Genealogy Chat

Helen, This is more recent than your ancestors, but my G Grandparents were living together for 25 years (and 9 children) before they married - and in all that time, and on all the birth certificates, my g grandfather's surname is used. He had previously married, but his first wife ended up in an asylum. Apparently, spouses in asylums couldn't be divorced (not that g grandfather could have afforded it), so they had to wait until she died. As for your ancestor being a policeman and 'living in sin' - at least he wasn't a drunkard!!!!! My g grandfather's father survived as a metropolitan policeman for 25 years and got a pension!! maggie

Reggie My apologies. I've got hayfever, had a tiring week workwise and relaxed with a bottle of wine. I will check out Ms Gillett when I am sober. Thanks again. Heather I must admit I was a bit surprised to find some Norfolk policemen. I had a set of Norfolk gt uncles, 4 became Met policemen, one joined City of London police and my grandfather was too small to enrol. But I have found Samuel and another Norfolk rellie who were policemen in Norfolk and then Suffolk. I think it was a better job option than ag labbing or fishing! nell

Nell Is it me? I posted Gillett, not Hewitt............. Reg

Reggie Thanks, I found Elizabeth Hewitt as a possible in 1841 and 1851 (but not 1861, so it might be her) and I mentioned her in my original posting, but thanks for looking. Phoenix Drunkeness seems to have been a common crime amongst policemen. My Norfolk gt uncles (not this Samuel) became Met policemen. My dad said that the work consisted mainly of sorting out pub fights. One of the uncles left after a year saying he couldn't serve God and the devil at the same time!

My Norfolk policeman rellie may have been a model of excellence, but his son was in Norwich Gaol in 1881. Half the Metropolitan police's original intake were allegedly sacked the following day for drunkenness, which suggests that they weren't exactly pillars of society.

There is another possible Elizabeth in 1841............unless you have eliminated her for any reason Name: Elizth Gillet Age: 8 Estimated birth year: abt 1833 Household: View other family members Gender: Female Where born: Norfolk, England Civil parish: Halvergate Hundred: Walsham County/Island: Norfolk Country: England Source information: HO107/785/4 Registration district: Blofield Sub-registration district: Walsham ED, institution, or vessel: 5 Folio: 13 Page: 20 Reg Same person in 1851 Sarah Barnes abt 1824 Mendham, Norfolk, England Servant Halvergate Norfolk View Record Jemima Cook abt 1830 Drayton, Norfolk, England Servant Halvergate Norfolk View Record Edward Everson abt 1832 Halvergate, Norfolk, England Servant Halvergate Norfolk View Record Elizabeth Gillett abt 1831 Halvergate, Norfolk, England Sister Halvergate Norfolk View Record William Gillett abt 1815 Freethorpe, Norfolk, England Head Halvergate Norfolk

Thanks! I was a bit surprised to find him supposedly 'living in sin' especially as he was a policeman! nell

Nell, I thinks this months Norfolk Roots has got info on policemen - Ill have a look in a second (supposed to be shovelling rubble for hubby at the mo! - this is my wee break!)

My husband's cousin and I spent a long time with a borrowed branch in the tree which turned out to be a different and earlier Elizabeth, wife to Josiah Scantlebury, than the one we needed. It was only when we found him recorded as a widower in an intervening census that we realised what was going on. Christine

I think I would be wondering if Elizabeth M started life as Elizabeth Mallet, (illegitimate?) daughter of Elizabeth..... Is that what the ..M.. stands for perhaps? I have a couple in 1891 census, shown as married with 3 daughters. I spent ages looking for their marriage, - very distinctive names, and eventually discovered that they married in 1892. Tracking back, I found previous marriages for both, but the woman's 1st husband died in 1876 and the man's previous wife died in 1882, so I have no idea why my pair waited .... or indeed then bothered to marry in their home town. Like yours, perhaps there IS no reason for the delay. I would certainly hope you have found the right marriage. Gwyn

With that long gap, is it possible that Samuel has two wives, the second also called Elizabeth? You can't tell from the birth dates of the children, but is it possible that they marry because they are moving: so they can say that they are married if anyone asks? By the way, I think that Kirby Hall has some sort of list of Norfolk policemen. Probably also in the Norfolk Records Office. nb is GR running slow this evening? Clock seems a couple of minutes out.

This is Samuel Gray/Grey and his 'wife' Elizabeth: 1861 RG9/1175 37 p.5 Broad Street, Orford, Suffolk Samuel Gray abt 1829 Langley, Norfolk, 32 Head police constable Elisabeth , born Halvergate, Norfolk 28 [sic] Betsey born Halvergate, Norfolk 8 scholar I wanted to get his wife's maiden name. Haven't found a likely marriage, or a birth registration for Betsey (yes, I did try Elizabeth too!) 1871 RG10/1764 44 p.21 Orford, Suffolk Samuel Grey abt 1828 Langley, Norfolk, Head 43 police constable Elizabeth Grey abt 1833 Halvergate, Norfolk, Wife Elizabeth M Grey abt 1853 Halvergate, Norfolk, Daughter 18 dressmaker Julia Grey abt 1863 Orford, Suffolk, Daughter 8 scholar Samuel J Grey abt 1865 Orford, Suffolk, Son 6 scholar William J Grey abt 1868 Orford, Suffolk, Son 3 scholar So I thought I would check previous censuses for Elizabeths born abt 1833 in Halvergate. 1841 and 1851 have the same two, an Elizabeth Hewitt and an Elizabeth Mallett. No result for Elizabeth Hewitt/Samuel BUT there is an Elizabeth Mallett marrying Samuel Grey in Great Yarmouth in Sep quarter of 1861. So - why were they not married earlier - they appear as married on the census in the same year. Also, there's a big gap between the births of Elizabeth 'Grey' and Julia Grey. Could it be that Elizabeth was married to someone else? nell

I have only checked Freebmd, yet to do all the images, but