Genealogy Chat

see below details of my hunt for Albert Gurney's birth. I have posted before but was hoping fresh eyes may find something or think of somewhere else I could look.

findings so far 1831 Bishop’s transcript Albert Gurney, batchelor Susannah Jennings Glasscock Married by Licence with consent of John Glasscock St Marys, Lambeth 26 July 1831 In the presence of Harriet Jennings and (Joseph?) Gurney 1841 Albert Gurner abt 1806 traveller not born Middlesex Susan Gurner abt 1816 not Middlesex Mary Gurner abt 1836 Middlesex Address - George Street Somers Town St Pancras Middlesex March 1842 birth certificate Richard Albert Gurney 71 George Street Somers town Father Albert Gurney, gentleman Mother Susannah Gurney nee Glasscock Dec 1842 death certificate Albert Gurney male 39 years gentleman 71 George Street Disease of the Heart Registered by Hannah Glasscock, sister Cannot trace a Will for Albert or any newspaper obits. Nan (95, bless) thought her Grandad Albert was from Norfolk but I can't find any evidence of him being born or baptised ANYWHERE. Albert would have been a pretty unusual name c.1803

Hi Helen You do know, don't you, that Gurney was a well known Norfolk quaker banking family? Connected in some way with the Barclays. A bit of googling on Gurney and Quakers might throw something up. (Quakers had their own records, so don't appear in ordinary parish records in general)

There are a few Joseph Gurney wills on The National Archives Documents Online but I don't know whether any of them could be connected. If Joseph was his father or brother then he could well have died some time after Albert as Albert died so young. There are some Gurneys on the Norfolk Transcription Archive, but no Alberts. You could try looking on the 'Death Duties Index' on 1837 online to see if there is an entry for Albert on there. If there is then it should give you the name and address of one of his executors or administrators. Other than that, I can't think of much at the moment. Presumably Hannah was Albert's wife's sister? Oh, I just realised - it's possible that there is extra information in the actual parish records entry for the marriage which does not appear in the Bishop's Transcript. Just possible, I'm not saying there will be. But if you have no other leads to follow it would be worth having a look just to check. At least the witness's name might be clearer on there. Kate.

LOL Phoenix, I was going to say that! Expect you have heard of Elizabeth Fry? Quaker prison reformer?? Maiden name Gurney, dau of a wealthy banker and born in Norfolk! I think she was born in about 1780. Merry

Oh, and if you can find the marriage licence application or the actual licence, maybe there would be some information on there? I don't know how you would find it, but there are some marriage licence 'allegations' on British Orgins and you can order a hard copy of them. You have to be a subscriber, though, and my subscription has expired so I can't look to see if it is on there for you. Kate.

Thanks for your responses. I've searched all the Fry/Gurney stuff, even been in touch with a descendant who's done loads of research on the family over many years, and he'd never found an Albert. I've downloaded several of the Gurney Wills in the hope someone left 'cousin Albert' a few pounds but no luck. Maybe the Norfolk stuff was a myth passed down through Gran's family? PRs look a possibility but that would mean LMA I believe which isn't possible for me at this time. The BT copy came from there a couple of years ago when someone very kindly did a look up.

The fantastic thing about Quaker records is that often large areas are not divided up like parishes and so you only need to check one place to find (or not find) your rellie!! Norfolk RO has the records for the Quaker meetings in Norfolk and they should be all in one run! These will have Quaker BMD records, probably up to 1837. Just one lookup, to see if he was born to Quaker parents! Merry

Kate Thanks for your suggestion. Sorry I forgot that I already have a copy of this, no further details. I downloaded it online a couple of years ago. I think it was British Origins, about £10 to download? Death Duty could be a possibility, surely a 'gentleman' would have had a bit of dosh? I think the reason I can't find a Will is because he died so young, and probably suddenly, and he just hadn't made one.

People do have a habit of saying, ''Ooh we could be related to them'' because the name is the same.....over time this becomes ''fact''....................... Merry

Merry Thanks for that! Albert is a long time brickwall and I keep dragging him out every six months or so and having another go. I'm going to print off the thread and see what I can do. This time the wall will come down (maybe!)