Genealogy Chat

Hi Bren,

How strange and what a co-incidence. This particular ancestor married a Bourke!!!! and in India too!!!!

Unfortunatley as far as I know there isn't a James Bourke in our tree.

She was Irish and Catholic although we don't think she was a practicing Catholic as the children wern't brought up in the faith. So your comments were very interesting.

That could explain why we haven't managed to find their marriage.

Thanks again, Lou

HI Lou
my grandfather James Bourke was also b in India in1866
I found the references for him and his brother in the Reg General Army Births
and these stated the 70th foot as their fathers regiment
But when I received the certificates their father also called James Bourke was in the 108th Madras regiment but they had been baptised by the Chaplains of the 70th foot that became the 2nd Batt East Surrey regiment which my grandfather joined in 1881 when he was 14 yrs and 7 months
i spent a lot of time trailing through the records at the British Library for the 108th regiment trying to find a marriage for their parents then I found out that Catholic records ceased in the 1850's

So if your family were Catholic as well as being Irish It is going to be very hard to trace them

Regards

Bren

Hi Keith,

It would only be able a year earlier as his wife was about 16 when she married and 17 when she had her first child. So he must have married around 1880 - 1881.

I thought the marriages on FMP started in 1881, have tried several different areas of research with no luck. Have tried the India section at British Library with no luck too. Any Ideas?

Sorry will have to log off now but will check in tonight for any further response.

Thank you again Keith for your help and comments.

good Luck to you,

Lou

If he had his first child in India in 1881, maybe we need to look earlier than 1881 for the marriage, unfortunately they are not searchable for the period 1870-1880 on FMP.

Hi Keith,

Thanks very much, it's a right one this. Just can't find a marriage for him anywhere.

He was originally born in India in 1857, by 1861 he was in England and lived in Staffordshire. Not on census after 1871 and apparently had his first child in India in 1881. His wife was only 16 when they married her father was in the Army so could possibly have married on ship. Her family originated from Ireland so could have married there too.

I was told by Anthony Adolph to try the Registra General's Army marriages.

Have you any ideas where else we might try, we've tried the Indian section at the British Library.

Thanks Lou

No marriage showing for William Henry Baker or Helena Bourke between 1881 and 1890 sorry.

Could some kind person please look up the Registrar General's Army Marriages please and see if they can find the marriage of William Henry Baker in 1881 - 1885 please to a Helena Bourke in India.

Thank you in advance, it's much appreciated.

Regards, LOu