Genealogy Chat

Heather I don't quite know how to put this - the story went that my Gt Grandad a coloured man came over here and married a Scots woman. I knew she was Mc Arthur but now from the cert I know she's Kate (Catherine). In those days - thank goodness we've moved on - it was frowned upon for there to be mixed race marriages. I don't know how true it was but he apparently became a well respected man in Southampton and there is even a story that he became a publican? x

Lorraine, Did you say something about Kate or Catherine being Scottish? Heather

Yes Heather from one little piece of paper (Grandad's birth cert) yesterday comes this story that is opening up in front of me. I mean there have always been stories about how they came by the name Clarke - it was a plantation owners name. My Mum and 2 of her sisters went to Barbados in 1983. They met old Uncle Oscar, since passed and I think some other members of the family but I have no idea who they were. I wish I'd been doing this then and they could have written it all down......WHY do we wait so long to do things sometimes? x As you've been following this saga by the way Julius Clarke becomes the Head of the household, at the same address, on the 1901 census and Catherine is now his wife!

Lorraine, This thread is very interesting. Rachel, Nice one! Heather

Heather the birth was registered on 27th December 1890 Rachel thanks again you're a ****STAR**** x

On family Search there is a Julius Clark born New Province West Indies.... he might be yours. He's living in New York with his mother and step father. His age is different by 2 yrs but he might be worth a look. James REILLY Self M Male W 32 NOVA SCOTIA Longshoreman --- --- Amelia REILLY Wife M Female W 45 NEW PROVIDENCE WEST INDIES Keeping House NPWI NPWI Letecha CLARK SDau S Female W 32 NEW PROVIDENCE WEST INDIES Sewing NPWI NPWI Julius CLARK SSon S Male W 21 NEW PROVIDENCE WEST INDIES Works Bakery NPWI NPWI Yeleika CLARK SDau S Female W 18 NPWI At Home NPWI NPWI Source Information: Census Place New York, New York (Manhattan), New York City-Greater, New York Family History Library Film 1254870 NA Film Number T9-0870 Page Number 170B Also I found a marriage in March 1896 between Julius Clarke and Catherine Best on FreeBMD. (well Julius was there but I looked on 1837 and found her corresponding entry). Dist Southampton. If you ordered the marriage cert it would tell you if he was a widower (or at least it should...) Rachel

What was the date when the birth was registered? Heather

It is confusing isn't it? I suppose this is a fairly normal thing to happen? Still I can't give up hope and fall at the first hurdle eh? x

Have just read it all through again and think that Rachel's idea is best. I'd look for death of Kate first. Confusing, Isn't it? Heather

Hi Julius Clarke's birth place should be Barbados West Indies....I know his family originated there. x

Rachel - Thank you I'd love to see it anyway....thank for all your help everyone x

Lorraine I think you might struggle with these because on the 1891 census (which i can email to you if you like) Julius's place of birth is very difficult to read. It's been transcribed as Barbadair, Wisconsin. It may be that he and Kate were married in America? Like I said earlier the 2 children with the surname Clarke have been included under Catherine's name as her children. Both their places of birth are down as Southampton, but that may be wrong. She might just have thought that they were both born there. It all depends on when he travelled over from America. Because Kate registered his birth, that means that she survived childbirth. Her and Catherine might be one and the same person but who knows... I'd keep an open mind about it for now. Rachel

That seems a good idea. I think maybe she was widowed/divorced with children then my Gt Grandad came onto the scene and they had my Grandad and maybe others? I just can't see why the surname is different on the birth cert/census or maybe it's normal - I'm quite new to this! x

Lorraine On the 1891 census he is Arthur Clark, not Best. Rachel

How about looking for the marriage of Catherine or Kate McArthur to someone named Best? And then see if the husband died. Heather

Now I might just be confusing things but.... I found Catherine Best on the 1881 census. Hubbie is absent but her oldest child is with her. Her occupation is Seamans wife, and they are living in Southampton. That could explain why he's never there on the census. Also left her lots of time to take in lodgers... I don't know if that helps or not. I looked for Julius in 1881 but I haven't managed to find him yet. Rachel

Hi Heather - it's just that he was born 5/11/1890 and registered as Clarke by his mother also Clarke but the census when he's 5mths old they are both Best? My Gt Grandad a seaman is there as a lodger aged 33?x

Hi when Ruth very kindly did the look up the name Best jogged my memory and I remembered something about my Grandad having half brother's and sisters....The name Best also stirs some recollection but I'm not sure where I can go now? x

Kate is another name for Catherine. Heather

Hi Lorraine Wow! You are making progress! Perhaps they married later? Heather