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Hi i am having problems trying to confirm Josephs parents, on the 1861 census it say's his father is Anthony a labourer from Ireland, but on his marriage cert it says his father is John a farmer. Joseph became a surgeon, GP, medical practioner, dispensor of medicine, his daughter Elizabeth Clayton born 1972 Hogsthorpe went to Aus Brisbane and married my ggf Samuel Beautyman who was a widow, she already had two daughter's although she was not married, they returned to uk Sunderland, but I can't go any further back until I am sure who Joseph's father was. If anybody could help me I would really appreciate this. His Wife was Mary Bennett of Chelsea.

Just to clarify the surname:

1861:

Name: Joseph Clayton
Age: 14
Estimated birth year: abt 1847
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Anthony Clayton
Mother's Name: Eliza Clayton
Gender: Male
Where born: Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England
Civil parish: Wolverhampton
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mark
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

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Registration district: Wolverhampton
Sub-registration district: Wolverhampton Western
ED, institution, or vessel: 20
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 49
Household Members:
Name Age
Anthony Clayton 45
Eliza Clayton 40
Joseph Clayton 14
Hariet Clayton 4 MO

Yes this is what I found but there are no other records of him with Anthony as father that I can find and no records with John as father around this time.

Something does not add up!

On the marriage certificate in 1870 his occupation is shown as a Carver and Gilder. On the 1871 census the chaps occupation is indicated as a Surgeon. Another anomaly is the ages, compare census to marriage certificate.

1871:

Name: Joseph M K Clayton
Age: 28
Estimated birth year: abt 1843
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Mary Hannah Clayton
Gender: Male
Where born: Wolverhampton
Civil parish: Hogsthorpe
Ecclesiastical parish: Lincoln
County/Island: Lincolnshire
Country: England
Registration district: Spilsby
Sub-registration district: Burgh
ED, institution, or vessel: 8
Household schedule number: 71
Household Members:
Name Age
Joseph M K Clayton 28
Mary Hannah Clayton 21
Joseph Augustus Clayton 4 Months
Margaret Parker 16

1870 Marriage:
Name: Joseph Clayton
Age: 27
Estimated birth year: abt 1843
Spouse Name: Mary Hannah Bennett
Spouse Age: 22
Record Type: Marriage
Event Date: 13 Mar 1870
Parish: St James, Fulham
County: Middlesex
Borough: Hammersmith and Fulham
Father Name: John Clayton

Yes I know I have the marriage cert, so maybe its the wrong Joseph, or maybe he worked with his father in law for a while,who was a carver and gilder, because on later census it says he's in the medical field again.

On Elizabeth's marriage cert to my ggf it says her father is Joseph deceased, on her birth cert it says mother Mary Bennett chelsea

Name: Joseph Clayton
Age: 27
Estimated birth year: abt 1843
Spouse Name: Mary Hannah Bennett
Spouse Age: 22
Record Type: Marriage
Event Date: 13 Mar 1870
Parish: St James, Fulham
County: Middlesex
Borough: Hammersmith and Fulham
Father Name: John Clayton

Yes I think this must be the one, but i can't find any records on census for him with John as father but I think John was a farmer but not sure where he was from.

1851 census transcription details for: Salop Street, Wolverhampton

National Archive Reference:
RG number: HO107 Piece: 2018 Folio: 566 Page: 9


Reg. District: Wolverhampton Sub District: Wolverhampton West
Parish: Wolverhampton Enum. District: 1DD
Ecclesiastical District: St Marks City/Municipal Borough: Wolverhampton

Address: Salop Street, Wolverhampton
County: Staffordshire


Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth
Year Occupation ,
Disability Where Born

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CLEATON, Anthony Head Married M 30 1821 Bricklayers Labr
Ireland

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CLEATON, Eliza Wife Married F 30 1821
Whampton
Staffordshire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CLEATON, Joseph Son M 4 1847
Whampton
Staffordshire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SKELDING, Thomas Lodger Married M 31 1820 Bricklayers Labr
Ireland

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SKELDING, Elizabeth Wife Married F 29 1822
Ireland

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SMITH, John Widower M 35 1816 Tailor
Ireland

It doesn't make sense having two fathers, I also found a record later where Anthony was in lodgings and I think he was a widow. Also I can't find any records of Joseph's death. And I can't confirm his parents or siblings, I have been stuck on this for about 4 years.

It was not unusual to invent a father or to "Big up" your fathers occupation but a little unusual to do both.

When did Elizabeth marry as if correct and her father Joseph was dead by then that will narrow down the search period for his death. From the various birthplaces of his children the family moved about quite a bit. Maybe Joseph did not die in England or Wales which could explain your difficulty in finding a record of his death.

She married about 1896 in Brisbane, this is where I found her fathers name and his occupation. From there I found his occupation always in the medical field until his marraige certificate arrived which says Father John - Farmer. I was told Elizabeth was disowned and travelled disguised as a boy to Aus but this may be a story because I was also told she was a lady and I have found no evidence of this although I do know she was eccentric and used to go to the savoy in Sunderland for tea.

Ain't life grand (lol).

If she was disowned then she is likely to have said her father was dead whether he was or not.

I'm not sure that the owners of the Sunderland Savoy would be too chuffed to learn that only eccentric people went there for tea. (lol)

I hadn't thought that maybe her father wasn't dead, but can't find any records here of his death, but I did find a record of them here with siblings after she had gone.

I shall have to go to the Savoy to find out lol

Also I can't find his birth certificate because of his two father's I don't know where he was born either.

The 1891 census seems to have the family well scattered:

Alfred in Boarding school in London
Joseph Jnr in the workhouse
Florence in boarding school in Leamington

Yes and elizabeth was in Aus then, I didn't know about the others though Thankyou My mother is named after Florence.

How did you find the school records ?

They appear in the 1891 census.

Name: Florence M Clayton
Age: 16
Estimated birth year: abt 1875
Relation: Pupil
Gender: Female
Where born: Foting Common, Surrey, England
Civil parish: Leamington
Ecclesiastical parish: St Paul
Town: Leamington
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

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Registration district: Warwick
Sub-registration district: Leamington
ED, institution, or vessel: 17
Neighbors: View others on page


Name: Alfred Clayton
Age: 14
Estimated birth year: abt 1877
Relation: Boarder
Gender: Male
Where born: Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales
Civil parish: Lee
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mildreds
County/Island: London
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

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Registration district: Lewisham
Sub-registration district: Lee
ED, institution, or vessel: 16a
Neighbors: View others on page


Name: Clayton Joseph
[Joseph Clayton]
Age: 21
Estimated birth year: abt 1870
Gender: Male
Where born: Hog Thorp, Lincolnshire, England
Civil parish: Whitechapel St Mary
County/Island: London
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

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Registration district: Whitechapel
Sub-registration district: Whitechapel Church
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page