Thread: Looking for John Stephenson Wrack

Hi, hope someone out there can provide a bit of light on this subject, John Stephenson Wrack (Stevenson Rack) was born in Hull about 1790/1 (various uk censuses).



He married Mary Carr in 1818 at Saxby All Saints in Lincolnshire, Mary was also born in Hull about 1796.



We have a great deal of information from 1816 onwards but nothing on his birth, it is possible he was born as John Stephenson in Hull in 1791 and sometime over the next 15 years took the surname (W)Rack. At his marraige in 1818 witnesses included Ann Usher (nee Stephenson) and other Stephensons.



Can anyone help either confirm his birth or know why, how, where or when he changed his name, did he do it as part of a dowery, was it a condition of someones will etc.



We have been looking into this for the last 20 or so years and have so far failed to find anyhting to assist us.



Steve Wrack

Hull

Hi Steve,



I notice that you are located in Hull. Have you tried the Parish Chest . If John was illigitimate and born to a Miss Stephenson who later married a Mr Wrack you might find something there especially if he was the father but not then married. Unless Miss Stephenson had the means to support herself and a baby the Parish Council would have had to pay. They would have tried to find out who the father was.

Thanks for that starlight



Have looked at everything we could find in Hull, the East Riding and Lincolnshire, there is no corresponding Rack who married a Stephenson and no Stephenson in any other Rack family.



John's Parents were John Stephenson & Mary Dean m 26 Mar 1788 in Hull.



John Stephenson Wrack was married at age 27 but he and his wife had there first child, Rebecca, 2 years prior to their marriage. Have a large database of info on the (W)Rack(e) name but can find nothing connecting John Stepehsnon to the family, the first recorded use of the Rack name was at the baptism of Rebecca in 1816.



Steve

Hull

This could be his death notice, which confirms his name & birth c1792



Oct 3 1873 at Caistor, Loncolnshire, John Stephenson Wrack, aged 81 yrs



Also this:-



john o'sullivan Has a PUBLIC tree that includes:

Name:John Stephenson Wrack

Birth:1792 - Yorkshire, England

Marriage:17 Apr 1818 - Lincolnshire, England

Death:1872 - Lincolnshire

Residence:1861 - Lincolnshire, England

Sources:3Saved Records:

3Tree Name:O'Sullivan Family Tree27 Jun 2009



Regards,Tom

Thanks Tom,



That is the correct John, have this information plus all census entries, childrens batisms etc, that info was the easy part, the difficult part is trying to locate john from birth until 1816 when his first daughter, Rebecca, was born.



There are a few theories knocking about, one of which states that when he married his name was John Stephenson of Wrack and there was a mix-up on the marriage register, I cannot support that argument, mainly because he was married in 1818 but was already John Stephenson Rack in 1816 when Rebecca was born. The second theory, which I believe may be possible, is that he was left money/property etc. by a person with the Wrack surname to carry the name forward because they had no male line to carry the name on, unfortunately I cannot find a suitable (W)Rack candidate.



If I can find him, eihter as a Stephenson or Rack, prior to 1816 then maybe I can discover how he came by the Wrack surname.



As a matter if interest, if you are aware of this I apologise, the Wrack's that live in New Zealand (Whangeri etc) are all decendents of John.



Regards



Steve

Hull

England

Yes Steve, I did spot the NZ families & wondered if there was a connection. Since you have done extensive research I doubt if I can add anything else, however best wishes for your future success.

PS. I too was born in Hull, which together with the uncommon name, attracted me to your quest.

Best regards, Tom