Genealogy Chat

Hello all,

I really need some advice here please. For 18 months now I have battled, searched and searched again but cannot get past this relly!

James Peace (possible Pease or Pearce or some other variation!!) was born in 1804 in Wortley, Leeds. He died 30 May 1859 and was buried 2 June 1859.

I know about his marriage, his children etc but can't find anymore about his birth - so I can't find any parentage etc to help me go further backwards or understand more about the family.

Am I missing a simple trick somewhere? Or have I had it and need to face my 'dead end' and move on?

Thanks,
andy

Can we take it for granted that you have checked all the likely Parish Records...?

Ian

yep, parish records, thoresby registers, microfiche, IGI etc.

I've been tempted to pay a 'professional' in case they have access to something I don't

Have you considered he may not have been baptised the same year of his birth and/or may have been a non conformist?

Well, there are various avenues I would explore. I would check the Probate Registers for the name Peace or similar, and follow up any likely entries. Have you viewed the marriage entry in the Parish Register? No parents names there?

I would then be looking at the poor law records to see if the family got any relief from the Parish post 1804. Did he work for an employer who may have kept records? Could he have appeared at the quarter sessions as a juvenile? Is it likely that his birth would have been published in a newspaper? Did he do any military service where his next of kin (parents) would have been recorded? Could he have been illegitimate - if so, check the bastardy records (but do them for a few years either side of 1804!)

Could he be mentioned in the non-conformist or catholic registers?

It's a case of just thinking out of the box - there will be a record somewhere - it just takes a bit of detective work to find it. Its all part of the fun :-)

Professionals dont have any special access to anything that you yourself cant get to search or see. They just have a better idea of where to look :-)

Ian

Some great help thanks. I'll look at the Poor Law records and Bastardy Records - real possibilities, thank you Ian.

Thanks Joan, I've been trying for these 18 months to find anyone born about the same time as James who might be a sibling but never found any joy.

Thanks Joan,

I'd give up if this were any other branch in my tree but it's the branch that carries my name back and so I am very keen to complete it as far as is possible!

I'll get there by fluke one day.

Andy

Hi Andy....hope this helps -

1851 census Jame Peace born 1804 at Wortley -
wife Caroline.

IGI record: James Peace married a Caroline Newton
16 Sep 1832 at St Peters church, Leeds.

Free BMD: records show a James Peace death at Wortley, Leeds 9c120 Sep quarter of 1885 - age 80

Thanks Llamedos,

I've got those details, thank you for taking the time to look though. I have just never found more details relating to his birth or parentage in church records etc.

I'm hoping to get along to the records office and check bastardy records etc, but I did wonder what else I might find online to save me a trip.

Andy