Genealogy Chat

I have hit a dead end with this chap. Ralph Drewry, b 1853 at Tynemouth, according to the 1871 census and subsequent. Married Hannah Cowell in 1871in Newcastle. I have a copy of the entry and have viewed the original. Trouble is, I can't find any record of his birth, nor is he in the 1861 census. His father was Charles, a commercial traveller, according to the marriage entry. A witness was a James Drewry, maybe a brother? However, it stops there. Any suggestions for alternative spellings? I've tried all the likely ones. Any ideas where to look next? Has anyone ever encounterted a commercial traveller in the research? Any tips gratefully received! Ian

no idea of mothers name i suppose? does he,in later census, give info consistent with the 1871 or does it vary? the marriage- how old was he when he married ? View Record CHAPPEL, Emma 1871 June Marriages Newcastle upon Tyne Northumberland View Record COWELL, Hannah 1871 June Marriages Newcastle upon Tyne Northumberland View Record DREWRY, Ralph 1871 June Marriages Newcastle upon Tyne Northumberland View Record WALLER, Thomas 1871 June Marriages Newcastle upon Tyne Northumberland

Think this is him in 1871:- >>> View Record Ralph Drewry<<< abt 1852 Shields, Northumberland, England Lodger Hedworth Monkton and Yarrow Durham View Record James Wilson Oliver abt 1870 Hebburn, Durham, England Son Hedworth Monkton and Yarrow Durham View Record Mary Oliver abt 1843 Spittal, Northumberland, England Wife Hedworth Monkton and Yarrow Durham View Record Thomas Oliver abt 1838 South Shields, Durham, England Head Hedworth Monkton and Yarrow Durham View Record Thos William Oliver abt 1869 Hebburn, Durham, England Son Hedworth Monkton and Yarrow Durham View Record William John Oliver abt 1867 Hebburn, Durham, England Son Hedworth Monkton and Yarrow Durham View Record Robert Wilson abt 1831 Spittal, Northumberland, England Lodger Hedworth Monkton and Yarrow Durham View Record Robert Wilson abt 1865 Shields, Durham, England Son Hedworth Monkton and Yarrow Durham North Shields comes under the Tynemouth registration district. I've looked for his birth in 1851, 1852 and 1853 and can't find it. Maybe a request for a look up of his baptism might be an idea in case his birth wasn't registered - wasn't compulsory at that time. Kath. x

so not Tynemouth or 1863 then!!

No idea of his mothers name. Only details I have are from the marriage entry. His age is 'full'! I only have the details on the 1871 and subsequent censuses for his place of birth and age. He vanishes between 1891 and 1901, but no luck tracing a death. Checking Baptisms - will I have to go htrough all the church registers physically at the records office up here? Ian

Ian says 1853 in his post Jess. Kath. x

I don't think there will be too many churches in North Shields at that time Ian. You will have to trawl through the records. You could do this at an LDS centre if you order the parish records for Shields. Kath. x

Well, he did die even if he was never born LOL: Surname Forename AAD District Page No Event Quarter Year Drewry Ralph 65 Sedgefield.10a 214 Death 2 1918 Merry

Just had a thought about his age. If he says 'full age' on his marriage certificate (and he's not telling lies as they sometimes do) then his birth would be more likely to be 1850 or before, no matter what the census entries say. Kath. x

that is why i wanted a marriage age, Kath

On the 1871 census (same quarter he is getting married) he says he is 19! Merry

the only Ref i can find for the name in 1851, at least , at the right end of the country View Record Elizabeth Drewry abt 1834 Sunderland, Durham, England Pauper Newcastle upon Tyne St John Northumberland

I imagine the name is related to DRURY? If listed in a census by how it sounds, then that's a possibility. Christine

I have the Drewery name in my tree. Have you tried this spelling?

Yep. Tried Drewery, Drury, Drurie, Drewrie, Drewerie, Dury, Jury, Jurie, Trury, Doory, Droory, Droorie, Droowry, Droowrie and Mactavish. :-) I've even looked through all the Ralphs I can find in the whole UK born 1849 - 1855 with nothing remotely similar born in the North. Only ones I find I can track them after 1871, so that rules them out. Can't find a charles with any of the above spelling listed anywhere as a commercial traveller or anything remotely like it. Maybe they were immigrants and changed their names? Or changed the name for another reason? Ian

Can you take us back thru where the origins of this name are?. Is Drewry your direct line or is the female that Married Ralph Your Line?, Im just wondering if the name exists in your family today and the fact that the name was the same in both census and Marriage that both are a mistranscription of something else

Ian This might be a long shot but 1861 census, Westoe, Durham there is a Ralph Dockwray born about 1850 South Shields, stepson. Head of household is an Adam Newham and another stepson is given as Charles Dockwray 1848. The handwriting on the image is difficult and given the local accents I suppose this is a remote possibilty for your Ralph.

In which case... View Record Newnham, Betsy 1874 December Marriages Newcastle upon Tyne Northumberland would maybe give us another name to hunt out

Annie Drewry, daughter of Ralph and Hannah, was my ggmother, b 1883. She married John Robert Wintrip in 1908. Their son, John Hodgson Wintrip was my mothers father. I hope that is clear! Ralph is in the 71, 81 and 91 census returns, but drops off the 1901. I've just rechecked his marriage cert. and I was wrong, he gives his age as 20 on the 3.6.1871, so he could have been born anytime btw 1851 and 1853 I suppose. He signed the register and Hannah made her mark, so he must have had some education, his writing is reasonably good. I'll have a look at the records you mention, thanks for that. Ian

sight variation on brides name on the marriage though View Record DREWE[R_]Y, Annie 1908 September Marriages South Shields Co. Durham Tyne and Wear