Genealogy Chat

Any more thoughts?? Hopeful Maz. XX

Sue- I will check with Clare who did it for me... Linda - that is what I thought. Just wish I could find him elsewhere to enliminate this Danish bloke. Wonder if the wife said 'he's away on his boat' and the census man put 'mariner'?? Depends if he had had enough by then and was just rushing through - so many stories of mistakes on here that you feel you have to doubt everything! Maz. XX

Jan - have you tried looking up Petersen? Danish surnames often end sEn rather than sOn. You might just find him somewhere by trying that. Sue

If he does prove to be Danish but naturalised, the papers should show you when he came to England, why, where from, as well as details of his parents etc. I thought my German great grandparents were a real brick wall, but this just might help me break through, one generation more at least. Jan.

Jan - most interesting if this goes on that long!! maz. XX

Jan - that's why I checked the Ships index, and the only Peterson to match was the Danish one !!? Keith - that's what I thought, but therefore why can't I find him elsewhere??! I know I won't ever be Danish, but thought it might catch the eye!! GRRRRR!!!!! and where's his marriage !!!!! cross maz XX

I was also told that after next March naturalisation papers will be searcheable on line. Don't know whether it will be pay to view or free, but I'll be looking for my great grandparents who came from Germany in the 1860s. Jan.

Hello Marion. Peterson is a pretty common name so I understand your problem. Mariner was a seaman - usually if they had some form of rank, like rigger, mate or Captain it would say so. Unlikely therefore that he would be a skipper on 1861 census. We have sailmakers (Danish) and skippers in our tree. You may be of danish extraction but you aren't ever going to be Danish by my thinking. Will look into your other queries and come back. Good thread - I like mysteries!! Keith

At first I thought that a sailmaker wouldn't become a mariner and then go back to being a sailmaker, but perhaps he went to sea to mend sails as they were damaged. Wonder if there's any way of finding that out. Jan.

My gt gt grandfather was William Henry Peterson, born approx. 1815. He shows on 1851 census as a Sail Maker born in Poplar He shows on daughter's birth cert in 1853 as a Sail Maker He shows on his death cert in 1864 as a Sail Maker Journeyman (death registered by neighbour) We have been unable to find his marriage to Elizabeth Benson (1st child born approx 1849). He is not at home on 1861 census - however his wife is shown as 'Mariner's wife'. So ... searched index of ships and found a William Peterson born 1815, Master of a schooner moored at Liverpool - born Denmark, naturalised British subject. There is no other entry for him on the 1861 London census index. 1 - does anyone know the definition of 'mariner' as used on 1861 census?? 2 - could someone who was a sailmaker in 1853 be master of their own vessel by 1861?? 3 - why can't I find the marriage!! 4 - could the ennumerator get place of birth so wrong in 1851 - would they have assumed that whole family were born in census place?? 5 - I know Peterson will eventually go back to Denmark, but am I Danish yet?! This is doing my brain in - going round in circles and don't know enough about any of it!! Sorry to be long-winded but that's just me!! Thank you to anyone who has the patience to read this through and reply. Cheers all! Maz. XX

I like their pastries. Jan.

Do you expect to be?

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