Genealogy Chat

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Question - Is this the same Henry Arthur Duffy? 1881 -Henry Arthur Duffy, c1858, Dublin, Ireland is a lodger (with his brother Patrick Augustus Duffy). Henry's occupation is Editor. 1891 I found a Henry A Duffy in London, aged 35 with a wife, Matilda, aged 19 and a son Henry J, 2 months. Occupation Dramatic Author. In 1901 Henry (name mistranscribed as Hersz)is still in London, aged 42 with wife Catherine M, aged 28, an Actress, 2 sons, Henry J,9 and Charles G, 2. Henry is a Journalist Author. Lynne PS: Also, I cannot find a marriage for Henry Arthur Duffy to either Catherine or Matilda (I am sure this is the same person with her name changed around).

I presume a dramatic author wrote plays? Its still in the literary business, so moving from editor is plausible. Is Henry on 1891 and 1901 born in Dublin? Can you find alternative Henry Duffys on other censuses? Where was Catherine/Matilda born? nell

Nell 1891 just says he was born Ireland but 1901 also says Dublin. Can't find any other Henry Arthur Duffy on either census. Catherine/Matilda was born (somewhere I can't read) in Surrey 1891 and Staines, Surrey in 1901. Lynne

Are they in the same place in London 1891/1901? I presume the 2 month old in 1891 is their first child, I would imagine the marriage occurred around 1890. As Catherine Matilda/Matilda Catherine is an actress, perhaps her stage name would be her maiden name. Not sure if there are lists of old actresses anywhere, but it might be another avenue of research. nell

Nell 1891 they are in Dean Street, Parish of St Andrews? Town or Village Holborn. 1901 can't read street, in Hammersmith. FreeBMD has good coverage of marriages around the time before the 1st child was born so maybe they never married. I have checked upto 1901 for the marriage but can't find anything. Lynne

Catherine Matilda can't have been born in 1901 or she wouldn't be giving birth c. 1890! I make her birth year about 1872/3. I've looked on Ancestry civil reg for births for Catherine Matilda in Surrey within 2 years either side of 1872 but can't see one. You could get one of the children's birth certs and get mother's maiden name from that. nell

I've got a Blacksmith who becomes an Engine Driver lol - anything's possible :) It is also possible that they never actually married. They may just be living as man and wife. I have a couple of those too lol

Nell Sorry, I went for lunch! I don't think I said Catherine/Matilda was born in 1901, I meant 1901 census says she was born Staines, Surrey - LOL!! Thanks for your time anyway. Lynne

Tracy I think I'm going to have to come to that conculsion too. Lynne PS: I have an Engine Driver who became a Fireman (or was it vice versa, I get confused sometimes - LOL!)

Lynne a) lunch is for wimps! (my tummy is rumbling as I type!) b) odd that this family don't seem to have had any events in their lives registered! c) don't know if you are aware, but firemen were employed by the railways and many of them became firemen before being engine drivers. nell

Nell Yes, I know I'm a wimp but I'm a big girl who needs feeding up - LOL! I'm not sure what you mean about not having any events registered? I think I may have found Henry Jnr's birth in the March Qtr of 1891 Henry Charles Duffy, St Saviour 1d 92. Could this be right, I've no idea about districts of London as I am up north. This family is really giving me a headache. I had originally hoped that Henry had married the female lodger in the 1881 household but that was not to be. I think I need to leave this one for a while and come back to it later as I don't want to order the birth cert for Henry Jnr unless I am sure it his him. Thanks again for all your help. Lynne