James and Alice SOUTHERN, West Derby/Liverpool

[Bex28]

Hi there,

I am trying to research my fiancee's side of the family and am a bit stuck with one particular relative and his immediate family.

The relative in question is JAMES SOUTHERN, b 1801, Lancs, and his wife ALICE (sorry, no maiden name known) b 1801 also. I have details of them on the 1841 Census living at Gay Street, Gay Court, Liverpool with their children George (b1825) Mary Ann (b1831) James (b1833) Lawrence (b 1837) and Alice (b1840).

Due to the fact that I can only find them on this census and that there are several Alice and James Southern's in Lancashire I am very stuck and can't even be certain on death records due to the same. I have checked neighbours on the census records and cannot find them living near them, and have even tried soundexes on the surname and the less common children's names, to no avail.

I have researched James and Alice's son, George, and have his records up to 1900 so am really stumped as to why they seem to have just completely vanished!

Thanks in advance to anyone who may be able to help; if any more info needed, give me a shout.

Bex

[Wirral]

Hi Bex
Welcome back!
In the 1841 census there is Samuel SOUTHERN, 80, Sawyer, born Lancashire living in the same house. The father of James?

[Mutley]

I am sorry, tried looking without surnames and looking for Lawrence and young Alice but no sign of them.

[Bex28]

Thanks for trying for me guys - Wirral: Yes, that is James' father, Samuel. Any ideas why they wouldn't be listed and has anyone else had experiences of relatives just vanishing completely? Was there anything big that happened in this area between 1841 and 1851 that could have mean James and Alice were 'dispatched' so to speak?