Looking for JOHN CHARLES PETERS 1861/71

[busyglen]

I am trying to trace my husbands gt. grandfather John Charles Peters who according to information gleaned from Kew was born 11.8.1856 in Devonport, Devon. I have searched 1837online and cannot find his birth, so unable to obtain a certificate to find his parents. He went into the Navy and eventually was transferred into the Coastguard service, and is later found on the 1891 Census in St. Margarets, Cliffe, Kent with his family. I have details of him thereafter, up until his death in Sheerness, Kent.

Does anyone have either the 1861 or 1871 Census that could look to see if he was in Devonport at that time (if indexed of course).

I also cannot trace his marriage to Ann in Devon. She was apparently married before and had I believe three daughters before marrying John. She is on the 1881 Census in Devonport with the daughters, so married then, but John is nowhere to be found so he must have been at sea.

I should be most grateful if anyone could help me with this problem.

Thank you.

Glenys

[Karen Newman]

There is a John Peters aged 15 on 1871 census:

Mary J Peters Widow aged 40 Dressmaker
John is described as a servant
Elizabeth Peters aged 11 scholar

All 3 born in Devonport

Civil Parish Stoke Damerel
Municipal Borough Devonport
Registration District Stoke Damerel ref RG10/2138 folio 8

[Trish]

I am trying to trace my husbands gt. grandfather John Charles Peters who according to information gleaned from Kew was born 11.8.1856 in Devonport, Devon. I have searched 1837online and cannot find his birth, so unable to obtain a certificate to find his parents. He went into the Navy and eventually was transferred into the Coastguard service, and is later found on the 1891 Census in St. Margarets, Cliffe, Kent with his family. I have details of him thereafter, up until his death in Sheerness, Kent.

Does anyone have either the 1861 or 1871 Census that could look to see if he was in Devonport at that time (if indexed of course).

I also cannot trace his marriage to Ann in Devon. She was apparently married before and had I believe three daughters before marrying John. She is on the 1881 Census in Devonport with the daughters, so married then, but John is nowhere to be found so he must have been at sea.

I should be most grateful if anyone could help me with this problem.

Thank you.

GlenysGlenys,

He should be 14 years old at the time the 1871 census was taken but I can't see any that fit your description. However, here's a 15 year old John PETERS living at 10 William Street in Stoke Damerel:

Name / Age / Birthplace / Relationship / Status / Occupation
Mary J Peters 40 Devonport, Devon, England Head Widow Dressmaker
John Peters 15 Devonport, Devon, England Son Servant
Elizabeth Peters 11 Devonport, Devon, England Daughter Scholar

Reference:
Civil parish: Stoke Damerel
Ecclesiastical parish: St James the Great
Town: Devonport
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Source information: RG10/2138
Registration district: Stoke Damerel
Sub-registration district : Tamar
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Folio: 8
Page: 7
Household schedule number: 42

Hope this helps.

Trish

[Karen Newman]

FreeBMD has a John Charles Peters marrying March Quarter 1877 Stoke Damerel

One of the others named on page is Ann Murray

There is an Ann Murray on 1871 census (aged 22 though) born in Devonport married to a William Murray aged 30 from Scotland. They have a daughter called Bessie (short for Elizabeth?) aged 1 which would fit with 1881 census?

[Trish]

...I also cannot trace his marriage to Ann in Devon. She was apparently married before and had I believe three daughters before marrying John. She is on the 1881 Census in Devonport with the daughters, so married then, but John is nowhere to be found so he must have been at sea...Lesley,

There are a number of 19 year old Anns born in Devonport on the 1871 census. If she was married to her first husband by then, I don't see any likely candidates. Here's the list:

Name / Age / Relationship / Occupation / Residence
Ann R Blatchford 19 Devonport, Devon, England Servant St Andrew Devon
Mary Ann Chubb 19 England Daughter Alverstoke Hampshire
Eliza Ann Keey 19 England Daughter Stoke Damerel Devon
Mary Ann Kelly 19 England Head Stoke Damerel Devon
Ann C Macavoy 19 England Daughter Stoke Damerel Devon
Ann A Nancarrow 19 England Daughter Stoke Damerel Devon
Ann Pearse 19 England Daughter Stoke Damerel Devon
Ann Russell 19 England Daughter [Charles] Devon
Ann Russell 19 Devonport, Devon, England Daughter [Charles] Devon

See any likely ones? :confused:

Trish

[Trish]

FreeBMD has a John Charles Peters marrying March Quarter 1877 Stoke Damerel

One of the others named on page is Ann Murray

There is an Ann Murray on 1871 census (aged 22 though) born in Devonport married to a William Murray aged 30 from Scotland. They have a daughter called Bessie (short for Elizabeth?) aged 1 which would fit with 1881 census?Karen,

This one looks like a potential match for Glenys. It's not inconceivable that Ann would shave a couple of years off her age from one census to another particularly if John is younger... ;)

Trish

[busyglen]

Thank you Karen & Trish! You are great!! I didn't expect such a quick response.

I have not had time to study all the information, but will do so later today as I have to go out. But....Ann was definately older than John and her age is consistent from 1881 until date given on her obituary. Haven't looked for her death cert. yet. I can't believe that you may have found her previous marriage and as you say, she could have `shaved' off a couple of years.

I think that Stoke Damerel could be the right place for John, and the Ann you mention with a daughter Elizabeth sounds right too as that is one of Johns step-childrens names.

I cannot thank you enough for your efforts in looking this up for me and will let you know how I get on.

Glenys

[busyglen]

Hi again Karen & Trish

Have had a longer look at the info you gave me and think you may have hit the nail on the head with the marriage of John Peters and Ann Murray. I had a few units left on 1837online and checked out the marriage for March quarter 1877. Both John Charles Peters and Ann Murray show up on the same page and volume number, so this looks very promising. I can order a certificate and that will hopefully allow me to find John's father.

The Ann Murray on the 1871 is also likely to be the same one and the ages are about right. Ann died in 1915 aged 65 so was born around 1849.

Not sure about the family on the 1871 Census with Mary, and children John and Elizabeth, although this could be a possibility.

Thanks again so much for the information which was more than I anticipated.

Glenys.

[Trish]

Hi again Karen & Trish

Have had a longer look at the info you gave me and think you may have hit the nail on the head with the marriage of John Peters and Ann Murray. I had a few units left on 1837online and checked out the marriage for March quarter 1877. Both John Charles Peters and Ann Murray show up on the same page and volume number, so this looks very promising. I can order a certificate and that will hopefully allow me to find John's father.

The Ann Murray on the 1871 is also likely to be the same one and the ages are about right. Ann died in 1915 aged 65 so was born around 1849.

Not sure about the family on the 1871 Census with Mary, and children John and Elizabeth, although this could be a possibility.

Thanks again so much for the information which was more than I anticipated.

Glenys.Well looks like you've made some progress, Glenys. Let us know what you find out on John's father.

[busyglen]

Thanks Trish will do.

Actually, I wonder if I have found John's father in 1881 living at 20 Bakers Place, Stoke Damerel. There is a John Peters aged 51 and a Widower, living with a daughter Mary aged 22. I came across this some time back when I found Ann living alone on the 1881. She lived at 21 James Street, and I did a `neighbours' search and found the one above not too far away. Also, my John Charles Peters' first born son was called John also. Maybe just coincidence, but a strong possibility.

Still, will have to wait until I get the marriage cert, which wont be until after Christmas now.

Thanks again.

Glenys