John Desmond

[Elma]

I am trying to help someone who finds the computer too difficult to use.

He is trying to find more information on his G-G Grandfather John Desmond.

We know John Desmond was a Marble Mason, as it records that on his son's marriage certificate.
Also we can see John on the 1851 census HO107; Piece: 1533; Folio: 489; Page: 9. He is living at 48 Long Alley, Shoreditch. He is recorded as aged 26 born St Sepulchre, Middlesex, married to Elizabeth and with two sons Dan and William.
A previous census 1841 HO107; Piece: 669; Book: 2 records John presumably living with his parents John and Hanna Desmond in St Sepulchre, Middlesex.

Can anyone help find out more about John Desmond as this is all we have? I know Lennie would be so grateful for any information.
With thanks ELMA

[Nicolina]

the nearest match for a wedding, that I can find is:
Sep 1847 East London Vol 2 Page 231
John DESMAN and on the same page Elizabeth CHAMBERLAIN and Elizabeth SMITH.

of course a copy of the birth certificate for one of the kids would give the mother's name.

the 1871 Census for Golden Lane, St Luke, London (RG10 piece 406 folio 62 page 24) has:
John DESMOND born St Sepulchre abt. 1826 occ: Marble Mason
Ann DESMOND born Ireland abt. 1823 (note different name)
John DESMOND born Shoreditch abt. 1856 occ: Marble Polisher
John DESMOND born St Luke abt. 1869 (Grandson)

[Nicolina]

also on the 1871 Census
Crown Court, St Luke, London (RG10 piece 408 folio 27 page 20)
Daniel DESMON born St Luke, Middlesex abt. 1846 occ: Marble Mason
Mary DESMON born St Pancras abt. 1845

there is a marriage:
Sep 1864 St Luke Vol 1b Page 1063
Daniel Desmond and on the same page Mary SULLIVAN

[Elma]

Thanks Nicholina
I will now look at those, the 1871 census looks, good even if it throws up more questions.
Back to searching around, thanks again.
ELMA

[Nicolina]

I've looked for a possile death of Elizabeth and there were several between 1851 & 1871 but there is a marriage for John Sep 1861 Mile End Vol 1c Page 937 and on same page Ann CROWNEN

[Elma]

Thanks again Nicholina
I have checked the marriage of John Desmond and Ann Gawnen in 1861. He was a bachelor aged 26 so I do not think it is him.

I am trying to find John Desmond on the 1861 census. I have found a couple of baptisms of children of a John and Elizabeth Desmond, one in1859 and one in Jan 1861. The 1861 one gives their address as 4 Dunnings Alley, St Botolph. I dont know if that will help me find a census.
Back to searching ELMA

[Mutley]

The 1861 one gives their address as 4 Dunnings Alley, St Botolph. I dont know if that will help me find a census.
Back to searching ELMA

I cannot find number 4 by doing an address search, seems to start at number 11. The National Archives for 1851 say that it might be Foster Street. https://yourarchives.nationalarchives...reet_Index_C-F

Unfortunately, they are not at 4 Foster Street in 1861.

[Mutley]

The National Archives does not have Dunnings Alley for 1861 either.
https://yourarchives.nationalarchives...reet_Index_G-I

The link will give you the Piece and Folio numbers of nearby streets if you want your fingers to do the walking.

[Coromandel]

The National Archives does not have Gunnings Alley for 1861 either.
https://yourarchives.nationalarchives...reet_Index_G-I

Edited to add: Sorry to confuse people but my quote is taken from an earlier edition of Mutley's post #8 which said Gunnings not Dunnings!


It does have Dunnings Alley in the C-F section. Unfortunately only nos 11-18 and 32-39 but there is a note saying 'other numbers may be Merretts Buildings'.

Nos 1-8 Merretts Buildings are supposed to be on RG 9/211, ff.127-129.

[Mutley]

Seems a very crowded place of Alleys and Lanes but very possible the family is in there somewhere.
Below is a quote from John Strype's Survey of London.

On the South side of this place is Stone Cutters Yard, a pretty open, but ordinary place; and on the North side is a small Alley that leads unto Dunning's Alley.

If they have been badly transcribed then I suppose it will be a long job to cross reference the street names from the Survey to those on the National Archives. It is always possible the enumerator got lost in the maze and their forms were never handed in.
https://www.
hrionline.ac.uk/strype/TransformServlet?page=book2_108