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I have just waded through 27 pages of requests.Not a single on appers to bear the remotest connection to my g.grandfather- JAMES LAWRENCE CLARKE, born Wantage,Berkshire ,1839.
He married Hannah(joanna?) Murphy b.Youghal,Ireland, 1847, James was a serving soldier for most of his life- in 'The Gloucesters' - but haven't a clue as to Batalion ,Regiment etc.!

His son JAMES, (my grandfather) was born in Gibralter,1875.James married ROSE ETHEL PEARCE from Westbury on Trym.

Most of James's brothers and sisters were born in or near Wantage.

They moved to Birmingham where my mother was born

His brother ALBERT was ( I think ) at a dockyard on the night of the 1901 census. I know he fought abroad and he could have been on his way.Albert retired to Walsall/Brownhills area of the Midlands,where he and his wife ran a newsagents shop.
This was after he retired from working as a liontamer with Pat Collins Circus.

There are plenty of leads I would have thought - but I'm beginning to think the family was knitted!!!
Any help would be very much appreciated

Maureen

James Clark March Quarter 1838, Wantage, Berkshire Volume 6 page 254

Is this your family ?

1851 Wantage
David Clark 41
Mary 42
James 12
Charles 8
Frederick 7
Edwin 4
All born Wantage

In 1861 James Clarke is on board the ship "Algerine" which is docked in Hong Kong harbour.
He's the captain's cook.

David and Mary Clark appear in all of the census records up to 1881 and in the 1861 census they have bee transcribed as Clack

Thanks Seaham lass' At first glance it could be - but james Junior was definitely born in Gibraltar - not Wantage. And there is no mention of Albert ( Bertie).
There is a myth , don't know where it originated , that James senior changed his name to Clarke from Gail -Gayle- This may or may not be true.
I will go back to the census records and have another look - and when I'm next in London I will look tthrough the Army Lists.

Thanks very much for you contribution.

Im sorry, 27 pages of requests? I dont understand that.

The census above is for possibly James senior as a 12 year old, not james junior. The only birth around that time in Wantage is also given above by the Lass. Have you bought any certificates?

His birth certificate would give his fathers name and occupation or his marriage cert for same?

On your grandfathers birth cert what does it give as his fathers occupation? Why are you sure he was born in Gib - have you found that on a census - if so, which one? Gibraltar would point to army or navy service, as would an Irish wife. Where did the Royal Gloucester information come in? If he served all his life, he would have received a pension.

For reference:

1861

Name: James Clarke
Age: 21
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1840
Relation: Captains Cook (Cook)
Gender: Male
Where born: Wantage, Berkshire, England

Civil Parish: Vessels
Town: Victoria Harbour Hong Kong
County/Island: Royal Navy
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage: View Image

Registration district: Royal Navy
Sub registration district: Royal Navy
ED, institution, or vessel: Algerine
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 1


1881 and he is an army pensioner and labourer: James and Mary are shown born Gibraltar. Norah was born in Ireland. (These all give clues to his postings) The two youngest kids born Reading.

Name: James Clarke
Age: 42
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1839
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Hannah
Gender: Male
Where born: Wantage, Berkshire, England

Civil Parish: St Giles
County/Island: Berkshire
Country: England

Street address: 14 Queens Cottages
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status: View Image
Occupation: Army Pensioner & General Laborer

Registration district: Reading
Sub registration district: St Giles
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Francis Clarke 4
Hannah Clarke 34
James Clarke 42
James Clarke 6
Lilian A. Clarke
Mary A. Clarke 10
Norah A. Clarke 12

Heather - I have the 1881 and 1891 census. This is definitely my g.grandfather and grandfather. The 1861 might be. Yes , I have some certs. But am following several brances and this one has lain dormant for a while.

27 requests -read ''trying to find '' entries.

The info about J .C Junior being born i Gib - came from my mother and confirmed by census.Like wise the info re Gloucesters came from Mum.

Diddydoris - thanks - will try the link

Bear in mind that people are not always registered where they were born. People even today have several weeks to get round to registering births.

Similarly baptisms can be in a different county from the births and can be a number of years later.

Sue

Personally Id be following up the army lead on him. If he married in Ireland you will have more of a problem finding the marriage cert. If you had your grandads birth cert it may have given more detail as to his rank and regiment.

Strangely - I have searched all Chaplains records in Gib - no record of James. Next step - a note to the Registrar!

Well Mary is shown born Gib aswell - have you checked her out?