Customs House

[ks044]

Can anyone tell me what would have been the duties of Keeper of the Customs House. My GG Grandfather, George Jennings, held this position from somewhere between 1853 and 1861 until his death in 1891.

[MaryA]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I think wikipedia gives a pretty fair description of a Custom House and what went on there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custom_house

[daggers]

I think the Keeper would not have been an official of Customs and Excise, but the man in charge of the running of the building, perhaps with a service background.
D

[Tina]

1861 census has George in Canning Place, Customs House as the Keeper
35 bn Msex, wife Louisa 39 bn Beaconsfield Bucks
Catherine 6 bn Knightsbridge, George 2 & Thomas 5mnths both Lpool(baptised St Marks
10.2.1861)
This will give a time frame for when George took over the Customs House.
1871 same details inc son William Henry 8 yrs bn Lpool and 3 servants.

[Tina]

He's still the keeper of the Customs House (65) in 1891 but has a different wife.
Frances 44yrs bn Lpool.
As in 1881 with little daughter Edith 6 months old.


where are his kiddies?

[ks044]

Thanks to everyone for their responses. I'm new to this forum so was very excited to hear back so quickly. I'm away from my own computer records at the moment but if memory serves me correctly George Jennings married Louisa Greenfield at St Margarets (?) Westminster in 1853. At the time they were both servants at Kent House, Knightsbridge, so I suspect that their employer was an MP who may have arranged for George's posting to Liverpool. Because of the length of time he held this position I've been hoping to find some more info or maybe a photo. Their son, Thomas, was my G Grandfather but I'm still trying to find how & when he arrived in Australia. Louisa died in 1876, very sad circumstances. George's second wife was Frances Walker who he married in 1879. I am in Australia & holidayed in UK in 2010, spent 3 days in Liverpool which I loved but at the time was unaware of my family connections there.

[MaryA]

Glad you enjoyed your time here.

If there is nothing online, there is the possibility that some records or a photograph are held at the Record Office. I think you would be best approaching them and also the Maritime Museum directly to enquire.

If you search the archive catalogue for the Record Office http://liverpool.gov.uk/libraries-and-a ... y-history/ you will certainly find that they hold a number of photographs of the Customs House.

[Tina]

I've found a Thomas Jennings born Lpool, waiter 21yrs who sailed to Sydney
27th Nov 1879.
Not sure if he's your chap.

[Blue70]

Have a look at these links:-

http://streetsofliverpool.co.uk/custom-house-c1875/

http://liverpoolremembrance.weebly.com/ ... house.html


Blue

[ks044]

Thanks Mary & Blue for the links, I'll let you know if I find anything. Would you believe it, we spent a LOT of time at the Maritime Museum when we visited, if only I had been aware of my connections at the time. Tina - I found the same Thomas Jennings but not sure if that's him. There was another child to George & Louisa, Catherine, born in Westminster. She apparently travelled to Australia as well, there is Catherine Jennings witness to the marriage of Thomas and Elizabeth Dare in 1890.
Thanks again to everyone for such prompt and accurate information.

[Tina]

Hi
It's a mystery where the kiddies where in 1881 census.
Catherine is in the census I listed.
Findmypast Immigration doesn't start until 1890 and it's possible all the kiddies followed
Thomas to Australia before this date.

Edit: oooo!! I've found Catherine in 1881 she's a teacher 26 born London with her
brother Wm Hy 18 bn Lpool a commercial clerk, with one domestic servant.
102 Huskisson St, Mt Pleasant.

[Tina]

'Lo tis me again.
Could you have a look at 1891 for me, I think I've found Wm Hy & bro George living in London.
Both married.
RG12/468/151/88