Depear / De Pear family

[Noldorin]

I am descended from a certain John William Depear, who emigrated from England to the USA in the 1880s, and am having a hard time pinning down his English roots with any certainty. Here is the information I have on him so far.

Certain

Death certificate: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MZ-WBPN (born abt. 1870)
Marriage record: https://mediasvc.ancestry.com/v2/image/namespaces/61366/media/TH-1942-25807-42627-49.jpg?client=Trees&securityToken=xw5beb763c828edb38aafa412288648f81e8 d595ebf12efc8c
1900 US census: https://mediasvc.ancestry.com/v2/image/namespaces/7602/media/4113733_00295.jpg?client=Trees&securityToken=xw08786c59164b6d1f132f26682cc0f639e8 d595ebf12efc8c (born Apr 1862, arrived 1885)
1910 US census: https://mediasvc.ancestry.com/v2/image/namespaces/7884/media/31111_4328157-00898.jpg?client=Trees&securityToken=xw14fda2da65cc7fac3b6d6edfce1490e9e8 d595ebf12efc8c (born abt. 1865, arrived 1880)
1920 US census: https://mediasvc.ancestry.com/v2/image/namespaces/6061/media/4300480_00417.jpg?client=Trees&securityToken=xwb8e50ee1d104ba079348e9847d5d0de5e8 d595ebf12efc8c (born abt. 1870, arrived 1890)

Candidate (John James William Depear, born 1864, Holbeach, Lincolnshire)

Birth registration: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XMZ-T2V
1871 England census: https://mediasvc.ancestry.com/v2/image/namespaces/7619/media/LINRG10_3330_3334-0219.jpg?client=Trees&securityToken=xw587237156672327747a4115e30a2a9a8e8 d595f1625a2058
1881 England census: https://mediasvc.ancestry.com/v2/image/namespaces/7572/media/LINRG11_3208_3211-0705.jpg?client=Trees&securityToken=xw7f517977def63b72900b92b1128cb175e8 d595f1625a2058

As you can see, a good deal of conflict in the data! The only thing I can be fairly sure of is that his full name was "John William Depear" (possibly with another middle name too), and that he was later known only by "William". There is also variation between "Depear" and "De Pear". Furthermore, he seems either unsure where his parents originated, or to be lying about it (they vary between France and England). Perhaps there is a French / Huguenot origin to the family, though?

Anyway, what do you think of this candidate? If it's not him, any other suggestions? It's the only reasonable one I could find up to now. (There's a John William Depear born in Greenwich, London in 1851, but this seems too early, and there's also a John William Depear born in 1870, but he died in 1904, Salford, Lancashire. So I've ruled out these two candidates on pretty clear bases.)

[christanel]

Hi
the links mediasvcancestry don't work, probbly ancetry's T and C's at work, and I know it is a pain but it may be best if you just type out the info, or a summary, of each record.
Christina

[christanel]

there's a William De pear birth reg on FreeBMD in the Spalding Lincolnshire registration disctrict Dec 1/4 1867. have you seen this one?
As i can't see the data in the links what makes you say that you can be certain of his name being John William Depear. His death info on family search just gives the first name William.
Christina

[christanel]

This is the 1881 census with the John William Depear born Holbeach c1864
RG11 Piece 4767 Folio 109 Page 2
6 Craggs Court Paradise Row, Kingston-Upon-Hull, Yorkshire
Wm. Depear 29 General Labourer, Spalding, Lincoln
Sarah Ann Depear 31 Charwoman, Terrington, Norfolk
Jno.Wm. Depear 13 Grocers Errand Boy born Holbeach, Lincoln,

He is in the 1871 census as John Gold with his mother Sarah Gold and a William Depear age 19
Christina

[Noldorin]

Oh I see. Here you are.

First, my known ancestor.

State of Colorado, Division of Vital Statistics
County: Denver
No. 14772
Husband's Name: Depear, John W.
Wife's Name: Revels, Johanna
Place of Marriage: Denver, CO
Date: 4/26/1893 (American format)
Official who Performed Ceremony: J. H. Brinker
Title: MIN (Minister?)
Address: Denver, CO

1900 US Census
Name: William Depear
Age (inferred): 38
Birth Date: Apr 1862
Birthplace: England
Home: Chicago Ward 24, Cook, Illinois
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Johanna Depear
Marriage Year: 1893
Years Married: 7
Father's Birthplace: France
Mother's Birthplace: France
Years in US: 15
Naturalization: Na

1910 US Census
Name: William De Pear
Age: 45
Estimated Birth Year: abt. 1865
Birthplace: England
Home: Chicago Ward 20, Cook, Illinois
Spouse's Name Johanna De Pear
Father's Birthplace: France
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Native Tongue: English
Occupation: Proprietor
Industry: Restaurant
Naturalization Status: Naturalized

1920 US Census
Name: Wm Du Pear
Age: 50
Estimated Birth Year: abt. 1870
Birthplace: England
Home in 1920: Chicago Ward 18, Cook (Chicago), Illinois
Spouse's Name: Johanna Du Pear
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: England
Occupation: Electrician
Industry: Construction
Naturalization Status: Naturalized

Now for the Holbeach John James William Depear.

1871 England Census
Name: William Depear
Age: 6
Estimated Birth Year: abt. 1865
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Matthew Depear (age 45)
Mother's Name: Ann Depear (age 45)
Where born: Holbeach, Lincolnshire, England
Civil parish: Holbeach
Ecclesiastical parish: All Saints
County/Island: Lincolnshire
Country: England

1881 England Census
Name: John J.W. Depear
Age: 17
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1864
Relationship to Head: Servant
Where born: Holbeach, Lincoln, England
Civil parish: Holbeach
County/Island: Lincolnshire
Country: England
Street Address: Washway Rd
Occupation: Ag Lab

His mother's maiden seems to have been name Mary Ann Brown, from other records.

He disappears from British records after this. I've received information from a similar question on another genealogy site (just now) that there is an immigration record for a William Depear to Quebec in 1885, on the SS Sardinian.

[Noldorin]

Yes, I encountered that other William Depear in my previous searches, but he didn't seem as likely a candidate... I forget why exactly, but maybe I found a record for him in England after I knew my ancestor was in the US? Still, maybe we shouldn't rule him out yet.

[christanel]

Hi
Our posts crossed but as you see I have found a different John Depear from you born in Holbeach.
have to leave it for a while.
Christina

Posts crossed again but can't rule out either of them yet

[Noldorin]

Hi
Our posts crossed but as you see I have found a different John Depear from you born in Holbeach.
have to leave it for a while.
Christina

Posts crossed again but can't rule out either of them yet

Yes. It seems there are three (John) William Depear's in question here. Two from Holbeach, one from Spalding. The one from Holbeach you mentioned I have located in the records, and it seems his estimated birth year in the 1881 census is 1868. I also see a John William Depear enlisted in the army in 1889, estimated birth year 1870, Spalding, Lincolnshire (Royal Chelsea Hospital records). This would rule out this particular individual, since my ancestor would have been in the US already by then, or at least very shortly after.

[Pam Downes]

Oh I see. Here you are.

First, my known ancestor.

State of Colorado, Division of Vital Statistics
County: Denver
No. 14772
Husband's Name: Depear, John W.
Wife's Name: Revels, Johanna
Place of Marriage: Denver, CO
Date: 4/26/1893 (American format)
Official who Performed Ceremony: J. H. Brinker
Title: MIN (Minister?)
Address: Denver, CO
That document is only a marriage record report.
You need to dig a little deeper to see if Colorado issued marriage certificates (similar to English ones which are issued regardless of whether you marry in a religious establishment or a register office). That certificate may well have crucial information (such as father's names) on it.
Some of the links mentioned in this article might be helpful.
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/How_to_Find_Colorado_Marriage_Records

Pam

[Jomot1]

It probably doesn't help, but William & Johanna must have returned to the UK shortly after their marriage as they appear on the New York Passenger Lists aboard the Lucarnia, departing from Liverpool & arriving New York 27 Sep 1894, destination Denver, Col.

William Depair 29 Restaurant
Johanna 25 Housewife

There is a possible incoming passenger list aboard the Southwark, arriving Ireland 15 Aug 1894, but its too blurred to make out properly.

[Noldorin]

Thanks for that info, Pam. I'll definitely try to chase up a full marriage certificate now.

[Noldorin]

Ah, that makes sense. I do remember once seeing a passenger list record for them *departing* the US for Ireland, that year, so that must be the return journey. No extra info probably, but thanks anyway.

[Noldorin]

It probably doesn't help, but William & Johanna must have returned to the UK shortly after their marriage as they appear on the New York Passenger Lists aboard the Lucarnia, departing from Liverpool & arriving New York 27 Sep 1894, destination Denver, Col.

William Depair 29 Restaurant
Johanna 25 Housewife

There is a possible incoming passenger list aboard the Southwark, arriving Ireland 15 Aug 1894, but its too blurred to make out properly.

I've managed to locate the records for both these events now. Thanks! Indeed, no new information on William Depear, but I'm seeing if I can get hold of his full marriage and death certificates now, in case they contain more on his origin.