Genealogy Chat

Can't remember if I've posted this before - so sorry if it sounds familar or too long

Family legend was that my great great grandfather was a Jeweller from the Isle of Man, but l later found out that my greatx4 grandfather was the likely suspect. First mention of William Corlett was in 1844 on his son's marriage certificate and he's listed as a pawnbroker in Stanhope Street, Toxteth, Liverpool Did a search on the 1841 & found (14) Stanhope Street, Toxteth William Corlett, abt 1781, Outside of County (Pawnbroker) Ann/Agnes Corlett, abt 1781, Lancashire George Corlett, abt 1815, Lancashire (Watch Maker) James Corlett, abt 1820, Lancashire (Asst. Watch Maker) did a bit of routing around and then found him listed in the directories: 1821-1841: 8 Stanhope Street 1841-1843: 14 Stanhope Street 1843-1847: 33 Stanhope Street Each time listed as a pawnbroker From there on he disappears so I presummed he died. So I order a death certificate from 1846 - not the right william (he's only 24) From 1847 a William Corlett, Gentleman appears in 41 chester Street, Toxteth - which appears to be down the road from Stanhope Street, but each successive year this gentle man moves (1848&1849 111 and then 115 Gt Homer street, liverpool) Then he disappears I went further back to see I could find when he arrived in Liverpool and I found a Captain William Corlett in 1807 living in upper Harrington Street (again by Stanhope Street). But he doesn't appear again till 1816 (probably sailing off somewhere) when he's in listed living in...8 Stanhope Street (like the pawnbroker) and again in 1818 I'm presuming that William pawnbroker and the Captain are the same person (too much of a coincedence i think for two separate people) But do you think It's likely that the Pawnbroker became a gentleman?

Not looking at your story but in general.... I would think it possible for a pawnbroker to make enough money to maybe retire and call himself a Gentleman 'living on his own means'. Chris

thanks for that - i'm just so confused

If it helps at all, Corlett sounds like a good Manx surname. J