View Full Version : Who are the parents of James Birch?
Link to this thread added to BK6
James Birch is from my OH's tree and though they are not related, without his existence OH might never have been born!
We are now in contact with people who are descended from James and would like to try and find where he came from, as at the moment he arrived on this planet aged 17 in 1841.
This is what we know so far:
1841 - aged 17 in the house of OH's 2xg-grandfather, William Cotton, at 13 West Street, St Pancras.
1841 census - right hand page, line 5 (http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec?htx=view&r=5538&dbid=8978&iid=MDXHO107_684_685-0377&fn=William&ln=Cotton&st=d&ssrc=&pid=7433873)
Between 1841 and 1848 James took up with Jemima Cotton, wife of OH's ancestor, William (leading to William moving to Southampton with another woman where OH's g-grandmother was born, but that's another story!).
By 1851 James and Jemima are living together in Clerkenwell with three children from Jemima's marriage to William Cotton (now called Birch) and also someone called John Birch (unm aged 32) who is said to be "uncle" of the head.
1851 census (http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec?htx=view&r=5538&dbid=8860&iid=MDXHO107_1517_1517-0124&fn=Jemima&ln=Buch&st=r&ssrc=&pid=16512519)
In May 1857 James and Jemima were married (bigamously for her!) at St Pancras Register Office. The witnesses were Jemima's sister and a William Birch. James said his father was James Birch (dec'd), bricklayer.
The 1861 census doesn't have any family members to help with James's parents.
In 1871 James and Jemima have Jame's unmarried brother with them. He is aged 53 (so roughly the same age as the unmarried uncle 20 years before!). I can never decide what his first name is from the census page! Also in the house is a neice, Martha Birch, aged 7, b Hornsey.
1871 census (http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec?htx=view&r=5538&dbid=7619&iid=LNDRG10_384_387-0242&fn=Amelia&ln=Birch&st=d&ssrc=&pid=11798718)
Jemima Birch died in 1878.
In 1881 James is still at the same address as in 1861 and 1871. Now he says he is married to Jane and seems to have aquired two step daughters, Jane and Alice. I have no idea who they are and have not found a marriage between James and Jane.
1881 census (http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec?htx=view&r=5538&dbid=7572&iid=LNDRG11_350_354-0239&fn=James&ln=Birch&st=d&ssrc=&pid=14739034)
In 1891 James is in the Holborn Union Infirmary (widower) and in 1901 he's in the Holborn Union Workhouse (widower). He died in 1903.
So any ideas on the uncle, brother or neice? And what about the second "wife"? If they did marry then that's another stab at James's father's details........
kiterunner
16-01-13, 13:45
Looking for other Birches who are brush makers, I found that on UK Census Online they list a James Birch age 14, brush maker, on the London 1841 census, as well as the one who is 17. But I haven't managed to find him on ancestry yet, although there seem to be three 14-year old James Birches on each site. :confused: Maybe I should give up on him as he is probably a red herring anyway!
Every time I look at this, stuff like you mention comes along and I get frustrated/confused! lol
I haven't come across that James as yet though.
kiterunner
16-01-13, 13:52
Probably unconnected but here is a James Birch, bricklayer's labourer, in 1851 to save us finding him again (possible for James's father):
1851 census (http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec?htx=view&r=5538&dbid=8860&iid=MDXHO107_1509_1509-0116&fn=James&ln=Bisch&st=r&ssrc=&pid=2654126)
Age 56 (perhaps) born Aylesbury, Bucks.
*crosses fingers*!
Here's the 1841 red-herring:
the other 1841 James, brushmaker aged 14, bottom right (http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec?htx=view&r=5538&dbid=8978&iid=SRYHO107_1064_1065-0171&fn=James&ln=Birch&st=d&ssrc=&pid=10263474)
kiterunner
16-01-13, 13:56
Well done. Doesn't help much since he isn't with any other Birches though!
lol, No!
I'm just going to add to the first post that the brother, as well as the uncle, was unmarried when he was with James etc. I do keep wondering if they are the same person! lol
kiterunner
16-01-13, 14:03
Don't know whether you already have the two Janes and Alice in 1891? I thought this was them but the daughters' ages are wildly wrong if it is:
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec?htx=view&r=5538&dbid=6598&iid=LNDRG12_226_228-0143&fn=Jane&ln=Buch&st=d&ssrc=&pid=9235003
So maybe another red herring.
I concentrated more on looking for them in 1871, with no luck!
I have to go out now, but will look in on my phone!
kiterunner
16-01-13, 14:07
Don't know whether you already have the two Janes and Alice in 1891? I thought this was them but the daughters' ages are wildly wrong if it is:
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec?htx=view&r=5538&dbid=6598&iid=LNDRG12_226_228-0143&fn=Jane&ln=Buch&st=d&ssrc=&pid=9235003
So maybe another red herring.
I think these may be Bushes anyway...
kiterunner
16-01-13, 14:19
Ann Birch baptised 17 Jan 1813 St Pancras, daughter of James Ouvry Birch and Mary, of Ossulton Street, Somers Town, brush maker. Another possibly connected, possibly red herring! (They also have a Mary 14 May 1815 and Pallot's Baptism Index shows an Elizabeth in 1817 who I didn't spot in the PR's)
kiterunner
16-01-13, 14:25
This is the marriage of the parents of Ann, Mary and Elizabeth:
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec?htx=View&r=5538&dbid=1623&iid=31281_A101092-00076&fn=James+Onvey&ln=Birch&st=d&ssrc=&pid=3888
kiterunner
16-01-13, 14:31
Looks like James Ouvry Birch had moved to Norfolk by 1852, anyway, so probably another red herring.
They should have been fishermen!!!!!!
Not having much luck, but I was distracted by the Horniman divorce and had to go and get a cup of tea! *winks knowingly at Merry*
I've checked the electoral roles to see if that helps...
A James Birch is registered to vote at 87 Britannia Street, Shoreditch, 1844. I don't think this is your James, but it could be the father. Then there seems to be a bit of a gap.
Moving to 1865, there are two Birches in the same constituency - James Birch at 2 Buxton Street and John Birch at 18 Warren Street.
In 1873 and 1876, James Birch is registered to vote at 13 Spring Street. There is no other adult male registered.
Interestingly, there is a William Birch in Hornsey on the 1880 electoral role. Could he be Martha's father?
The only other thing I discovered is that many Romany families or families with Romany heritage were involved in making and finishing brushes - and on one site I was looking at named the Birches as involved in this business. But I can't find the reference now. Grrrr.
kiterunner
16-01-13, 18:40
Edmonton would be the registration district for Hornsey, but there is no Birch birth registered there around 1863-4, according to FreeBMD anyway. I suppose Martha's birth may not have been registered but I wonder if she had a different surname.
(we can rule out Martha Jane Shepherd because she died as a baby.)
Hmm - there seem to be a number of Birch/Burch births registered at Dr William's Library in London and associated non-conformist births in King's Lynn in Norfolk and Cripplegate, London. There is a James and John born to James and Ursula Birch, but the dates are out.
James is on the electoral role at Spring Street until 1885.
Kate, that's exactly what I thought about Martha! I can't find her on the next census nor a death (at least I think I didn't find one??!!)
In 1873 and 1876, James Birch is registered to vote at 13 Spring Street. There is no other adult male registered.
James is on the electoral role at Spring Street until 1885.
Interestingly, there is a William Birch in Hornsey on the 1880 electoral role. Could he be Martha's father?
I hadn't looked at the e-rolls. Thanks Shona. I will have a look at the 1880 e-roll and 1881 census to see if I can make anything of that William!
*goes to have a shower first*
The family at the 1880 e-roll address in Hornsey (46 Gordon Road) in 1881 is headed by yet another James Birch!
I don't feel this lot are obviously connected (James 45 b Chesham, Bucks) but will put them on the back burner for future ref. Thanks Shona.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the Horniman divorce (or judicial separation, as it seems to have changed to)
kiterunner
16-01-13, 21:52
Have you tried trawling through the London Poor Law records on ancestry for James Birch, Merry?
Not yet.
What do you think about this?
I happened to pick up the transcript of Jane Birch who is on the 1881 census aged in her 40s and (I thought) the wife of James senr. There is this amendment for her age:
1854 rather than abt 1833
James Birch as Head of the family gave false information to the Enumerator. Jane (nee Bradshaw) was born in 1854.
There is a marriage for James Birch to Jane Bradshaw in 1875 in the LMA records. This shows James aged 22 with father James, both brushmakers. So, this does seem to be the marriage for James junior and he does say he is married on that census (as does his father).
If Jane's age is wrong on the census and she is the wife of James junior, who are the two girls, Jane (19 b Clerkenwell) and Alice (16 b Clerkenwell)? If this Jane is living with/married to James senr (and is therefore not Jane Bradshaw) then where is James jr's wife?
James jr and Jane Bradshaw had a dau, Jane Mary Ann Birch, in 1877. I saw her first on the 1901 census. I can't see her in 1881. In 1891 there is a Jane Birch right age, who is an apprentice in Yorkshire and say she was born in Hornsey (like that Martha was supposed to be). She was actually b in Clerkenwell.
Now, when I was looking at the e-rolls it became clear there's more than one place refered to as Hornsey - there's the one in Edmonton district, but is there another in Islington? I know Islington isn't Clerkenwell, but it's nearer than the other Hornsey. I just wondered if this means Martha wasn't born in the real Hornsey?!!
I haven't really checked this out. I might have the wrong Jane junior, but in 1891 her mother was a widow in the workhouse, so it would seem very possible she had been farmed out, though Yorkshire seems a long way off!
kiterunner
16-01-13, 22:33
Interesting. I did wonder whether she might be James jr's wife because of the funny order in which the household is listed, but her age made this seem unlikely.
This thread should explain why the person who made the correction thinks she is Jane Bradshaw but whether he is right or not remains to be seen:
http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/surnames.birch/711/mb.ashx
Oh, she thinks the 19 year old Jane is the wife. I hadn't thought of that.
And still there is Alice..........
I think I will have to come back to this tomorrow ;(;(;(
Thanks for your help, Kate and Shona. :)
kiterunner
16-01-13, 22:44
There is a marriage for James Birch to Jane Bradshaw in 1875 in the LMA records. This shows James aged 22 with father James, both brushmakers. So, this does seem to be the marriage for James junior and he does say he is married on that census (as does his father).
The second witness on that marriage looks like A Birch. Do you agree? Any candidates for A Birch?
Thanks, I had seen that, but forgot about it again! James jr had a sister called Amelia Sarah who would have been about 20 at the time of that marriage, so it might be her.
Going back the beginning for a minute, what DOES it say in 1871 as the forename for the brother of James Birch?
1871 census (http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec?htx=view&r=5538&dbid=7619&iid=LNDRG10_384_387-0242&fn=Amelia&ln=Birch&st=d&ssrc=&pid=11798718)
kiterunner
17-01-13, 13:04
There is a Martha J Birch on the 1881 census age 16 born Islington but she is a servant to a family called Cook so maybe not much help:
1881 census (http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec?htx=view&r=5538&dbid=7572&iid=LNDRG11_276_281-0904&fn=Martha+J.&ln=Birch&st=d&ssrc=&pid=14402780)
kiterunner
17-01-13, 13:06
Going back the beginning for a minute, what DOES it say in 1871 as the forename for the brother of James Birch?
I think it is Henr.
There is a Martha J Birch on the 1881 census age 16 born Islington but she is a servant to a family called Cook so maybe not much help:
1881 census (http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec?htx=view&r=5538&dbid=7572&iid=LNDRG11_276_281-0904&fn=Martha+J.&ln=Birch&st=d&ssrc=&pid=14402780)
I think she is on the 1871 census with her parents. Dad was William I think, b abt 1830 (from last night's memory!).
I think it is Henr.
That's what OH said and I didn't agree, but I do now you've said it! lol
kiterunner
17-01-13, 13:11
Have you looked at it on FMP, Merry? It is a bit clearer on there.
Goodness knows. I will have another look in a minute.
I think what put me off is, when the enumerator wrote "Head" there's a definite smooth loop on the lead in to the H, followed by the downstroke and another loop from the bottom back to the middle to mahe the horizontal bit of the letter. When he wrote the man's forename it looks more like a Th word to me, with a right angle at the top of the "T" before the downstroke.
Having said that though....:o....where he wrote Hornsey for the birthplace of Martha, that might be the same, so I'll shut up now!
Going to look at FMP now.
If you 'reverse out' the image, you can see the cross stroke of the H.
Hello,
Yesterday I became a registered member of this forum.
What luck to find you are also looking for parents of James Birch. James is my 2ndGreat-Grandfather. I also note all your interesting threads relating to James, family and relatives.
Likewise I have not found the parents of James - I'm still looking.
I suggest I send you my family tree, which hopefully will help both of us.
In this forum can I send you a private email?
Private message sent to you, Lister. Welcome to the forum.
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