2 chappies from Ireland in 1911 UK census

[Colin Rowledge]

I have 2 chappies from Ireland, lodging with the family of my suspected grandfather. I cannot find anything on these 2 guys prior to 1911 or after. The eldest may have been instrumental in the course of my grandfather's choice of career and was possibly known to the 'head of household'

How do I go about finding more info.?

[Jan1954]

Hello Colin,

Why not throw some details out here (names, ages, census reference etc) so that folk can start to sleuth - you never know, someone may even recognise a name or two......

[Colin Rowledge]

OK folks - Jan asked for it and now you're getting the little I know.
The 2 Irish chappies were:
Aleck Boyd aged 47, married, born Belfast 1864, an Electrical Engineer
John Coulter aged 21, single, born Belfast 1890, an Electrical Engineer

Address was 16 Palce Square, Penge. TNA reference in full [as per FMP] RG14PN3405 RG78PN128 RD39 SD5 ED1 SN368

The head of house was Alred Digby Fanning aged 44 married, born Penge 1867, a Commercial Travelller

The father of Alfred was Thomas Digby Fanning a messenger and attendant at Crystal Palace, who died in in 1907. Thomas Digby was born 1831

The father of Thomas Digby was Thomas Fanning, a Police Officer who died in 1842. Thomas Fanning was born, possibly in Ireland 1794.

There were 2 other lodgers, a girl I've traced who seemed a very respectable young lady from a 'good' background and a 27 year old German who I have yet to start on

Not much, but that's all folks

Colin

[Colin Rowledge]

Having heard nothing in response, I've tried the 1901 Irish census to no avail.

Where were they likely to have been hiding? Wonder if this thread should be moved to the forum headed "Strays"?

Cheers
Colin

[Elwyn Soutter]

Colin,

The only John Coulter of the right age in Belfast in 1901 I can see is lodging in St George's St, Shankill, Belfast. Quite what the house is, is not clear but I wondered if he might be your man.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.i...treet/1003413/


Elwyn

[Colin Rowledge]

Hello Elwyn.
Thank you for responding. Seems to be a very large house with 9 boarders under the age of 18. Really curious about that place and with the head and his spouse, 2 sons and 2 servants, there were 15 people living there.

Given your residence in Nothern Ireland, 14 of the folks were R.C and 1 wasn't, what would be your 'best guess' as to what kind of place he was operating at the time?

I don't want this to turn into a debate about what has transpired since!!!

Cheers
Colin

[Jan1954]

....... what would be your 'best guess' as to what kind of place he was operating at the time?

Colin,

If you go to the link that Elwyn provided, scroll down until you get to "House and Building Return (Form B1)" then click on the number 2, it will bring the address up and describes it as a Lodging House. There is also further detail about the building, number of rooms etc.

[Elwyn Soutter]

Colin,

Sorry I should have made it clear that it was a lodging house. What I am less clear about is what sort of lodging house it was. Was there a particular reason that brought the lodgers there? They are all RC. That would suggest to me that perhaps it was under auspices of the church. (I would have expected to see a mix of religions if it was a non church lodging house - even in Belfast). There's a mix of occupations - they are not all working in the same factory for example - but the majority are born in Belfast. Only a few have come to Belfast from other parts of Ireland. So, in James’ case, what’s a 10 year old boy doing on his own in a lodging house in the city where he was born? One must assume he had no family left living in Belfast. Is he an orphan? Is the lodging house an orphanage (at least as far as the children are concerned?)

Not sure if that helps or not, or where to go next.


Elwyn

[Colin Rowledge]

Not been too sharp in my quest on this part of the forum. If this chap age 10 in 1901 is my Electrical Engineer in 1911 and age 21 then how did he get his qualification as such?

Were there any trade schools were he could have learned this at or maybe he just have endured an apprenticeship?

Colin