Thread: Thomas George Sylven or was it Sullivan? total brick wall!!

Hi I have a single stream family and I am totally blocked on my GGGrandfather.

Thomas George Sylven (abt 1824 – 1894)

Thomas was a successful Gun Maker in London and every indication is that he was born in Birmingham abt 1824 but I can not find anything prior to 1845.

This is what I have so far:


Birth Abt 1824 Birmingham (all census data claims Birmingham as place of birth)

Occupation: Gunsmith, gun maker, mechanic

Father: James (all marriage Certs show father as James)



Census

1891 67 McKenzie Rd, Beckingham, Kent

1881 Lansdown Villa Mackenzie Rd, Beckenham, Kent

1871 1 foreign St, Camberwell

1861

1851 5 Horn Lane, Edinburgh, as a visitor occupation gunsmith



Marriage

8 Feb 1887 Registry Office Bromley Kent

Spouse: Maria Slaughter



20 SEP 1853 parish church Mortlake.Richmond,Surrey

Spouse: Emily Maria Laker

This will have been annulled as Thomas was convicted of bigamy 26 Feb 1855



25 Dec 1845 St Mary Whitechapel

Spouse : Charlotte Elizabeth Blanks



NOTE From the 1851 Census onwards Thomas uses the surname SYLVEN on all records including the Bigamy conviction.

The BMD and Marriage Cert for marriage to Charlotte Blanks shows Surname SULLIVAN, was this a mistake at the church due to accent or was it actually Sullivan, interestingly there is no mention of the name difference in the court transcript even though the minister was cross examined.

There are no records for Thomas under either name prior to 1845 marriage


Any help would be greatly appreciated



Regards
Howard Sylven

Hello,

I may have found Thomas in 1841 let me know if you want details, however he is not with other family members.

I did find this burial record which is possibly a sister of Thomas'.

birth:1821 burial:14 Jan 1823 —St. Mary, Birmingham, Warwick, England
parents:James Sullivan, Catherine Sullivan
record title:England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991
name:Irene Sullivan gender:Female
burial date:14 Jan 1823
burial place:St. Mary, Birmingham, Warwick, England age:2 birth date:1821
father's name:James Sullivan mother's name:Catherine Sullivan

Hello Howard,

I feel sure you have probably already seen this as your question is asking for help with Thomas' birth details to enable you to trace his ancestry. It may though help others trying to assist you.

Browse - Central Criminal Court

There's a Thos Sullivan in 1861 living in Westminster, London. However he is entered as born Ireland but does have the right occupation.
RG9; Piece: 51; Folio: 177; Page: 40;

Thos Sullivan 37, Gunsmith, born Ireland
Catherine Sullivan 32, Derby
Elizabeth Sullivan 7, Birmingham
Emma Sullivan 5, Birmingham
Ellen Sullivan 2, Birmingham

The above Catherine is a widow in 1871, she's with Elizabeth, Emma, Ellen and two other children William 7, and Catherine 5, living in Duddeston Warwickshire.

RG10; Piece: 3148; Folio: 4; Page: 2

But, I then found this death - so probably the 1861 above isn't your chap. Coincidental though that he was born same year and had the same occupation.

Name: Thomas Sullivan
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1823
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1866
Age at Death: 43
Registration district: Aston
Inferred County: Warwickshire
Volume: 6d
Page: 208