Family with no given names and common surname - Gray

[Alison C]

Think I have found "Harry" It looks like he was Henry b 1910 and he died in WW2 not WW1.

CWGC site has the following:

GRAY, HENRY
Rank: Private
Service No: 3651357
Date of Death: Between 31/05/1940 and 04/06/1940
Age: 30
Regiment/Service: South Lancashire Regiment 1st Bn.
Grave Reference: Row G. Grave 162.
Cemetery: OOSTDUINKERKE COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Additional Information: Son of John and Louisa Gray, of Liverpool.

Alison x

[jpb0205]

Oh Alison, you are a star! Thank you so much. I don't know why I was convinced it was WW1, I must have got that confused with my gran's older brothers who fought then.

Thank you again
jpb x

[dickiesam]

Well found Alison. Looks like he was one of the unfortunate soldiers who didn't make it back from Dunkirk.

[MaryA]

Yet another memorial, good find Alison.

Lest we forget.

[pam1960]

Hello,
I have just started researching my family tree and discovered your post.
My grandmother was Mary Elizabeth Gray (May) born in 1901, the sister of Louisa Gray (Cissy) born 1899.
Firstly, I would love to make contact with you (author jpb0205) and hope you still use this forum.

Secondly,I can see that members have traced the Gray family back to 1803 which is fantastic, but I would really like some help tracing Jeremiah Townsend (Louisa Gray and Mary Elizabeth Gray's grand father)

Jeremiah is listed on the marriage certificate in Everton, St Chrysostoms on 14 January, 1891
John Gray, 29 Bachelor Labourer 40 Laith Street
Father John Gray Deceased, Yard Man
Louisa Townsend 27 Spinster 13 Oxford Street
Father Jeremiah Townsend, Fitter
Witnesses Philip David Hagan and Adelaide Gray

But I really can't find any likely candidates in earlier census. Where do I look please?
Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

pam

[MaryA]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Looking at the 1901 census, I wonder if this is them? If so then Louisa would apparently have fibbed about her age at marriage.

63 Howat Street, Everton
John Gray Head M 39 Dock Labourer London
Louisa Wife M 30 Lancs, St Helens
John son 9 Liverpool
George son 6 "
William son 4 "
Louisa daur 2 "
RG13; Piece: 3484; Folio: 136; Page: 5

[MaryA]

I suspect this would be the family in 1881
Pennington Lane, Rainford, Lancashire
Jeremiah Townshend Head M 49 Engine Driver Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean
Jane Wife M 38 Gloucestershire, Bristol
William Son 17 Engine Driver Lancashire, St Helens
George son 15 Labourer at Pottery Lancashire, Windle
Jeremiah son 12 Scholar "
Louise daur 10 " "
Ann daur 7 " "
Lucy " 6 " "
David son 8 months " Rainford
RG11; Piece: 3741; Folio: 35; Page: 25

[MaryA]

1871 Cat Buildings, Rainford
John Townshend Head M 31 Engine Driver Gloucestershire
Jane Wife 26 " Wife, "
Emma daur 8 Lancashire, St Helens
William son 7 Scholar, " "
George son 5 " " Windle
Jane daur 3 " " "
Leah daur 6 months " "
RG10; Piece: 3868; Folio: 38; Page: 29

[MaryA]

I wonder if for Louise you should read Leah? or vice versa.

[MaryA]

Back to 1891 17 Doulton Street, Prescot, Eccleston
Jeremiah Townshend Head M 52 Engine Fitter Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean
Elizabeth J Wife M 46 Gloucestershire, Bristol
George son 25 Fireman, Lancashire, Windle
Ann J daur 18 Dressmaker " "
David son 10 Scholar " "
Samuel son 6 " St Helens
Florence daur 4 " "
RG12; Piece: 3017; Folio: 53; Page: 56

[MaryA]

There is a note against a marriage on FreeBMD

Marriages Sep 1857
Townsend Jeremiah Bristol 6a 146

You should check it out for yourself.

[pam1960]

Hi MaryA,

Wow!
What am I doing wrong? You have found more info in 15 minutes than I've found in 15 days!
I'm searching through ancestry.co.uk and under the relevant years census.

I have found the marriage 1857, but for the life of me and despite all the information you have provided I can't find/locate the census info.My husband says I'm a technophobe!

What do I need to do to locate Jeremiah?

I agree with you about Louisa fibbing about her age, and she was residing at 13 Oxford Street at the time of her marriage and not at home with her parents, and yet she has no profession listed.

I checked out all the addresses too that the Gray family lived in 1891-1911 and have established the streets were all pretty much adjacent to the workhouse in Mill Road. It must have been a tough life for them.

Pam

[MaryA]

I have given the references in each case which should help you if you "Show Advanced" at the top of the search box, the Piece and Folio numbers are the most useful and he consistently gives his birthplace as Gloucestershire. Don't forget that in 1871 he calls himself John - which might be because of the problem with that previous marriage.

Are you also searching within "Liverpool" in any of the check boxes as St Helens isn't in Liverpool, check it out on a map.

[Bertieone]

Also note the name changes, Townshend/Townsend.


http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/ss ... &h=9455111

[pam1960]

Hi MaryA,

Have found some hints on ancestry and have loads of info now..... too much! My head is spinning!

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Pam

[MaryA]

I hope you looked on FreeBMD for the marriage, not Ancestry as I didn't check if the message was on there, but somebody has indeed entered a postem against it on FreeBMD.

[pam1960]

Thanks MaryA,

I've just found the "postem" on FreeBMD, I've only been looking at Ancestry.

I'm a complete novice at the moment but find it all fascinating.

Never been involved in a forum before either so please excuse any faux pas!

Pam

[MaryA]

I've just found the "postem" on FreeBMD, I've only been looking at Ancestry.

Interesting isn't it

[GordonCarsonGray]

Hello
My name is Gordon Carson. I live in Cheshire near Northwich.
My Mum Ethel Carson (nee Gray) was one of 3 daughters and 3 sons born to John Gray - the exact same family line that you talk about in these posts.
I have conducted much research about my family history but there are still many gaps.
The nurseryman John Gray from Northumberland was my G, G, G, Great Grandfather.
Perhaps with the detail you and I have we could put together a more comprehensive history.
Are you aware that one of our ancestors emigrated to the USA and fought for loyalists in the American Civil War in the late 1850s?
Also the John Gray who went to London was also a policeman!
I have a Louisa Townshend's bible dated 1888 who would have been 17 years old at the time. Louisa was one of 9 children. She was my G, Great Grandmother.
Feel free to email me at gordongcarson [at] btinternet.com
Regards
Gordon

email address amended to prevent spamming, change the [at] to @ to use. MA

[MaryA]

Hi and welcome to the forum. The original poster and others related didn't join our Society and dropped out of the forum after a while, so I can only hope that perhaps they will be keeping an eye on this post to see if anybody else adds to it.

If there is anything in particular we can help you with please give specific details and we will try our best.