Missing bridegroom-to-be in 1871

[barbara lee]

For a friend, I am tracing the parents of Euphemia McFarlane born Liverpool 1 Nov 1881 (the 1939 register has 1884 but she was registered in Liverpool 1Q 1882, mmn O’Connor.)

This looks like the parents’ marriage (image on Ancestry)(given names as on later censuses)
Parish Church of Liverpool (St Peter’s C of E)
25th April 1871 according to the rites of the established church by banns.
James McFarlane, full age, bach, labourer of Parliament Street, son of James McFarlane, farmer.
Margaret O’Connor, full age, spinster of Parliament Street, d of Daniel O’Connor, farmer.
He made mark, she signed. Wits Andrew McFarlane and Jane McFarlane

Now 25th April 1871 was a Tuesday, so the banns were probably called on Sundays 9, 16 and 23 April. The 1871 census was taken a week earlier, 2nd April 1871, so both parties to the marriage should be found in Liverpool as single persons with their families. I think I have found the bride-to-be, but where is the groom?

The bride-to-be looks like the 19-year-old Margaret O’Connor with her widowed mother at Denbigh Street, Liverpool (RG10/3764 f113 p46) with lots of interesting friends or relatives in the same house and with the Irish counties of birth named. I like that!

But where is the groom-to-be James McFarlane? Later censuses suggest he was born 1848 Ireland. He should be in Parliament Street Liverpool, probably close to the witmesses Andrew and Jane McFarlane (his siblings?), but Ancestry isn’t coughing him up. Do any other sites find him?

[christanel]

Just as a place from which to start, is this the family in 1891?
RG12 Piece 2904 folio 104
3 Maddrell Street St martin Liverpool
James McFarlane 43 dock labourer born E. Indies, Sri Lanka
Margart McFarlane 40 Wife Ireland
James McFarlane 17 son Liverpool
Margaret Jane McFarlane 16 dau Liverpool
Elisabeth McFarlane 12 Liverpool
Auphamia McFarlane 9 Liverpool
Daniel McFarlane 6 Liverpool
Thomas McFarlane 4 Liverpool
Mary Ann Butter 11 Niece Liverpool
Thomas Doyle 44 lodger Ireland
Robert L Barrone? 26 Lodger Ince Lancashire

I see in 1881 they are also at 5 Maddrell Street with James born Ireland and age 33

Christina

[barbara lee]

Yes, that's the family I'm looking at. Thanks.
I'm not sure I believe the birthplace of "Sri Lanka" (Ceylon on the image I think.) As you say, it's Ireland in 1881. I couldn't see an obvious reason for such an error though, if error it is. At marriage he said his father was a farmer, so not obviously a military family. And there's no Indian-type ethnicity reported in my friend's DNA.
Barbara

[peanut]

Hi
Not sure if this helps
11 June1863 St Paul’s Liverpool
James McFurlin bachelor of Liverpool
To
Euphemia Copland spinster
Grooms father John McFurlin
Brides father Nathaniel Copland sea captain

Ed

[barbara lee]

That's an interesting coincidence of names, Ed, but I don't think they are the parties I am looking for.
B

[Jomot1]

The best I can find is boarding at Brazenose Road, Kirkdale in 1871, which is only a mile or so from Denbigh Street, but apart from the name and an acceptable difference in age, the rest doesn't fit! RG10/3828/124/11

James McFarlane 25 Engine Fitter b Scotland

Possible in 1861 at 16 Johnson Street, Liverpool - again only a mile or so from Denbigh Street but in the opposite direction. RG9/2667/28/50

James McFarlane 15 Boarder, Labourer, b Ireland

[barbara lee]

Thanks Jomot1
I will check those out.
Barbara

[peanut]

Birth Record
I noticed it said birth Sri Lanka but there is is this record, I am assuming you would have
To buy the certificate

James McFarlane
Birth 1846
Sri Lanka
Trincomalee

GRO- Regimental Indic
Armed Forces
Royal ArtilleryYear
Year 1846
Page 104
Volume R.A.18
Line number 101
General Records Office

Ed

[barbara lee]

Now that is pretty interesting. The birthplace of Ceylon/ Sri Lanka on the 1891 census is so specific, I wondered if it was really true. But James didn't say it before. And now here is a well-matching Army birth. I will have to speak to his descendant about it. So let's assume that James McFarlane's father (James senior according to James junior's marriage) was in the RA, took his wife with him to India, then after he was discharged (in his forties?) went back to Ireland and was a farmer. Possible ...

[peanut]

Do you think James senior could have married in Ireland before going to India, there is a marriage in Ireland James McFarlane to Elizabeth Lidle in 1829, I noticed James junior has a daughter Elizabeth or do you have his parent’s already

Ed