Genealogy Chat

Thanks for all your replies. I'm going to order Dennis/James marriage cert next - a bonus is finding Elizabeth Goodwin's middle name Alice, which makes it easier to trace her. nell

Nell, two theories, what was Dennis's father called? Perhaps he was also Dennis and so Junior was known as James to avoid the inevitable confusion in the household. I've been looking at all the men with first name Dennis on the 1861 and a huge proportion of them were born in Ireland. Perhaps it was advisable to change both names and go for something more anglisised.

Paula Bob's your uncle! Janet Thank you for that. I won't get Dennis/James' dad's name until I get his marriage cert - I just hope there isn't a blank space, lol! As Dennis/James was born c. 1830 he won't have a birth registration. I have been checking Holborn churches but there's a lot of them. As he married in Holborn reg. district, perhaps when I see which church he married in I will be able to find a baptism there. Fingers crossed! nell

Nell Not much use I don't suppose, but I have been sitting here doodling 'Dennis' in flowery old-fashioned writing....and it looks rather like James.(Two 'n's making the 'm' and a curly downstroke from the J could look like a J. Also, if you mutter Dennis, a cloth-eared clerk might think you said James. As I said, not much use! Olde Crone

Olde Crone Bless you! I have a cert which clearly says Dennis and several censuses which clearly say James. But I appreciate your time. I mean this very kindly, but perhaps you should get out more? nell :-)

Nell Just before I put my coat on, just because it 'says so' on the certs and censuses, doesnt make it right! (As you should very well know, being one of the more scrupulous researchers on this site!) Olde Crone

You are so right. I am so cynical now that as soon as I find a new record I start disbelieving what it says! nell

Hello Nell, Have you found Dennis/James death at all? What does he call himself on 1901 if he is still around? Seems like he changed his name for the census, perhaps he didn't believe it in and wanted to be difficult. What about his wife's death cert? Just trying to see if there is a definate pattern.

Selena I haven't tried to look for a death as I am sure there will be lots of James Carters dying in London. He called himself James Carter consistently on all the censuses from 1871-1901. On 1861 he is James McCarthy. In 1901 living in the same house is his son Richard McCarthy, who was McCarthy in 1861 and 1871, Carter in 1881 - can't find him in 1891. nell

Lesley I believe the Irish equivalent of James is Seamus, but thanks for the thought. I hope the marriage cert of Dennis/James may shed some light. nell

Nell, its absolutely amazing that you found him at all on any census. What about witnesses to his marriage? Any McCarthy or Carter? That would be useful, maybe a sibling/parent and you could trace two of them back to 1841. Still no way of knowing. Just shots in the dark really. Off to bed now. SORRY, just realised you haven't got marriage cert yet. Hope a Witness can help solve the puzzle!!!

Nell Just a thought my Gt G/father was born Samuel William but dropped the Samuel Do you think Dennis might have been Dennis James. Julie

Selena I found James on the census fairly easily from 1871 onwards as he was a cooper and his wife Elizabeth was born Long Acre and the various children were in the same household. BUT Fiona cleverly found him as McCarthy in 1861. So glad he was James and not Dennis McCarthy then, or she might have ignored it! When I get the marriage cert I will see if he is Dennis James, but it does just say Dennis in the index to marriages. Perhaps his dad is Dennis... nell

Hi Nell I'm doing some house keeping and deleting all my old threads but I can't delete this one till I know.... did you ever find out if James and Dennis were the same person? Lyla

Oh, yes please tell us, Nell. I've just re read all this thread thinking the answer would be at the end of page 2! Anne

Hallo I thought I was hallucinating when I saw this thread, which I started on my Mum's birthday last year. UPDATE for those who care 1. Absolutely certain that James/Dennis is the same chap. Have found various of his children on censuses/certs who are sometimes McCarthy and sometimes Carter. 2. No further forward with general research as the marriage cert shows Dennis McCarthy's father Callaghan McCarthy, a wagoner and Elizabeth Alice Goodwin's father John Goodwin, a waiter. [not a restaurant chap, but someone who waited for goods to come in & wallop tax on them] Now that sounds OK, but Dennis and Elizabeth are untraceable in 1841 census (unless Dennis is the 15-year-old in a house of correction, which is possible. Cannot find any likely candidates anywhere for Callaghan or John Goodwin, or indeed Elizabeth's elder brother Charles Goodwin, who is on 1881 census with the Carters. 3. Good news is that through my excitement in sharing the breakthrough about Carter-McCarthy with husband's cousin (son of the couple who did the original research), said cousin, not at all interested, kindly e-mailed to his aunt (sister of original researcher). This is Vera who has been swopping e-mails with me ever since. We are both thinking that maybe James/Dennis and/or father Callaghan were born in Ireland - there's a family legend about Irish root - but James/Dennis pretended to be born in England for whatever reason. Although we've not got further back, Vera and I have managed to help eachother out, exchanging photos and information etc. It's been fascinating re-reading this thread. The one I want to know about is the one that someone - if I could only remember who I could find it - had about a policeman's son who married a woman who then appeared to give birth as an unmarried mother in a workhouse. nell

Thanks for that, Nell :-)) Anne

As has already been said, the Irish version of James is Seamus. (OH's uncle Seamus became Brother James when he entered a monastic order) Seamus could be misheard as Dennis, if you are unfamiliar with the Irish name. If you can't read, you don't know what name you've been saddled with by officials. Jay

Thanks Nell, glad you have cleared that up - off to look at my Dennis/James problem with renewed interest! Lyla

I read almost to the end of this thread before I realised it was an old one!!!! I reckon he dropped the Dennis - so markedly Irish at that time, in favour of something a bit more ambiguous. James is a fine old English name. But it's also a popular Irish name in its Seamus form, so he was serving both masters, as it were. Significant that this happened about the time he dropped McCarthy too, I think. And yes, I too want to know about the Policeman's wife...I also want to know about the man who was supposedly abducted from a hospital as a baby...I am SOOOOO nosey. OC