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I have a John Frederick Merrick who according to his marriage certificate would have been born abt 1892 - his father was John Merrick a Plate Layer. The father John was deceased at time of marriage cert in 1920 but Frederick was living at 71 Charles St Northampton, Not sure when they first moved there however. I cannot seem to find John and frederick on the 1901 at all. Can anyone help please - alas I am not exactly sure where they were born but my parents seem to think the family has always been from Northamptonshire area. Teresa

What was their mothers name? co-incedentally i still live in Northampton and Charles St Still exists. jess x Are you related to John Merrick, the elephant man? He lived in Northampton and they have his shoe in the museum!

Hi Jess I am only related in a round about way its the ancestors of my fathers half brother. And I knew that name rang a bell when I heard it - the elephant man of course - have no idea if we are related Teresa

Do you have their mothers name jess

No sorry all the info I have is from the marriage certificate - Frederick John Merrick age 28 in 1920 he was a brick builder and his fathers name was John Merrick (deceased in1920) a plate layer They were living at 71 Chalres St Northampton at time of marriage but whether they lived there in 1901 is open to debate. one of the witnesses is Beatrice M Henman but don't know if or how she connects to the family. Teresa

there appear to be quite a lot of Merricks in northampton, and will look more closely for you tommorow, just too tired tonight. don't delete this request unless someone else finds them for you ,will you? Jess

thanks all I usually pride myself on being able to find these badly transcribed people - indeed I have found many a lost soul but my own seem to be eluding me. Vivienne I checked out Frederick Herrick but its not him. One interesting oint is the fathers name on the marriage cert was put as Joseph Merrick then Joseph was crossed out and John put down - don't know if it has any relevance but thought I would mention it anyway teresa

The one thing that is almost certain is that this family were NOT from Northampton. If you look at the 1881 census only a handful of Merricks are living in the county. If John senior was a plate layer, then he may well have had another occupation originally. By its nature, this is the sort of job that might take you round the country. It's not an easy task, but have you worked through the Johns, son of John to get a short list? B

No Mazzy hadn't found the correct birth yet - Freebmd mentions 2 but there is no way of knowing if its the right one - and its actually Frederick John not the other way round. Have run out of credits on 1837 and dare not spend more money as yet - or I will get a ticking off lol I am trying the death bit out now hadn't thought of that Teresa

yes Vivienne he had a father and the father was a farmer pretty sure thats not him Teresa

Here's one possible ... given name of family he's living with and the witness on marriage cert's surname!!! Am suggesting this as a possible mistranscription from original forms by enumerator! Would mean his mother had remarried ... and the stepfather is a Joseph (which may explain confusion in father field on marriage cert). 1901 England Census Viewing records 1-7 of 7 matches Name Age in 1901 Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish County/Island View Image Albert J Henman 7 months Brafield, Northamptonshire, England Son Brafield Northamptonshire Alwyne A Henman 2 Great Houghton, Northamptonshire, England Son Brafield Northamptonshire Gertrude Henman 6 Brafield, Northamptonshire, England Daughter Brafield Northamptonshire Joseph Henman 36 Brafield, Northamptonshire, England Head Brafield Northamptonshire Joseph Henman 5 Rushden, Northamptonshire, England Son Brafield Northamptonshire Mary E Henman 27 Northamptonshire, England Wife Brafield Northamptonshire Frederick J Merritt 8 Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire, England Son-in-law Brafield Northamptonshire Also - there is a birth for Beatrice Maggie Henman in 1903 - so she is likely to have been his half-sister - correct location for this family: HENMAN, Beatrice Maggie Record Type: Births Quarter: March Year: 1903 District: Hardingstone County: Northamptonshire Volume: 3b Page: 24 (click to see others on page) ... and this might be his father's death cert ref - certainly fits other dates: Merrick, John Record Type: Deaths Age at death: 29 Quarter: December Year: 1893 District: Northampton (1837-1924) County: Northamptonshire Volume: 3b Page: 63 (click to see others on page)

peoples you are wonderful - It sure does look very promising - I am quietly confident here. A little worried as to what to do about the surname change but its progress all the same many many thanks Teresa

This looks like original marriage for Mary and John: England and Wales, Civil Registration Index: 1837-1983 Viewing records 1-4 of 4 matches Name Year Quarter Record Type District County Cherry, Mary Elizabeth 1892 September Marriages Northampton (1837-1924) Northamptonshire MERRITT, John 1892 September Marriages Northampton (1837-1924) Northamptonshire John appears as Merritt on 1871 and 1881 census, but Merrick on 1891 .... hmmmmm! Could be taking you up the wrong track BUT it looks as if the surname gets corrupted or changed in 1890s! ... I have variant spellings in my own tree (my grandfather is Ruddlesden on birth, Riddelson on marriage and Riddlesden on death; my mother's cousins - who are siblings - have the surname Bayton and Baiton and each spell it according to their individual birth certificates!) Good luck with future searching! S:>

Thanks Sue I had just found that marriage reference - I am going to get myself in serious trouble now cause I think poss 2 or 3 certs are called for lol You mention you found John on 1891 could you tell me where please I have gone quite boss eyed now lol teresa

Hi This is John on 1891 - living with brother William and family: Merrick, Elizabeth 37 Northampton Wife All Saints Northamptonshire Merrick, Ethel 7 Northampton Daughter All Saints Northamptonshire Merrick, James 9 Northampton Son All Saints Northamptonshire Merrick, John 4 Northampton Son All Saints Northamptonshire Merrick, John 28 Windsor Brother All Saints Northamptonshire Merrick, William 38 London Head All Saints Northamptonshire Same John living with parents and siblings on 1881: 1881 England Census Viewing records 1-6 of 6 matches « Global Search Results Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Relationship Residence View Image Alfred Merritt abt 1866 Chesham Son Northampton St Peter Charlotte Merritt abt 1872 All Sts, Northamptonshire, England Daughter Northampton St Peter Emily Merritt abt 1874 All Sts, Northamptonshire, England Daughter Northampton St Peter John Merritt abt 1864 Windsor Son Northampton St Peter Sarah Merritt abt 1833 London Shoreditch, London, Middlesex, England Wife Northampton St Peter William Merritt abt 1832 London Shoreditch, London, Middlesex, England Head Northampton St Peter Same John with family on 1871: 1871 England Census Viewing records 1-6 of 6 matches « Global Search Results Name Age in 1871 Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish County/Island View Image Alfred Merritt 5 Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England Son All Saints Northamptonshire Henry Merritt 12 Bethnal Green, London, England Son All Saints Northamptonshire John Merritt 8 Windsor, Berkshire, England Son All Saints Northamptonshire Sarah Merritt 39 Shoreditch, London, England Wife All Saints Northamptonshire William Merritt 39 Bethnal Green, London, England Head All Saints Northamptonshire William Merritt 18 Shoreditch, London, England Son All Saints Northamptonshire For info - John's brother William appears on the 1901 census as William Merrick (age 46 yrs) ... so it looks as if they did change the name spelling for some reason in the 1890s!!! Su:>

1901 Albert E Merrick 6 Northamptonshire, England Son Northampton All Saints Northamptonshire Elizabeth M Merrick 46 Northamptonshire, England Wife Northampton All Saints Northamptonshire James Merrick 19 Northamptonshire, England Son Northampton All Saints Northamptonshire John Merrick 14 Northamptonshire, England Son Northampton All Saints Northamptonshire William Merrick 46 London, England Head Northampton All Saints Northamptonshire William Merrick 19 Northamptonshire, England Son Northampton All Saints Northamptonshire Living in Bridge Street Jess x

Hi Jess actually the other family look a bit more likely as his name was frederick John not John frederick and these ones are a little old. My reasons for thinking the other family are correct are as follows 1 - Age fits 2 - his mother marrying a John Merritt before the Joseph and that same John is on 1891 as Merrick 3 - If you look back at Marys family she had a brother Frederick John 4 - also the trade of Frederick he was brought up in a family who were bricklayers and that is what his occupation was on his marriage cert 5 - The witness on the marriage cert Beatrice Henman - almost certainly daughter of Joseph and Mary making her Fredericks half sister. I have to decide how to prove it but I am confident the braefield lot are correct Teresa

Jess has pasted the info for John's brother William from the 1901 .... so these would be the ones I referred to at the bottom of my last message and would be cousins, etc, etc, S:>

excellent. glad you have resolved it,Give me a call if you want photo's of any of the abodes! Jess x