Thread: Looking for TURNER

I am having problems in identifying place & date of birth of my grt/gd father, in my TURNER line.

I first located him as being born as George Turner. In 1833, in Woolwich, Kent. (Also known as Poplar ) That was on IGI.

On his Portsmouth marriage certificate. 1858, It shows his father as John TURNER, Mariner. His mother was Elizabeth Matilda (nee ?). I have now found a John Thomas TURNER, christened, 15/9/1833 at Saint George, Gravesend, Kent. With the same parents. I also found a sister chrs. 10/4/1831. St Margaret, Rochester, Kent With identical parents.



When he married Eloise Andrews-Willis of Yarmouth Isle of Wight. They had a daughter in 1854. Which they named Matilda Elizabeth. (After Georges mother) In 1858 They had a son, again in I of W. Which they named John Thomas. They had more children in Portsmouth.



The problem is. Do I look for George TURNER, or, John Thomas TURNER ? Or both ?

Why would he change his name ? Could he have need to change his identity ?



Also, in the 1881 census for Portsea Island. The family name is shown as THOMAS. Why ?



Grateful for any suggestions. ..... Jimbo

Hi Jimbo,



Apart from the 1881 census, have you details from any other census to work from ?

If you are able to look at the 1881 image -although the surname is very badly written and is transcribed as Thomas, the name looks more like Turner -it definately is not Thomas





Suz

Thank you 'Starlight' &'Harryman.' The family are on the 1871 census living at 40, Chandos St, Landport, Portsea Is. albeit, Matilda is missing. She would have been 17 then. Possibly at work or married. She was known as "Tilly" in the family.



On previous censii George TURNER shows his birth place as Woolwich. Yet, on the 1901 census it is shown as Plumsted Heath. (age 67) address, 4 Wharf Rd, Mile end, Portsmouth.

My copy of the 1881 I purchased from LDS, ten years ago. All pages were transcribed & printed. Not the actual enumerators copy.



I cannot find them at all on the 1861 census. It's possible they were back in the I of W for that one.



Many thanks ..... Jimbo

Matilda is on 1871 with the rest of the family at chandos St

George 36, Eloise 36, matilda 16, John 12, Francis 11, Frederick 10, harry 4, Minnie 1

RG10 1139 13 19

Hi Suz. I did notice Matilda's name on the 1871 after I had posted my reply.



On the marriage cert for George & Eloisa. George is 21, & Eloisa is 22.

George's father is John Turner, Mariner. Eloisa's father is Benjamin Willis, Corwainer.



I have all the necessary details on Eloisa (sometimes Eloise) But George is giving me a bit of bother. (or should I call him John Thomas ?)



I have tried the 1841 census of London & Kent, on this site. Alas, no results.



Regards .... Jimbo.

Hi Jimbo,



I would concentrate on the name George unless you get good evidence that his name wasn't George. The LDS only has the names of those that were baptised/married in churches that allowed to Mormons to view their records. Sometimes just a church or two would be missed from a parish, but it the parish was small and only had one church the whole parish will be missing.



P.S - try finding a baptism or marriage in Otterbourne Hampshire on LDS. I'll give you an orange for Christmas if you find one.

Could this be them in 1841? Hampshire Portsea

Elizabeth Turner 45 greengrocer

Elizabeth 16 seamstress

Matilda 15

James 10

George 6

All recorded as born out of county

Gillian

Many thanks for your input Starlight & Gillian.



I don't think "George" would have been in Hampshire for the 1841 census. Probably still in the old Kent enumeration district at that time.

As I have said, I have two nominees for "George." One christened in St Mary Magdeline, Woolich. The other in St George, Gravesend, John Thomas. both born 1833. Both of them appear to be who I am looking for.



I am reluctant to join Ancestry.com. They are too expensive, & don't allow you to join for a short period. National Archives, now refer you to Ancestry, when you find a possible.



How can I find a lady name Elizabeth Matilda without a surname ?



Many thanks ..... Jimbo.