Genealogy Chat

Hi, I have an ancestor (John Critchley, born about 1859) that was a customs officer. I am trying to see if there are any records that will give me evidence of his date and place of birth or the names of both of his parents. His marriage certificate (June 1886, Islington, Middlesex) says that he s a Customs officer and gives his faher's name (Thomas). In 1891 (Census) he was in Leith as an Customs Officer. He goes missing at the beginning of 1892 and his body is found in one of the docks off the River Tyne later in the year.
My question is - does anyone know if the records for his time in Customs in Scotland would be held by Scottish Archives or English archives? Also does anyone know if there are any indices for any records that might help me find info about him whilst in the Customs - I don't know when he started but probably sometime between 1881 and 1886.

There might be something here that will help:-

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/customs-officers/

Kath. x

On John's marriage cert his father is said to be a Plate Glass Worker, and it doesn't say he's deceased.

1858-60, there were 14 John Critchleys born, all in Lancashire.

(There was also a John Charles in 1858 in London, but his father's name was John - per birth on GRO & parents' marriage on FreeBMD)

In 1881, I can only see one Thomas Critchley of a feasible age, who is a glass worker in Lancashire - but looking at earlier censuses for him, and also the GRO site (wife's ms Crooks) he does not have a son John:

Posting for elimination only:

Thomas Critchley
in the 1881 England Census
Name: Thomas Critchley
Age: 44
Estimated birth year: abt 1837
Relationship to Head: Head
Spouse: Ann Critchley
Gender: Male
Where born: Sutton, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Sutton
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street address: Water Dale Cottage
Marital status: Married
Education:
Employment status:
View image
Occupation: Glass Cutter
Registration district: Prescot
ED, institution, or vessel: 31
Neighbors:
Piece: 3740
Folio: 26
Page Number: 52
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Critchley 44
Ann Critchley 44
James Critchley 24
Mary Jane Critchley 21
William Critchley 18
Peter Critchley 13

Unfortunately it seems that Scottish Excise records after 1707 no longer exist, although there's some info up to 1830:

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/customs-and-excise-records

His place of birth should be on the census record - what does he say it was?

Not helpful

1891
Ashville Terrace, South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
John Critchleg Head Married Male 32 1859 C D Officer H M Customs England
Hannah Critchleg Wife Married Female 30 1861 Customs Officers Wife England
Annie Mar Critchleg Daughter - Female 3 1888 - Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
Dorothy Critchleg Daughter - Female 1 1890 - Leith, Midlothian, Scotland

1891
Name: John Critchleg
Age: 32
Estimated birth year: abt 1859
Relationship: Head
Spouse's name : Hannah Critchleg
Gender: Male
Where born: England ----------------------------
Registration Number: 692/2
Registration district: Leith South
Civil Parish: Leith South
Town: Leith
County: Midlothian
Address: 9 Ashville Ter
Occupation: O D Officer H M Customs
ED: 6
Household schedule number: 90
Line: 21
Roll: CSSCT1891_364
Household Members:
Name Age
John Critchleg 32
Hannah Critchleg 50
Annie Mar Critchleg 3
Dorothy Critchleg 1

He was a Customs Officer at the time of his marriage - must have joined the service in England