Thread: Is it time to give up??

I have been searching all over the place for details of my great grandfather Daniel Cork(e) born c1846 and, according to the census of 1871/81, in Chelsea (Surrey on one and Middlesex on the other!)



He cannot be found on either the 1851 nor the 1861 census.



I, and others have tried for his birth registration but with no success.



I sent for his marriage cert (to Olive Martin) which lists his father as Richard.



I am now wondering if it is time to give up on him or, does someone with more experience suggest another avenue I can try?



I would be so grateful for some advice as to what, if anything, to do next. Thanks.



Will look in later.

Hi Littlepetal, in answer to your question 'Is it time to give up??' my answer to you is...Please dont.....I think most researchers will tell you the task of finding information can be hard.

Sometimes it can take months or years to find a missing bit of a family jigsaw. But please stay strong, and stay positive.

A few years ago I tried to find info on one of my Uncles, he left the North East of England, to start a new life in Canada......his first name being unusual I thought, great that may help me.

Not so....try as I may nothing turned up.



Then after posting basic info on a number of Genealogy site. It was not long till data came in via email......Truly tears ran down my face as I read, how my Uncle had joined the Canadian Army....I now have lots of details....and it all came about as one lovely lady living in Canada, found for me the missing links.



This is the one legacy you can pass onto other generations, so please dont give up......Its a long road to travel for sure, but your not alone, many others on this site will tell you that....Blessings and Good Luck , Summer

Hi Lttlepetal,



You are probably aware of this, but incase not.............



On the 1871 census Daniel and Olive are living next door to a Richard Corke, widower age 59, Richard has dau's Alice 15, Elizabeth 12, and Mary Ann 9, and a son Stephen 20.

Thank you both for your replies. Slizzy, do you think that it is likely to be his father who is living next door?

Hi Littlepetal,



Corke is not a common name, and Richard on the 1871 census is the right age to be Daniel's father, however one can't assume. It is possible it's coincidence, but I would investigate more about Richard. The name Cork(e) is often misread as Cook(e) or Cock(e).

What does the marriage cert say for Richard's occupation?

If you can't find your chap pre-1871 nor a birth registration or baptism, I'd be inclined to think that he was born outside England.



But you won't give up. You might forget about it for a while but you'll come back to it.



Never give up hope.

Richard Corke, age 68 born Stone, Kent is on 1881 census in Trottiscliffe (pronounced Trozley) also in Kent with a wife Mary Ann aged 26!

RG11/0903/28 p.10

1861

RG9; Piece: 487; Folio: 33; Page: 4;

Seal, Kent

Richard Corke, 44 (1817) born Stone, Kent

Jane Corke wife 44 b Surrey

children

Jane 18 b Ightham, Kent

James 13 Reigate Surrey

Eliza 7 Seal Kent

Alice 4, Elizabeth 2, both born Seal.



Alice and Elizabeth appear in the 1871 census with Richard, so I think this is definitely the same family.



Now, Jane the wife's birthplace is given as Surry Chiping. I'm wondering if your Daniel was born same place and its got mangled as Chelsea?

Perhaps



Births Mar 1846 CORKE Daniel E Grinstead 7379



Although there are quite a few Corke events in E. Grinstead which don't have the names of his likely siblings as found on census.