 30 - Mdx.London
George ? Davis - son - 9 - scholar - Mdx. Chelsea
Elizabeth Davis - dau - 7 - scholar - Mdx.London
Alfred Davis - son - 5 - scholar - Mdx.London
Dinah Davis - dau - 3 - Mdx.London

Hope this helps you find it.

Thanks Christina

It certainly does help. I have a huge smile now. Taking down the details now for searching - which site is that from?

Thanks again Island for your effort too.

Sadly it looks as though both parents might be dead by 1861 as I can't find them.

Unfortunately it does look like the parents died during the 1850s and the family split up. There were so many George and Louisa Davis's about that it's almost impossible to say which of the death registrations could be theirs.

Only thing I can think of doing is ordering the birth certificate for Alfred's sister, Dinah (a more unusual name). This MAY be them

Dinah Davis - Jan-Mar 1848 Westminster St. Margaret Vol.1 Page 444

Alfred Davis - Jul-Sep 1845 Westminster St.Margaret Vol.1 Page 415

Wondering if the middle name was Bethel? There's this:

Births Sep 1874
DAVIS George Bethel Farnham 2a 93

in the same district as his first 2 children.

Rose

Have you seen them on the 1841 census as well? Living in Chelsea.

George Davis - 30 - Clerk
Louisa Davis - 20
Louisa Davis - 2

Looks like little Louisa must have died before the 1851 census.

On the 1851 Louisa has (I think) an M for a middle initial. So I wondered if she might be the Louisa Mary Davis who died in Westminster in 1856.

It looks like Rose, above, has come up with a very good possibility for the name.

There's a George Davis, with parents John and Dinah, baptised at St .Pauls Covent Garden in 1809. Also at the same church and with the same parents is a Charles Bethel Davis baptised in 1803.

Wow lots of movement since I left work yesyerday - now all I need is a keyboard that works properly.

Christina - hadn't yet looked for them in 41 yet but thanks, I did however find the indexed death in 56 for louisa as well, also looked for a marriage index and found one that would work in 38 in Farringdon Louisa Mary Gunn was her name.

Rose - Bethel could work it seems the the most likely - though that George being born in 74 would then be the child of one of the sons presumably George.

Are the two of you seaching ancestry?

I mainly use Ancestry plus familysearch.org and Find my Past.

There's a marriage for a John Davis and Dinah Bethell in 1789 Marylebone, which ties in nicely for George's parents. But that's on familysearch so I'll leave you go into that.

Louisa Mary Gunn looks promising, but I suppose you need Alfred's birth certificate to confirm that.

Thanks Christina.

I'll check out family search. Since I'm in London l'll wait till l can get to the London archives and see if l can find his birth.

I will update all when l know.

Hello all :)

I thought I'd update you all.

Thanks to the help received it definitely looks as though George and Louisa Davis are the right couple.

Albert my 2 X great grandfather had three children called Alfred, Dinah and Louisa. This is what pretty much confirms this is the right family though when I can afford to buy his birth certificate I will to confirm further.

George married Louisa Gunn on the 31 Jan 1838 and she was a minor. He was working as a Livery Stable Keeper. George's father John was a Livery Stable keeper and Louisa's father George was a publican.

George and Louisa had 5 children and appears that both George and Louisa are both deceased before the 1861 census since I can't find them The Eldest daughter Louisa also appears to have died as she wasn't with the family in 1851, I've not had much luck finding any of the children in 1861 or 1871.

I think I've found and following on from Christina's suggestion - Georges births/bapt and his siblings all Bapt at St Paul’s Covent Garden. Their parent's John Henry Davis and Dinah. They are as follows;

1. William Davis - DOB: 28/07/1796; Bapt:14/08/1796
2. Dinah Elizabeth Davis - DOB: 03/12/1799; Bapt: 03/01/1800 (this was also my great grandmothers’ name)
3. Charles Davis DOB: 07/12/1801; Bapt: 30/01/1802 (there was also another entry for Charles listed at Charles Bethel Davies with DOB 6 Dec 1801 and Bapt 25 Oct 1803 with the same parents - not sure why they had him done twice and I'm guessing they weren't sure when he was born either.)
4. Henry Thomas Davies DOB: 10/10/1803; Bapt 25 Oct 1803 (same parents as the rest and bapt at the same time as Charles the second time round).
5. Frederick Davis DOB 10/12/1806; Bapt: 07/05/1809
6. George Davis DOB: 20/03/1809; Bapt: 07/05/1809

Working with this info I then found John and Dinah's marriage. The minister wrote her down as being Diana but she signed her name as Dinah.

They were married in 1789 on the 26th day of July after banns. The witnesses must have been standard as they were witness to a number of marriages that day.

If anyone has suggestions on going further back that would be great. I did try searching for a Bapt for a John Henry Davis and came up with one in 1767 on Aug 9 to John and Elizabeth Davis - trouble is if this is the guy how do I know and how do I find his siblings?