| Census Year | Copy Found | Certificate Type | Copy Found | Associated Locations | |
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|
No |
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Yes, Pallott's Baptism Index |
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Place of birth (No map yet) |
|
|
No |
|
No |
|
Place of marriage |
|
|
No |
|
No |
|
Residence |
|
|
No | ||||
|
|
No | ||||
|
|
No | ||||
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|
No |
Research Dates
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 |
21 February 2006
John was first found on Pallott's Baptism Index, a copy of which is
reproduced below and as the birth is pre-1837, this is the only record relating
to the birth that is available. A search of the 1851 and 1861 census
records reveal some possibilities for him, but nothing conclusive, and, as the
1841 census is not yet online and has to be searched manually, John has not yet
been located in it. There are three possibilities for his marriage, one of
which will yield a large number of children if it proves to be him.
The entry for this marriage is Q4 1846 Woodbridge v12 p991, where a John Pettitt
is shown marrying an Elizabeth Smith. At first, this find seem to
fit John exactly, but after cross referencing the facts, including
references to their children against the 1861 census it was found that the birth
locations did not match and this cast some doubt on whether the records were a
match. The doubt has been dispelled to some degree however, as the
1851 census shows all persons who would have been alive in that year matching
with the 1861 census, and that John being born in Boyton, which is where he
would have been expected to be born. There is a possibility then
that the wrong place of birth was given for the 1861 census. Until
the facts have been clarified, the census records will not be reproduced.
To clarify the situation, the marriage certificate for the event above has been ordered, together with the second most promising of the three marriage register finds. The critical part of the certificate will be the father's name, and this will decide which marriage certificate is the right one. Hopefully, John's father's name will appear on the certificate where Elizabeth Smith is the bride, and a whole new line of the family will emerge.
An entry has also been found in the Register of Deaths which may relate to this John. It is Q4 1870 Woodbridge 4a 419. The certificate will be obtained at a later date.
8 April 2006
The marriage certificates have arrived, unfortunately neither apply to the
John in question. The 1846 marriage shows John's father as a Robert
Pettitt, not William as hoped for, and the 1843 marriage gives the father's name
as John. The search continues!
 |
| This extract from Pallott's Baptism Index shows John, son of William, mariner, and Lucy, nee Buckman. |
