Find Ancestors

Would anyone be able to help please? I have managed to find a lot of ancestors, yay me, but am struggling with this one.

I have found his birth & baptism, I have both parents and siblings. What I can’t find is ANYTHING after his baptism.

James father is called Thomas b1797, mother is Ann Sarsby & almost all his ancestors and male relations are agricultural labourers and fish sellers. Most are illiterate using an X on marriage.

His siblings are Robert b1830, then James b1832, Hannah b1834 & Edmond b1840. Eldest 2 are born in Beeston Regis, younger 2 are born in Sheringham.

James father was previously married to Mary Maria Parsons and had 3 daughters who are Mary Ann b1820, Harriet b1823 & Sarah Ann b1825.

James is the REAL enigma...born and then disappeared. I have tried censuses, parish records, civil records. I’ve tried searching for marriages and burials but I can’t find anything that makes me feel I am on the right track.

Everyone from 1830 back to 1500 is born, bred and died in west and north Norfolk.

Hope that’s enough info, sorry if it’s too much. Fingers crossed. Hope everyone is staying safe.
Thanks
Caroline

Record Transcription:
1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census

Sheringham, Erpingham, Norfolk, England
Learn about this record set
What can I do with this record?
View Image
Add To Tree
Report an Error
Is this the same person?
We've found the following potential record matches for the same person in other record sets
James Johnson
Census Record
Norfolk, England
Year of census: 1841
Household Members
Members that resided in the household at the time of the census.
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Thomas Johnson Head Married Male 55 1796 Cauper Formely Fish Hawker Sheringham, Norfolk, England
Ann Johnson Wife Married Female 56 1795 - Dorking, Norfolk, England
Robert Johnson Son Unmarried Male 20 1831 Ag Lab Beeston Regis, Norfolk, England
James Johnson Son Unmarried Male 18 1833 Ag Lab Beeston Regis, Norfolk, England
Hannah Johnson Daughter Unmarried Female 17 1834 Net Maker Beeston Regis, Norfolk, England
Edward Johnson Son Unmarried Male 11 1840 Work On Twine Ground Sheringham, Norfolk, England

edward should be edmond

Great minds think alike! Isn’t this odd, I posted then rechecked census and found 1851 where he is aged 19 living at home and working as an labourer.

Thank you for taking the time. 2 pieces of evidence are REALLY helpful.

Now I need to find what he did after 1851....

Thanks again and stay safe
Caroline

????

Marriage entry While we have made all efforts to correctly record the information in the original document there may be different interpretations of the written words. If you have access to the original document and believe we have made a mistake you are encouraged to report this to us. Report an Error in this Data Field
(only fields with a value are shown) Value
County Norfolk
Place (Links to more information) Stalham
Church name (Links to more information) St Mary
Register entry number 53
Marriage date 27 Apr 1854
Groom forename James
Groom surname JOHNSON
Groom condition Bachelor
Groom occupation Labourer
Groom abode Stalham
Bride forename Sarah Ann
Bride surname GAZE
Bride condition Spinster
Bride abode Stalham
Groom father forename Thomas
Groom father surname JOHNSON
Groom father occupation Labourer
Bride father forename John
Bride father surname GAZE
Bride father occupation Gardener
Witness1 Clare? CULLEY
Witness2 Mary Elizth. GAZE
Notes Both Of Full Age; He Signs X; Witness 1 Signs X
Transcribed by Sally Ann Bennett
File line number 143

Not that marriage.

In 1851 your James's father Thomas was a pauper, formerly fish hawker.
The father of the man who married Sarah Ann Gaze/Gage was a gardener.

A couple of children of that marriage:

JOHNSON, EMMA GAZE
GRO Reference: 1857 J Quarter in TUNSTEAD & HAPPING Volume 04B Page 35

JOHNSON, HANNAH GAZE
GRO Reference: 1854 D Quarter in TUNSTEAD Volume 04B Page 38

This is that family in 1861 - therefore not your James:

James Johnson
in the 1861 England Census
Name: James Johnson
Age: 34
Estimated Birth Year: 1827 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Sarah Ann Johnson
Gender: Male
Where born: Catfield, Norfolk, England <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Civil Parish: Catfield
Ecclesiastical parish: Catfield
County/Island: Norfolk
Country: England
Street Address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
View image
Registration District: Tunstead
Sub-registration District: Ludham
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Neighbors:
Household Schedule Number: 33
Piece: 1197
Folio: 50
Page Number: 6
Household Members:
Name Age
James Johnson 34
Sarah Ann Johnson 27
Hannah Johnson 6
Emma Johnson 3
Walter Johnson 1

???
England, Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital Admissions and Discharges, 1826-1930

Name: James Johnson
Admission Age: 23
Birth Date: abt 1832
Birth Place: Sheringham
Admission Date: 19 Jul 1855
Admission Place: London, England

Oooh...I wonder if this is him. Would be amazing if it is, so many questions: what is he doing in London? did he survive? Did he stay in London?

Coincidence is that a member of family on mums side died here around the same time!

Thank you for taking the time, I really appreciate it.
Stay safe
Caroline

James Johnson
England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997

Name:
James Johnson
•
Event Type:
Christening
Event Date:
05 Feb 1832
•
Event Place:
Beeston Regis, Norfolk, England
•
Sex:
Male
Birth Date:
24 Jan 1832
Father's Name:
Thomas Johnson
•
Mother's Name:
Ann Sayonby Johnson
•
Record Number:
1041
Record Number:
1041

I looked at that Dreadnought record this morning, but then discounted it because it says that man had been in the Merchant Service for 11 years.

Your James is still at home with his parents in 1851.

Yes he is, oh poop lol.

I think there was a break in the time continuum like in Star Trek, and he literally fell off the world in 1855 after the census!

Thank you again

James Johnson
New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1891
Name:
James Johnson
•
Event Type:
Immigration
Event Date:
1853
•
Event Place:
New York City, New York, United States
•
Sex:
Male
Age:
21
Nationality:
England
Birth Year (Estimated):
1832
Birthplace:
England
•
Ship Name:
Hendrick Hudson

Oooh now that is VERY interesting, never occurred to me he may have gone to USA. I shall go and investigate this.

Much appreciated, thanks

Now found a death which matches other details, in Michigan. USA. The missing bit is a marriage between 1853 and 1909 bearing he was born in 1832, looks likely he died aged 77 in 1909 and is listed as a widower....so there must have been a marriage...not sure about children though...

James Johnson
United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941

Name: James Johnson
Event Type:
Military Service
Event Year Range:
1845-1854
Event Place:
United Kingdom
Birthplace:
Norfolk
Birth Year:
1832

Mallon it can’t be this one as he is on 1851 census at home in Norfolk working as an agricultural labourer. I do believe he emigrated, it would fit right in with there being no record anywhere of him post 1851 in the U.K.

I have since found a couple of marriages which fit in with other details, death etc, so fingers crossed this is him. Thanks to you.

VERY VERY appreciative. I think, and hope, I am on the right track here. Which is great cos I went right off track lol
Stay safe
Caroline

Be careful not to jump at any slight possibility without further proof.

Not saying that's not him emigrating - perhaps it is - but James Johnson isn't an unusual name.

There are lots of records of various sorts for men named James Johnson, born c1832 in England, in the USA alone, not to mention other countries. Australia, for instance.

Or he may have died in England before 1861, but just not in the Sheringham area.

Thanks. I have thoroughly and I mean thoroughly searched the uk, wondered if he had relocated to another county etc,

I promise I shall continue to be cautious in my researching, I can’t cope with getting all wrong lol.

I like more than 2 pieces of evidence and I like to link...if I can’t find a decent link I usually won’t go that route. The USA does look very promising though.

Stay safe and many thanks again
Caroline

Not the USA. cannot find anything which gives me proof or evidence to convince me he went overseas. i struggled with how he would biy a ticket as they were VERY poor - paupers.

I have found a James Johnson in Sheringham, mostly living in a dwelling house or on the street from 1892 to 1910.

its like doing a jigsaw where someone has obliterated the picture!!

and now I have found a burial hich fits all the dates and places etc, think i am now on the right track.
All i have missing is what he did between 1851 and 1887. In 1887 he is living on the streets in Victoria road area of Sheringham which seems to be where the pauper/poor/homeless congregate, his death is recorded in the same place in 1910 which is also the last record of him living anywhere.