Genealogy Chat

I have a transcript of the memorial inscription of my paternal gg grandparents Enoch and Ruth Clarke, which includes several of their children. The last entry is for Elijah husband of Mary Clarke who died June 14th 1911 ages 59 years. His date of birth approx 1852 would allow him to fit in to the family (children were born in late 1848 and 1853) but I cant find any record in the free bmd, IGI or 1881 or 1901 census for a birth or marriage which looks as if it fits him (the other children were born in Heaton Norris/ Stockport so he should have been too. It is just possible that he was a son-in law since there was a daughter Mary, but surely if his name was not Clarke it would have been given? Any sugestions on where else I can look to see if I can track down who he is?

Remeber that the mormon site may not be complete, the ask the expert guy said in his transcript which you can read on this site said the info on the mormon site is work carried out by mormans tracing their history. Have you tried lancahire bmd web site for marriages its got quite a few things on its database. Bri/Leeds/Liverpool

Brian, Thanks, I know IGI isnt complete, and in fact none of the family are on it, I havent tried Lancs BMD, which I could do, problem is Heaton Norris, and Stockport are in an area which is affected by county boundry changes, it is curently in Cheshire (If not Greater Manchester) at some dates it is in Lancs but most of the time in Cheshire. I did check the birth index at FRC, there are three Elijah Clarkes about the right time-slot but none in what looks to be geographically probable. (and anyway the birth date since its calculated from the MI could be way off) what is really odd is not finding any credible sign of him in 1881. PS the MI trascripts are from Christ Church, Wellingron Rd, Stockport, Cheshire. Pam

Hiya I looked up Clarke deaths on 1837 on line, for April/May/June and July/August/Sept and there's no Elijah Clarke on either of them.I didn't have enough credits to search 7 pages to find any male Clarke deaths at the right age as I wondered perhaps whether Elijah was perhaps not his only first name? It's a puzzle isn't it? A

Ann, Well I hadnt checked for a death1911 isnt on FBMD. I did wonder what name he was known as, Eli is an obvious abreviation, but I have no idea what it could have been otherwise. Its a puzzle why if he was known by another name it isnt on his grave stone, but would explain why he doesnt come up in 1881 or 1901 census. I havent looked for a marriage for the Mary Clarke daughter of Enoch and Ruth I know of, she is single in 1881, born in 1857. This could be her husband though. I could look for a Mary Clarke marriage to someone named Elijah. It is entirely possible he isnt a Clarke at all Pam

Have you looked on the cheshirebmd(dot)org(dot)uk? There's a Samuel INGLESON died 1911 aged 59 don't think any others recorded at that age .. but the sub district is Bredbury. There are some Eli-sha and Eli-jah s named on here. No Eli* CLARKEs though! Where is you MI located? Got the bit between my teeth now Also by sleuthing on 1901 decoder I see a Henry Clarke aged 49 born Heaton Norris ... Best wishes A

Just a thought, Have you tried Clark without the E Sue Clark

Ann, No I havent looked on the Cheshire site which probably I should have, the MI is for Christ Church, Wellington Rd Heaton Norris. Enoch and Ruth were married there soon after it was consecrated in 1847, they had two children William and Maria die in 1853 and they were buried there, then in 1879 another daughter Ruth died and was buried there, they died in 1889 and 1890, then this Elijah in 1911. I havent been able to find the family on censuses earlier than 1881 which would have sorted out if Elijah was in fact a family member rather than daughter Mary's husband because they are not at the addresses I have for them at the critical dates and no I havent considerd dropping the `e' on the end. All the contemporary information I have found about them includes the e spelling, and it seems common for the area to spell the name with an e although it does also occur without so I may be proved wrong. Thanks for your suggestions and interest. Pam

Maybe your Elijah was called Clarke and just happened to marry someone else of the same surname. Maxine has two cousins that married Emma Holland and Vincent Holland and a friend of mine married some one called Hughes(no one related to her) which was her maiden name.If Elijah wasnt related to Mary then he could have come from anywhere in the country. There is an entry for Elijah Clarke aged 30 in The High street Wellington on the 1881 census staying with his brother William and William's wife Mary he is unmarried and born in Bilston Stafford.

Alison, Thanks for that suggestion it could just be the answer, that Mary is the relative of Enoch and Ruth and she has married someone of the same surname. I must look to see if I can find a marriage. Pam

If anyone is still following this, I have just checked out the marriages on fbmd (ok not complete) and cant find a marriage for a Mary Clarke to another Clarke or an Elijah, but I have found an Elijah Clarke married in Sunderland in 1898 which seems like a bit much of a coincidence given how many turn up in the census records, since that is where Joshua the youngest son of Enoch and Ruth and my Gt Grandfather happened to be living at the time. Unfortunately the potential candidates dont include a Mary, but hey FBMD isnt complete is it? I am very tempted to send for the cert to see who his parents were. Think I will sleep on it though. Pam

Pamela I am following it with great interest. Since my own family are causing me such great problems (eg why did one marry in 1898 and then become single again in 1901)- what happened to Karl Joseph von Arnold - why is Ernestine Gau no longer married? You're right, FreeBMD isn't complete. And I checked your Elijah on 1837 and they have the same details.I have to confess I found the same man while searching FreeBMD in my lunchbreak (sad or what?) I'd have to give in to the temptation and order the certificate. And please please please let us know what happens! Best wishes A