Genealogy Chat

My great grandad James Webb was born in 1860 at Weybridge Surrey, I had him on the 1861 census at Weybridge living with his parents and siblings, then he just dissapears!!!! he doesn't reappear until 1906 when he marries my great nanne Alice Hooton. In Nottingham. How can he just not appear anywhere? do ya think he may have gone abroad for a few years? saying that hes not with his parents in 1871 I have followed my great great grandparents until they die. His father William was a civil engineer, James went on to become an Electrical Engineer, his father had died by the time he married in 1906, can any one shed any light on this for me please.

I have a similar problem, i have David Henry Lappage b1873 in a workhouse in Malden, not on any census until 1901 with his wife & child. I too have no idea where he could have been & its driving me nuts!!! I have had suggestions to search under various diffierent spelling of the name & that brought know joy either. Sorry i'm not much help but thought you might like to know your not the only one, i have the same problem too! Good luck. Clare

Hi Clare xxx I know these elusive rellies do drive ya nuts dont they. I cant even find his flipping birth either lol, only his extracted baptism on familysearch. I am truly starting to believe that they really are of foreign blood as it said on the 1861 census then changed to different areas of birth on later ones grrrrr saying that tho James elder siblings I cant find any of thier births in the country either and they were baptised on the same day as James was strange or wot.

One of mine disappeared after 1861 census and the next sighting is 1901 - he worked and travelled in Russia and Germany, and must have been out of the county on 3 consecutive census nights. I have other children who have been away from home for census - some have been put down under the rellies' surnames, or have been mistranscribed/wrongly recorded - this makes it really difficult if you have no idea where they were. Jay

Angela, there's a James Webb on the 1880 census in the States. He's age 19, born England. He's a nephew of Richard & Hannah Lane, both born England and living in Illinois. Any chance he might be yours? There's another one aged 20, born England , living with Hanson & Lizzie Roberts in Maine. They're both born in Maine. Margaret

Margeret does it say what his occupation is on it please? I havnt got a clue where he went boohoo lol, its just so weird when that happens.

The one in Illinois was just a laborer (which they don't know how to spell in the States). The one in Maine was a granite cutter. Margaret

Hi Margaret xxx thank u so much I dont think that is him tho :( as he followed in his fathers footsteps as did most of his brothers in becoming engineers of some sort. I think he must have gone into the Army ya know maybe hey?

I lost a whole family on 1891 and 1901 census. This week it has come to light that they were in Ireland for 20 years and came back with the three children that I knew about, born here, and five other childen that I didn't now about. Linda

Angela, In the 1861 census it is rather strange to see that all of James' family are listed as British Subject rather than giving a place of birth. Only James has a place of birth recorded as Weybridge Surrey. Edward Webb abt 1857 British Subject Son Eliza Webb abt 1859 British Subject Daughter James Webb abt 1860 Weybridge, Surrey, Son John Webb abt 1850 British Subject Son Susanh Webb abt 1834 British Subject Wife William Webb abt 1826 British Subject Head William Webb abt 1853 British Subject Son Any idea where the other children were born? Pete

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_subject Re 1861 census. Prior to 1 January 1949, the term 'British subject' in British nationality law was used to describe any person who owed allegiance to the British Crown, wherever he was born in the British Commonwealth and Empire. Within the Empire, the only people who were not British subjects were the rulers of native states formally under the 'protection' of the British Crown, and their peoples. Although their countries may for all practical purposes have been ruled by the imperial government, such persons are considered to have been born outside the sovereignty and allegiance of the British Crown, and were (and, where these persons are still alive, still are) known as British protected persons. They were not foreign they were simply born outside of Britain but within the British Empire. As for disappearing it's easy they moved where they could in order to find work or moved with the work. Contrary to the opinion of my old history teacher who was only partially correct. Some people did stay within the close confines of their birth place. Others didn't they moved around and the cause of this was the industrial revolution. Prior to that event the laws of settlement prevented the majority of labouring classes from settling elsewhere. However within the various clauses of this act tradesmen, merchants and soldiers were free to move about. The only restriction being their inability to fend for themselves so that they didn't become a burden on other towns and villages.

This has happened to one of my 'peeps' He only appears on the 1901 census I have even looked in the Birth indexes and nothing.

Hi Pete xx In the earlier census they were all born in this country ie: Weybridge same as James and on the 1871 census James is no longer with the family, tho all the places of births change to places like Hampton, Brentford. Also curiously enough all previous children were all baptised on the same day 16th oct 1859 at Weybridge. Tim after further digging I don't think they were at all born outside the UK!!!!!!! I am not sure why they were classed as british subjects in 1861, as earlier cencus show different areas of birth, William and Susannah married in Dorset in 1848, I have found Williams fathers baptism which was in 1804 I also have the pallots marriage for Johns parents who were Anthony Webb & Sarah Marshall. I have been able to track the family from 1776 unti I lose my great grandad after the 1861 census he doesnt reappear until he marries here in Nottingham in 1906. This is a great mystery to me, he could have been staying with relatives in 1871 and I think he may have joined the army after that, but I cant even find him on the 1901 census either!!!!! Thank u all so very much for all your help and suggestions it is so very much appreciated xxxxxxxx