Genealogy Chat

My great-grandfather was a John Royal Clark (optician). That's what it says on his death certificate in 1901, aged 54, and on my grandfather's marriage certificate a few months earlier. His marriage in 1867 gives his name as John Roil Clark, presumably mis-spelt. However, I can't find anyone born with that name. The nearest with the same forenames is a John Royal Dawkins, birth registered in 1845, in Islington where my family lived. However, I can't find any other records for a JR Dawkins. So is it possible that Mr C & Mr D are the same person? Can this be proved/disproved? Despite his occupation and his grand name, my g-g-f was living in a poor part of Islington (Bemerton St) in 1881. Can anyone find him in an earlier census? Can anyone name his parents? Many thanks, Kev

1871 John R Clark abt 1846 Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England Head Islington All Saints London Maryann Clark abt 1847 Falmouth, Cornwall, England Wife Islington All Saints London Emily E Clark abt 1868 Islington, Middlesex, England Daughter Islington All Saints London William J Clark abt 1871 Islington, Middlesex, England Son Islington All Saints London

My first thought was that John was illegitimate, that Royal was his real father's surname and Clark his mother's. But maybe not. If you have found a Dawkins birth but no Dawkins in the census to match, then I'd say its highly likely this might be your chap. You could order the cert and see. Who does John give as his father's name on his marriage cert? nell

Kevin there is this birth in 1867.. Births Jun 1867 Clarke John Royall Basford 7b 93 Are these marriages any connection? Marriages Jun 1841 CLARK John Royall Islington 3 642 Marriages Mar 1887 Clarke John Royal Nottingham 7b 330 Georgina.

This appears to be Dawkins in 1851: 1 Rose Cottage, village of Stroud Vale, Islington: John Dawkins abt 1815 Stableford, Essex, England Head Mary Dawkins abt 1811 Middlesex, England Wife >>> John Dawkins abt 1844 Islington, Middlesex, Son Emma Dawkins abt 1849 Islington, Middlesex, Daughter James Dawkins abt 1851 Islington, Middlesex, Son Thomas Dawkins abt 1836 St Luker Son Thomas Barrons abt 1829 Middlesex, Lodger Thomas Finstrom abt 1831 Croydon, Surrey, Lodger

1851 Address 3 Grace Street, Islington Elizabeth Clark abt 1820 Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, Wife George Clark abt 1850 Islington, Middlesex, Son >>> John Clark abt 1846 Islington, Middlesex, Son Mary Clark abt 1846 Islington, Middlesex, Daughter Elizabeth helpfully has 'husband - copper plate maker' in the occupation column, but there is no sign of husband. Mary and John are both 5, possibly twins. nell

Georgina - John married in 1867 so you haven't got the right person. But I do wonder how people can get the middle name 'Royal' without some royal connection. Helen - I haven't yet ordered Mr C's m/c - hoping to find some family record in the censuses. Tracy - you have the right family - but can you find John in a census before his marriage? Thanks for your replies, Kev

Thanks for your later replies, Helen - it gives me something to work on!

Anyone can choose any name they like for a baby in this country. Similarly, anyone is free to adopt any middle name they like. I could have called my son Royal Evans if I had chosen. It certainly doesn't mean you have blue blood, I'm afraid!!

I typed Royal into the civil reg index first name box and got 1,540 hits for between 1837-1910. Between 1984-2000, 80 children were born with Royal as a first or second Christian name. Royal as first name in census produces: 1851 England Census 61 1851 Wales Census 1 1861 England Census 62 1861 Wales Census 1 1871 Channel Islands Census 1 1871 England Census 85 1881 England Census 85 1891 Channel Islands Census 1 1891 England Census 129 1891 Wales Census 1 1901 England Census 219 1901 Wales Census 3 nell