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My stubborn brick is William - William Curry. He has been nothing but trouble from the word go. The only sight I have of him after years of searching around is on his marr cert when he married my gt. grandmother Elizabeth. Details - marr at St. John's Church, Killingworth, Northumberland in June 1883 to Elizabeth Walker. William's age is given as 20 and Elizabeth's 23. The witnesses to the marriage were the Sexron and his wife. On the cert Williams father was indicated by a 'dash' which I assume meant illegitimate. (However, it is possible he was deceased and William just said he hadn't got a father ). At the time of the marriage both bride and groom were said to be living in Annitsford, Northumberland. William's occupation was miner. Anyway, William and Elizabeth had a son John born 1885 but by October 1889 Elizabeth had remarried. I have never found a death for William despite the help of GR members on here looking too.

As the marriage took place in 1883 and they lived in Annitsford, I decided to look for William on 1881 census in the hope of maybe finding his mother and any other children she may have had. I was hoping to find them in Annitsford where he was living in 1883. I have searched and searched and the only one I can find shows a Jane Curry, described as marr (not widowed or single) with sons John 35 and William 23 living Woods Cottages, Annitsford, both John and William being described as miners. I did note the slight discrepancy in age (20 in 1883 but 23 in 1881 ?) With the info gathered from the 1881 census I decided to work backwards onto the 1871 and 1861 census and would you believe it I cannot find this family anywhere !! Jane Curry on the 1881 census is 54 and says she was born Chirton, Northumberland and the two sons born North Shields, Northumberland. Where oh where am I going wrong.? They surely can't disappear from two consecutive census returns, can they? Any thoughts/help appreciate. This is driving me mad !!!!!

HI MM,

I'm just going to have a look about for you, this is just for ref;

1881 England Census
about Jane Curry
Name: Jane Curry
Age: 54
Estimated birth year: abt 1827
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Chirton, Northumberland, England

Civil parish: Longbenton
County/Island: Northumberland
Country: England

Street Address: 2 Woods Cottages Annisford
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status: View image
Occupation: Housewife

Registration district: Tynemouth
Sub-registration district: Longbenton
ED, institution, or vessel: 15
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Jane Curry 54
John Curry 35 B.North Shields, Northumberland
William Curry 23 B.North Shields, Northumberland



Dee x

Yes ee that is what I found. A real mystery is this William Curry. Thanks for taking a look.

Hi MM,

I see what you mean........ talk about disapppearing acts!!!


Dee x

This is a real brick wall!!

So glad - in a way - that you too think this is a brick wall !! I began to think I was completely incompetent. Thank you both for having a go at it anyway. Much appreciated. Anyone else fancy this challenge ???

Followed the Francis and Jane Curry line............ no it's not that family so will delete that info.


Dee x

Possible birth for John


Births Jun 1844 (>99%)
Curry John Tynemouth 25 404

Have tried various methods of trying to locate William but to no avail. Bearing in mind son John was born 1885 and that William was supposedly 20 in 1883, I tried the 'age' thing. I estimated that William was born 1859-1863 (in case he was fibbing on marr cert). On this basis I thought his mother/parents> would be born abt 1832-1836 and probably married - if indeed they did marry - somewhere around 1855-1858. Trouble is I don't know whether the mother was born a Curry or whether in fact she married? a Curry. Makes it all the more difficult. I've been round and round in circles for years and apologise now for sending you good folk round in circles too.

Many thanks to you all for trying to help.

I expect you've discounted this one -

Deaths Sep 1889 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Currie William 27 Newcastle T. 10b 27

I wasn't sure about that one Choccy - it would have been abt a 1862 birth which isn't too far out but was only 1 month before his wife re-married. ! Quick work by anybody's standards !! Thank you.

Re these pesky Curry's - I have tracked the family shown here on 1881 census onto the 1891 census and William is still at home with his widowed mother, so they are not mine after all. Thanks everyone for trying.

Really don`t think you should discount the William Currie death Sept 1889.......

Remember the Qtr is September, which means the death could have taken place in July.........4 months before Elizabeth remarried, with at least 1 child to support, I wouldn`t have thought this was unusual.

Have you found Elizabeth in later census with her new husband? she may be with Currie/Curry in laws

Nicky

Hi Nicky down South - no I havn't actually discounted the 1889 death and have noted it. And yes, I have William's wife Elizabeth, son John Curry living with the second husband and family (one of whom is my grandmother) on 1891, 1901 and 1911 census. Thanks for your input.

don't discount anything, these ancestors of ours were not always the straigh laced and moral people we were led to believe!

My GG grandmother married my GG grandfather about a month after his 1st wife died and said he was a bachelor!.

No I won't Linda. I am finding I am having to open my mind more and more as I go along - these prim and proper ancestors were not so prim and proper after all !! In fact quite the opposite some of them !!

Piglets Pal - I have actually tried the CURRIE version but had not even given the other variations a thought. I may just have a look round using them. Thanks for the suggestion.