Thomas A. Clarke of Oldham

[Maggie]

If you are still available to do lookups, I'm searching for the parents and family of Thomas Alphonso Clarke, possibly born on or about 10 DEC 1856 in Oldham. His (USA) marriage record names his parents as John Clarke and Mary, and US census records indicate that they were both born in Ireland. Records are somewhat conflicting on his birth date. According to 1900 US census, he was born in March of 1857, but his naturalization papers say 10 DEC 1856. Family traditions says that he immigrated to the US in 1882 (1910 census indicates 1883 immigration, naturalization record says 1880). Not much to go on, as it's a common name, but I'd be grateful for any help or advice you could give.

[kiterunner]

Maggie, JBee's lookup offer was back in 2010, but anyway, it is likely to be easier to find information online than for someone to go to Oldham to look without knowing exactly what to look for.

The 1900 US census actually says that Thomas's parents were born in England; it's his wife's parents who are shown to be born in Ireland. Then the 1910 census shows his parents born Ireland.

Can you say where the information about him being born in Oldham comes from, please?

[kiterunner]

This could be his family on the 1861 English census - if the information about him being born in Oldham comes from some documentation relating to your Thomas Alphonso Clarke, not just from ancestry suggesting this family as the closest match!

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/8767/LANRG9_3007_3011-0186/14589570?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.u k%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3duki1861%26gss%3dsfs28_ms_r_db %26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26MS_AdvCB%3d1%26gsfn%3dtho* %2b%26gsfn_x%3d1%26gsln%3dclark*%26gsln_x%3d1%26ms bdy%3d1856%26msbdy_x%3d1%26msbdp%3d2%26msrpn__ftp% 3dLancashire%252c%2bEngland%26msrpn%3d5271%26msrpn _PInfo%3d7-%257c0%257c0%257c3257%257c3251%257c0%257c0%257c0%2 57c5271%257c0%257c0%257c0%257c%26msrpn_x%3d1%26msr pn__ftp_x%3d1%26msfng%3djohn%26msfng_x%3d1%26msmng %3dmary*%26msmng_x%3d1%26MSAV%3d2%26uidh%3dvm5&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

Bk Henshaw St, Oldham, Lancashire
John Clark Head Mar 45 Out door Labourer Ireland
Mary Do Wife Mar 36 "
Bridget Do Daughter Un 19 Cotton Factory Operative "
John Do Son Un 18 " " " "
Thomas Do Son 7 Scholar Lancashire Oldham
Mary Do Daughter Un 16 Cotton Factory Operative Ireland
Joseph Do Son 5 Scholar Lancashire Oldham

I can't see a birth registration or baptism with the middle name Alphonso but it could be that he added it to his name at some later time.

[kiterunner]

1871 census entry for the same family:
http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/7619/LANRG10_4093_4094-0082/18080306?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.u k%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3duki1871%26gss%3dsfs28_ms_r_db %26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26MS_AdvCB%3d1%26gsfn%3dtho* %2b%26gsfn_x%3d1%26gsln%3dclark*%26gsln_x%3d1%26ms bdy%3d1855%26msbdy_x%3d1%26msbdp%3d2%26msbpn__ftp% 3dOldham%252c%2bLancashire%252c%2bEngland%26msbpn% 3d84940%26msbpn_PInfo%3d8-%257c0%257c0%257c3257%257c3251%257c0%257c0%257c0%2 57c5271%257c84940%257c0%257c0%257c%26msbpn_x%3d1%2 6msbpn__ftp_x%3d1%26MSAV%3d2%26uidh%3dvm5&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

6 Nelson St, Oldham, Lancashire
John Clarke Head Mar 60 Labourer Ireland
Mary Do Wife Do 50 Do
Bridget Do Daur Do 26 Trostle (?) Peicer in Cotton Mill Do
Thomas Do Son Unm 17 Peicer Do Oldham Lancashire
Joseph Do Do Do 14 Do Do Do Do

[kiterunner]

Lancashire BMD lists birth registrations for Thomas Clark in 1853 and Joseph Clark in 1856, Oldham Below Town sub-district, with Thomas's mother's maiden name transcribed as Narcy and Joseph's as Narie. There are a few other possibles for Thomas but only one for Joseph. I'm thinking the MMN for Thomas should say Narey. The family were in Oldham Below Town on the censuses.

[kiterunner]

Ah, now I've seen his naturalisation petition and it does say he was born in Oldham, so that does look likely to be his family on the English censuses.

Maggie, would it be ok with you if I move the Thomas Clarke discussion into its own thread on the "Research Discussions" board?