Who are the parents of James Birch?

[Merry]

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

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

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

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

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]

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. Maybe I should give up on him as he is probably a red herring anyway!

[Merry]

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]

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

Age 56 (perhaps) born Aylesbury, Bucks.

[Merry]

*crosses fingers*!

Here's the 1841 red-herring:

the other 1841 James, brushmaker aged 14, bottom right

[kiterunner]

Well done. Doesn't help much since he isn't with any other Birches though!

[Merry]

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]

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?h...c=&pid=9235003

So maybe another red herring.

[Merry]

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]

Originally Posted by kiterunner

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?h...c=&pid=9235003

So maybe another red herring.

I think these may be Bushes anyway...