Letter from Marjorie Doughty to Bill & Freda Readman with Family Tree written in 1985

Writing this family history blog has sent me back looking at my family history records, and below is one of them.

So this was one of the trees I was shown at least 10 years before I started my research. I don't think I ever looked up the first baptism as mentioned above, but now I can do that very thing through the miracle of the internet & the Lincstothepast website. Mark Doughty would have sat in St Nicholas Church trying to read the scratchy hand writing of the parish records that we can do ourselves now in the comfort of our homes.

This is the record I have started to look at:

http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplayTranscript.aspx?oid=531572&iid=203851

The first thing you notice is that you can't really read it can you? When you do start to study it closely you will find it's in Latin, and the record starts at Michaelmas in one year and goes to Michaelmas the next year as opposed for 1st January to 31st December as it is now. Michaelmas Day was celebrated on 29th September. In 1584 they were following the Julian Calendar, whereas we now use the Gregorian Calendar. the switchover came in 1752, introduced by Pope Gregory. The day after Michaelmas day farm labourers would go to the nearest market town with their tools and seek work for the next 12 months. That's why many of our relatives seem to move around so much, as many of them were agricultural labourers and had to go where they were hired to do so. I have had to give up looking at that record above-I couldn't see John Doughty, I could see a William Doughty in the previous year. I suppose Mark would have started with several generations forward from this record, otherwise how would he have known where to go back to?

I think he would have started with generation 7, Richard Doughty & Elizabeth Holt, Richard baptised in Ulceby, 1781.  This is that record:-

http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplayTranscript.aspx?oid=783247&iid=203598

Ulceby (Grimsby) Parish Records - Baptisms & Burials (1781-1783)

Baptisms 1781: 2nd Decem: Richard, son of Wm and Elizabeth Duty.

Now if you were starting you research here, would you ignore that record? Well I would have done, I was looking for Doughty records, not Duty ones.  Now though after 20 years after starting my research, and having transcribed hundreds of documents from the originals to excel spreadsheets for the Lincolnshire Family History Society, I know what records to look for. Back in 1781, not many people knew how to spell their names, they spelt them phonetically I suppose, with a Lincolnshire Accent and the poor old clerk or curate, speaking Oxford English had to somehow make head and tail of it, so they wrote Duty, just wonder how they pronounced it. When I first started looking at the records prior to 1837 at the Archives in Lincoln, I was appalled by what I saw-I just couldn't read the writing at all and those old microfilm readers were hard work. Nowadays with transcriptions all over the place it's so much easier, but are those transcriptions correct? How do you know if you just accept them. If you were to look up on family Search for Richard Doughty baptised 1781 in Ulceby would you find the above record? No! Put in Duty instead, now what do you get? Yes there's the result you want, but okay fine if you know it already. 

So now I am looking for a marriage between a William & Elizabeth Duty, prior to 1781, and if base on the information above, then it must be around 3 years earlier. Well I looked at Lincstothepast and the record isn't there, so it must be at the Archives, or available at one of the Mormon study places, or maybe the Lincolnshire Family History Society has a useful publication, transcribed by volunteers like me, who are sent microfiche copies from the Archives, which I read on a Microfiche reader and then put the result on an excel spreadsheet, which is checked by others. Well I didn't find it in 1779 like it says above, I found it in 1777, William Duty to Elizabeth Summercoates, at South Ferriby, on 15 January 1777. 

So enough for now I think, but more to go on now.At least I had something to work on, imagine if I hadn't?

Introducing the Doughty Family

My mother was Freda Doughty, born in 1914 & died in 1995. It was her death that prompted me to start researching my family history, not the best time to do start you might think, but you see on my mother's side we were very fortunate in having a relation who had spent many years researching his family tree. In fact I have letters from Mark Doughty who lives in Canada that he sent to my mother, my aunt Marjorie whom we all knew as Wib, my aunt Enid; Mark had been researching thanks to the help of one of his aunts. I remember these trees being produced, quite amazing to see the name Doughty going back into the late 16th Century. Mark later told me that he came to England, and went to Ulceby near Grimsby, and was left alone with the parish record books whilst he searched them all for the Doughty family names, something that would never happen now. Mark's research was in the very early days of a sort of computer, but more type writer & letter writing, no E-mails, electronic resources, and loads of family letters. Mark was born in 1921, in Kingston-upon-Hull, or Hull as it is more usually known. In 1963, he and his wife and family emigrated to Canada on board Empress of England to Montreal, where he took the post as Professor of Chemistry at Loyola College, (later Concordia University). He had been a bomber pilot in World War 2. Currently he still lives in Montreal. So when I started my own research, I contacted Mark, who readily passed to me all his information on the Doughty side of the family. I have been able to increase the Doughty knowledge quite a bit particularly in Canada & the United States. I have also found another related Doughty family here in England.Our oldest surviving Doughty is our Uncle George who lives in the Adelaide, South Australia which is quite a centre for Doughty relatives. George Harry born 1920, was named after his uncle George Harry who was killed in World War1. One of the stories told me by Mark was that a nephew of his called Richard Doughty, now the Director of the Cutty Sark Trust, having qualified, took up a post with the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Museum, which had then only just been opened. On looking around Grimsby he found that at the museum itself was the Doughty Collection, including models of ships, trawlers, various types of crockery etc. Then near the Town Hall there was a road called Doughty Road, and nearby a plaque describing its opening by Sir George Doughty, newspaper owner, trawler owner and local Member of Parliament where he was the minister for Fishing. There was a big house in Waltham, Lincolnshire called Waltham Hall, the home  of this Sir George Doughty. Richard asked his father Gregory, was he by chance related to this man, and was told, Yes he was, but that George came from the other side of the family, but they were all related to another Richard Doughty born 1781 in Ulceby, Lincolnshire who married an Elizabeth Holt, and they both came to live in the village of Broughton, by Brigg, Lincolnshire, where, he Richard was a woodsman in the woods belonging to the Earl of Yarborough of Brocklesby Hall. Richard & Elizabeth had 15 children, and Richard of the Grimsby Museum was descended from their ninth child called Richard, born 1818,where as Sir George was descended from their first child John 1802. So in the period between 1890 and 1920, the Doughty family was very well-known in Grimsby-the local newspaper was owned by them, Sir George used the newspaper to promote his ideas and successes, mind you after his death in 1913, when his widow was cited in a divorce case, the rival newspaper in Hull reported the matter, but not Sir George's paper then run by his son Wilfred.

So when my mother, Freda Doughty married my father, Bill Readman, in 1941, his mother Florence, my grandmother, could finally say she had made it in Grimsby society! The same newspaper reported all the marriages, funerals etc in great detail, which is a real bonus for the family history researcher. One of the marriages, my grandfather, Stan Doughty, who married in Grimsby in 1906, the newspaper reported all the wedding presents and the name of the guest who had presented it!

So I hope you will enjoy as I take you on the Doughty journey, which starts in 1584 and is still going!

Just to bring this piece of the Blog up to date now in May 2017; Mark Doughty & George Doughty in this extract are both deceased. Mark died in 2016, George as well.

Another John Readman, plumber & joiner, my great, great, great grandfather!

The one thing I have found when researching family history is that the further I go back the less there is to find out about someone. True there are baptism/christening records, a marriage,maybe two, certainly a burial, and between various children, and occupation, but precious little else, unless the person is wealthy & famous. This what I thought when I first started looking at John Readman, father of Thomas Tatterson Readman, not Featherstone as I discovered in the last blog. He was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire in 1798, his baptism/christening was at St Mary's Church, Scarborough, on 16 September 1798, son of William & Mary Readman. Then there is a big gap until he marries Hannah Hudson on 20th June 1818 at St Mary's Church, Scarborough. John's father was a William Readman, and his mother was Mary Tatterson. William married Mary Tatterson at Cloughton Parish Church, just north of Scarborough on 31st December 1789.

In fact yesterday I confirmed that marriage of William Readman & Mary Tatterson:

I have the entry in the Cloughton Chapelry Marriage 1754-1812 fiche as:-
31 December 1789 William READMAN labourer and bachelor of the parish of Scalby to Mary TATTTERSON spinster of the parish of Scalby, by banns, witnesses John OUTHET and Henry BAINES (who seems to witness a fair few marriages), ceremony performed by Thomas Preston, vicar.

So this is the lady, from whom Thomas receives his second forename, which showed me that I was on the right track. Back in 2000, having found this result I then went searching for William's forbears, and found that the only William Readman unmarried in 1789, was a William Readman born in Egton, North Yorkshire, the son of John Readman & Sarah Dowson. John & Sarah had a farm between Goathland & Egton Bridge, seen on the map as Dowson's Garth.  Anyway I will deal with that family in another post, but let's get back to John, the plumber in 1818 & joiner when his eldest son Thomas Tatterson marries Elizabeth Dufton in Selby Yorkshire, in 1845.

John & Hannah between them had 8 children, Thomas, 1818, Scarborough, Elizabeth, 1820, Scarborough, William & John, 1822, Hunslet, Robert, 1830 died 1831 in Hunslet, Mary, 1831, Hunslet, Lydia, 1835, died 1837, in Hunslet, & Jane, 1837, Hunslet, died 1900 in Hull.

 On 6th June, 1841, the first census of any worth, John & his family are living in Hunslet, a parish close to Leeds, Yorkshire, about 60 miles inland from Scarborough. Reference: HO107/1345/6

John and his wife Hannah are living in Pottery Field, Hunslet, with their family. The entry reads:-

John Redman, 40 yrs, Joiner, J, (journeyman), born in Yorkshire

Hannah Redman, 40 years, born Yorkshire

Elizth Redman, 15 yrs, born Yorkshire,

John Redman, 15yrs, Fireman, born Yorkshire,

Willm, 15 yrs, born Yorkshire,

Mary, 10 yrs, born Yorkshire,

Jane, 3 yrs, born Yorkshire.

So on first glance, it would appear that 3 children are 15 years of age, so maybe triplets, whilst Mary is 10 & Jane is 3. But in fact the 1841 census the ages were rounded either up or down, they were never exact, the place of birth was not recorded, and neither were the relationships. Missing from the list is Thomas Tatterson Redman, but we know he was most likely in Selby at this time living in a railway house somewhere. A map of that area (published 1847), shows that Pottery Field was in the vicinity of the North Midland Railway Terminus

In fact John Redman, shown in the census of 1841 to be 15 years, was in fact, 19 years, a "steady lad"!

This article from the Leeds Mercury describes his occupation, age, and company he was employed by & sadly how he died:

The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Saturday, September 11, 1841; Issue 5623

RAILWAY ACCIDENT:- On Saturday evening, an inquest was held at the Court House, before John Blackburn, Esq., on the body of John Redman, a stoker, employed on the York and North Midland Railway. The deceased was the “Fire Fly” engine, and on Friday morning at five o’clock, left Leeds for York with a load of goods; the engine returned with another train to Leeds, at which place it arrived a little before ten o’clock. It appeared from the evidence of an old man who saw the train passing, that previous to entering under the fifth bridge from Leeds, the deceased climbed from the tender to the top of the first wagon, on which he was standing upright, when his head came into forcible contact with the bridge. On being removed to the Infirmary, his skull was found not to have been fractured, but compression of the brain had produced a stupefaction which ended in death in a very short time. The evidence of Mr. Allison, house surgeon to the Infirmary, went to show that the injuries thus described were sufficient to have produced the appearances exhibited by the deceased when brought to the Infirmary. Verdict;-“Accidentally killed”. The deceased was  19 years of age, and a very steady young man.

So if John was 19years on  Friday 10th September, 1841, he was born about 1822. Unfortunately I have been unable so far to find his baptism/christening. 

His sister, Elizabeth, shown in the census as also  being 15 years of age, was in fact a little older than this. Elizabeth Redman married John Bowser on April 9, 1842, at Leeds Parish Church. The marriage record, shown below, says that whilst John Bowser was of full age, so 21 or over, his bride was a minor, so under 21. 

Number 132: John Bowser, of full age, Bachelor, Plumber/glazier, of Cannon Street, son of William Bowser, a butcher, & Elizabeth Redman, minor, spinster, Hunslet, daughter of John Redman, joiner.

John Bowser signed the register, whilst Elizabeth made her mark. Ann Bowser, was a witness. 

So Elizabeth must have been born around 1822/23, and in subsequent census she states she was born in Scarborough. Mind you her younger brother William, Readman was born around 1822 or 1826, he never seems to know how old he was, but when he died in 1904, he said he was 82, so born in 1822! He says he was born in Leeds, so his baptism will confirm his birthday. In 1841, the family are in Pottery Field, Hunslet and William is 15 in  making him born around 1826, but we know that has been rounded up/down.  I found that William Readman was living in Hunslet in the 1851 census. He is at the the house, aged 26 years,  with his two sisters, Jane aged 14, born Hunslet, and Mary aged 19, born Hunslet. This would mean he was born around 1825. It seems that William stayed in Hunslet with his unmarried sisters Mary and Jane, and his married sister Elizabeth, and his brother-in-law, John Bowser who owned 14, Manby Court, who is listed as a voter in the 1851 burgess rolls.

 No. 148 14 Manby Court, Hunslet St. Judes, John Bowser: Head;Married, 31, Plumber/Glazier, Hull

                                                                         Elizabeth Bowser, Wife, Married, Scarboro, Yorks.

                                                                         Thomas Frederick Bowser, son, 4, Hunslet, Yorks

                                                                         Jane Marie, Daughter, 2, Hunslet, Yorks

                                                                        William Readman, Brother, 26, Engine Driver, Hunslet, Yks

                                                                        Mary Readman, Sister, 19, Hunslet, Yorks

                                                                        Jane Readman, Sister, 14, Hunslet, Yorks 

In fact, the house that this John Bowser owned, was sold in 1853:

Lot 1: IN POTTERY FIELD, HUNSLET. ALL those FOURTEEN several COTTAGES or dwelling houses, adjoining Ivory street, and known by the name of Manby’s court, and now or late in occupations of George Dixon, William Simpson, George Leatherick, John BOWSER, David Hepworth and others. And also all that plot of valuable BUILDING GROUND,, at the corner of, and fronting into, Ivory Street, near to Messrs. Cooper, Field, and Hood’s foundry, and well adapted for the erection of a public house, workshops, or other lucrative concerns.

Leeds Mercury Saturday July 9^th, 1853

All this means is that John Readman, father of all these children isn't living in Hunslet in 1851, but is in Hull then. So, what was his occupation in Hunslet, when did he arrive there from Scarborough, where did he live, where did he work? 

 The census, does not say for whom John senior was working for, but from a chance record in a local newspaper of July, 1838, we know that John was in fact employed as a joiner on the new railway between Leeds and Selby, which had been opened amidst a blaze of publicity on 24^th September, 1834. On the week, 21^st July, 1838, a Mr. VINT, sued the Leeds & Selby Railway Company for damages accrued when he was injured during a derailment on the railway line at Garforth, when the train in which he was being carried, came off the line, and several coaches over-turned. The incident, on 6^th September, 1836, was so minor that the local paper, the Leeds Mercury did not report it, but another paper, the Blackburn Standard did:  

The Blackburn Standard (Blackburn, England), Wednesday, September 21, 1836; pg. 2; Issue 88. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II. 

“One of the carriages on train between Leeds and Selby got off and was thrown over by which a gentleman named Vint had his leg broken and some others received some severe bruises”

The case attracted some attention because of the ruling made at the end of the case by the judge. VINT, who had been carried in a coach, which did not turn over, broke his leg when he left the train after the accident. 

The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Saturday, July 21, 1838; Issue 5454.

 

John Redman, not Readman, but then in the 1841 census, John Readman’s surname is spelt as Redman, so I think that the newspaper reported just spelt it wrong again.The Jury found for the plaintiff and the railway company was fined £400.

So with Elizabeth Readman saying she was born Scarborough, and we know Thomas was, it looks like John & Hannah moved to Leeds between 1820 & 1823. I haven't found the baptisms of Elizabeth, John or William Readman, maybe they were all baptised in Leeds and not in Scarborough, although we know Elizabeth was definitely born there.  

As for the railway, well when it opened in 1834, it had a passenger & goods yard in Marsh Lane, Leeds. However by 1841 passengers were leaving Leeds to York and beyond from a station in Hunslet, close to where the Readman family were living. The station can be seen on the map above. Railway mania then set in with loads of companies being formed and railways being built at a remarkable speed. It looks John, who had been employed by the Leeds & Selby in 1838, which was taken over by the York & North Midland, which soon owned the Hull & Selby, which opened in 1836. By 1851, John aged 49, and Hannah, aged 50 reside in Railway Depot,  Hull, in the parish of Holy Trinity, according to the census of that year. Staying with them on census day are John & William Bowser, aged 9 and 6 respectively, their grandsons. John is employed as a joiner.

I have included this map so you can see the proximity of Leeds and Hull. 

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT

The Hull Packet and East Riding Times (Hull, England), Friday, August 26, 1853; Issue 3582.

On 22nd August 1853, an accident occurred on the railway line between Hull and  Bridlington, about one and half miles from Cottingham village and station. One third class carriage was completely shattered, and was found lying on top of a second class carriage. Only one woman died in the accident a Miss Margaret Ake, daughter of Mr. Ake of Sykes Street, Hull, aged 25. Her father was a joiner, and identified her. She died when her skull was fractured. One of the tyres on the third class carriage, which was welded to the wheel was found to have shattered and the inquest held at Cottingham Station on the Tuesday afternoon, and later the Wednesday morning brought together many employees of the railway company, engineers, managers and some of the station staff.

John Readman, a porter, was next called but did not know anything of this particular carriage. He however described the process of testing every wheel of every carriage every time it arrived at Hull by sounding it with a hammer. As soon as any fault is discovered the carriage is ordered out and is immediately attended to and not suffered to travel again until it is repaired. William Bailey, another porter deposed that he tested the wheels of all of the carriages that morning before it left Hull to go to Scarborough. James Fenton, engineer in chief of the Low Moor Iron works gave some expert evidence concerning the construction of wheels and tires. Mr. E Wilson, locomotive superintendent for the York District gave evidence "The duty of Readman, Bailey and others is to examine the wheels and test them with a hammer: there is such a person at Scarborough" he confirmed that the railway was made in 1847, and that the carriage itself was made in that year. The jury found that the death was caused by the overturning of the railway carriage caused by the fracture of the wheel on the carriage.

The COTTINGHAM RAILWAY ACCIDENT

The Morning Chronicle (London, England), Friday, September 16, 1853; Issue 27061.

Following the above accident, when Margaret Ake died, another person died, namely a Mrs. Mary Sellars, and John Readman was again called to give evidence at the inquest held at Cottingham railway station on Wednesday September, 14th, 1853. John Readman said that in addition to the evidence he gave at the former inquest that they generally examined the ironwork of the carriage as well as well as the upper portion. Wheels had a variety of "ring" according to as the tire was tight or slack. If the broken part was on the line then it would not be easily discovered. If the tire was broken entirely through he could discover it by the ringing. The wheels of different makers had different sounds. Persons accustomed to it could tell whether it was put into a cast iron or wrought iron shell. William Bailey stated that he had detected one or two bad wheels. They had loose tires but were not broken. Whenever he found a bad wheel he always mentioned it to either Readman or Mr. Rutter.

In 1861, John is still employed as a labourer on the railway, still hanging on in his house, now given the address as the Coal Yard, Myton. According to the 1861 census, John & Hannah Readman born Scarborough, aged 61 & 62 Respectively live at Coal Yard, Myton. They have 2 children with them, Mary aged 24 & Jane aged 21 both born Leeds. The children are both servants and John works on the railway. The Bowser’s are also at this house in Coal Yard. It would appear that Coal Yard and Railway Depot are same area, both close to Collier Street.

Hannah Readman, John's wife died 16 October 1865 at Walker St, Hull, she was buried 18th October at Western Old Grounds Cemetery, Hull. John followed on 28 June 1873, in the same house.

Above is a form I obtained from Hull Bereavement Services as regards John & Hannah. The grave of John, Hannah and Mary Elizabeth(grand daughter) is situated in Spring Bank West, Hull, in the old Cemetery Grounds. These are very overgrown, and the and the grave sites almost obliterated. From the map in the Burial Grounds Service in Chanterlands Avenue, the area 44, is not visible but believed to be close to the junction of Spring bank West & Princes Avenue. I searched in the area but could not find the grave.

In the burial records at Hull, Chanterlands Avenue, John & Hannah are in that part of the cemetery reserved for Dissenters, which I believe must point to them being Methodist as opposed to church of England.

The grand daughter, was Mary Elizabeth Dillons Readman born to their daughter Mary on 5 September 1863, father not named. She lived with John & Hannah & mother Mary up to 1865, then with John to 1871, when she died 24 November 1871 of smallpox, which despite vaccination was still quite prevalent in Hull at that time.

So ended John & Hannah Readman, g, g, g, grandfather & grand mother.

Thomas, the Pioneer Engine Driver

I started off this quest searching for the engine driver who drove the first train into Grimsby. Little did I know how long this would take me to find him, if I ever will that is. The family tradition was that his name was John and he did everything in order to get the railway line to Grimsby so that he could drive the train! I now know that is sadly not true. So what do we know about this man? Well now I think I know what he looks like. Thanks to a relative called Samuel Thomas Readman, Thomas's grandson, who was quite an amateur sleuth in the Family History world, I have a photograph of a man that could be Thomas Tatterson Readman, taken just before the wedding of his first born son, John to Sarah Mayor, the daughter of a former H.M. Customs officer, the principal officer on Grimsby Docks. So this is Thomas Readman in full uniform, taken by a photographer in Southwold, Suffolk. He doesn't look all that happy does he, but then he would have had to hold that pose for quite sometime so that the photograph could be taken. In our digital days, we forget at times how long it would have taken for the photograph to be taken in 1869.

I first found Thomas when I looked on the 1871 Census for Grimsby in Grimsby Central Library; I was able to take a photocopy of this record, and take it home with me. 

The Census of 1871 in England & Wales was taken on the 2nd April, 1871, and it shows Thomas & his family living in Grimsby, Lincolnshire on that date. The family live at 26, Railway Street, which as the name suggests is right next door to the railway line running from Grimsby Town Station through Grimsby Docks Station to the Grimsby Docks. The details are below:-

Thomas, aged  52, head of the family, married, born Scarboro', Yorkshire. 

Elizabeth, aged 46, wife, married, born Selby, Yorkshire.

Joseph, aged 21, son, Railway Goods Clerk, born Selby, Yorkshire.

William, aged 17, son, Blacksmith, born New Holland, Lincolnshire.

Arthur, aged 9, son, Scholar, born New Holland, Lincolnshire. 

This was the first sighting I had of my Great, Great Grandfather, Thomas Readman, a railway engine driver, born around 1819, in Scarborough, Yorkshire, Scarboro', being the common way of shortening that name. Scarborough I knew to be a seaside town on the North Sea Coast, quite some way from Grimsby where Thomas was living in 1871. He had wife called Elizabeth, born in Selby, about 1825, and three sons, one born in Selby & the others in New Holland, Lincolnshire. I had been to New Holland before, it was the place where we used to catch a ferry to go to Hull over the Humber Estuary. I knew that there was long pier there, with a railway line on it that went from Grimsby, so was this link I was looking for. I knew that the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway Company had built a railway line from Sheffield to Grimsby, with a branch line to New Holland. The Railway Company saw Grimsby as a way of them making money; there was an old dock there, so if they could develop this dock, there would be a connection with the continent of Europe. A link also to Hull could be got through a pier at New Holland, so maybe this was why Thomas was in New Holland at some time;he had to be there, as two of his sons were born there, William in 1854, Arthur in 1862. So the search was on, when did Thomas go to New Holland, why and where did he live. If he was born in Scarborough, when exactly, and where, and then, who was this Elizabeth, born in Selby, and who were these other children; all I knew then that my great grandfather was called Arthur, but had no idea of anyone else. Okay it wasn't long until I realised that Thomas & Elizabeth had had another son called John, born in Selby, before Joseph, but so much was there to learn. Family History fever was taking hold. So back to the census reels, the microfilm reader, find the film, thread it through the slots and wind it on, then search. 

Ten years earlier, on 7th April, 1861, the Readman family were in New Holland, at 34, Railway Square, though I doubt that the houses would have been numbered then. Railway Street & Railway Square, perhaps Thomas lived in a house rented to him from the railway company. 

Thomas Redman, aged 42, Head, married, Railway Engine Driver, born Scarborough, Yorkshire.

Elizabeth Redman, aged 36, wife, married, born Selby, Yorkshire

Joseph, aged 12, son, scholar, born Selby, Yorkshire

William, aged 7, son, scholar, born New Holland, Lincolnshire.

John Dufton, aged 7, visitor, born, Knaresborough, Yorkshire?

At first I wondered if this was the same family, not the same spelling of the surname, but then in 1861, what sort of education was there, and would Thomas  know how to spell his name or were they spelt phonetically? It looked very much like the same family though, same names and it fitted with the census of 1871. Then who was this young 7 year old called John Dufton, born in Knaresborough, just visiting at the house on Census day, 1861.Was he a relative of some sort, or just a playmate of William from a nearby house?  So now to find the census of 10 years earlier, were they still in New Holland then, and if not, maybe the birth records of the children was a clue. 

So on 30th March, 1851, the Readman family were in Ousegate, Selby; Ousegate, that means Ouse Street, so next to or close by the River Ouse, a tidal river, that flows into the Humber Estuary. It's not a gate, that's the Viking name for street, and Yorkshire was settled by the Viking people who came to pillage and rape in the 8th Century or so, but later settled in that part of the world. I knew that York, just a few miles north of Selby, further up the River Ouse was the Viking capital of their kingdom at one time. 

So at entry 104, not the house name at all were the following:-

Thomas Redman, Head, married aged 31, Engine Driver, born Scarborough, Yorkshire

Elizabeth Redman, wife, married, aged 27, born Selby, Yorkshire

John Redman, son, aged 4, born Selby, Yorkshire

Joseph Redman, son, aged 1, born Selby, Yorkshire.

So at last this was the proof, the John Readman I had found much earlier living in 39,  Freeman Street, Grimsby,  as the owner of a music shop, was connected to this family of Readmans living in Selby in 1851. Thomas was an engine driver in 1851, now that was interesting, what sort of engine would he have been driving, and from where and where to? Were there any railways in Selby in 1851, if so what was the name of the Railway Company? Could he be the driver who had driven into Grimsby  for the very first time in 1848? So many more questions, so much to discover, better concentrate on one relation at a time! 

Somebody told me about the IGI, or to International Genealogical Index, now called https://familysearch.org/ . But this was in 1996, but I think I did look up the baptism of Thomas Readman in this website, though it wasn't called that above and the website layout was very different. It's very much easier to have a search on this index, rather than going to Scarborough itself to look it up there, or even to the North Yorkshire Parish Records office which was in Beverley, Yorkshire. However someone had told me that's its best to use the index as a guide, and look up the real thing for yourself. The index has been transcribed by a Mormon member at a record office, and like most of us, mistakes can happen in transcription, so better I make it rather than the Mormon, then I know if the record is correct. In 1819, the Church held the records of births, marriage and burial, state registration hadn't been invented. The Church had been doing this since Henry VIII made himself head of this Church of England in 1534. They continue to do so now, but state registration came along in 1837, but not everyone complied as there was no fine if you didn't bother. So in these records I found a Thomas Featherstone Readman baptised at St Mary's Scarborough on 20th December 1818, son of John Readman and Hannah. So now I had the parents of Thomas Readman, and his full name, Featherston, that's a name and a half, had there been another Featherston in the family. I knew that my father was called William Sneath Readman, named after his mother's maiden name of Sneath, so wondered  if this naming process was part of the same pattern. Also the name John, as being Thomas's father fitted, John being the name of Thomas's first born son, but who was Hannah Readman, and where did she fit in?

 On the 15th May 2007, we were staying in Scarborough for a week's holiday, watching cricket at Scarborough Cricket Ground;  Yorkshire were playing a four day game. We rented an apartment overlooking North Bay, a bit old fashioned, but a lovely view in the morning, and close to the cricket ground as well. I went to Scarborough Public Library and found that they had a good local history section, so  spent the day looking at the records. I found some Scarborough St Mary Baptisms on page 149, for 1818. 

20 December 1818, Thomas Featherstone, son of John & Hannah Readman, of Scarborough, father's occupation, plumber.That's what you don't get on the IGI, the occupation of the father.There were no other baptisms for the same couple there at all, and I looked in 1819-1824. On September 18, 1798, there was a baptism for a John  Readman, son of William & Mary Readman, and in the same year, a baptism of a Hannah Hudson, daughter of Robert & Elizabeth Hudson. Hang on I am going a bit fast, I also found a marriage between a John Readman & Hannah Hudson on 20 June, 1818 at St Mary's Scarborough, so if that's the parents of Thomas, then she was pregnant when they married. The other way to confirm the name of Thomas's father, occupation and address, was to obtain Thomas's marriage Record, that way also I would learn her maiden name, so another family to explore. In those early days it was a matter of using the fiche records at the public library of the GRO (General Record Office). Quite a performance matching up the records between bride and groom, so much easier now with Free BMD and Ancestry. I sent for the record, and this was what I got:-

On February 15th, 1846 Thomas Redman, of full age, bachelor, Engine Driver, of Selby, son of John Redman, Joiner married  Elizabeth Dufton, of full age, spinster, of Selby, at Selby Parish Church. The certificate spells the surname as Redman. Both candidates sign the certificate as their marks. I sent for this record on 5th January 2001. This record doesn't say where John Readman was living then, but does say he was a joiner, not a plumber.Elizabeth's maiden name was Dufton, but it doesn't name her father, so was he deceased at the time? The surname Dufton rang a bell, wasn't that the name of the 7 year old with Thomas & family in New Holland in 1861. So where had Thomas been between 1818 in Scarborough and 1846 in Selby? When and where did he become an engine driver, and  how had he met Elizabeth Dufton? I hoped the 1841 Census would assist me, but try as I might I have yet to find him on that census.Maybe if I researched Elizabeth Dufton I would find out about the 7 year old. 

So what else do we know about Thomas? Well we know he and his wife Elizabeth had 6 children, John (1847), Joseph (1850), William (1853), Peter (1856), died 1857, Hannah Elizabeth,  (1858),died 1859  and Arthur, (1861). I have been trying for ages to find which railway company he worked for, the problem being many of the smaller railway companies were swallowed up by the larger ones and the employment records haven't survived. I went to the National Archives in Kew, London armed with a small book I had bought at York Family History Fair. The book is called "Was you grandfather a railwayman"? by Tom Richards, published by Tom Richards & Federation of Family History Societies, latest edition published 1997. Many of the larger railway ledgers of the Archives are huge hard backed books, smelling of soot! I didn't find anything conclusive so need to go again and have another look. 

In November 2004, we moved from Cleethorpes to Leeds, and round about that time, I discovered that Thomas and his siblings had also lived in Leeds at one time. All of us will know that searching census entries can be very difficult; trying to second guess how the transcribers have transcribed the enumerators writing is quite daunting. The surname Readman doesn't help either, often it's Bedman, Redman, all sorts, and Thomas is often Thos! All this was before I had an account with Ancestry, I was searching the records  in Grimsby Library, and also getting help from a friend in Grimsby who had an Ancestry Worldwide Account. When we moved to Leeds, I went to the Reference Library there, they had a huge local history section, so I started there looking for Readman/Redmans in the census. Doing this blog has taken me back to looking in all my old notebooks. But on Ancestry when I bought an account at last!

 1345/6 Hunslet HO/107/1345/6/16/24

Pottery Field

John Redman, 40 , Joiner, Born Yorkshire

Hannah Redman, 40, Born Yorkshire

Elizabeth Redman, 15, Born Yorkshire

John Redman, 15, Fireman, Born Yorkshire

William, 15, Born Yorkshire

Mary, 10, Born Yorkshire

Jane, 3, Born Yorkshire

But still no Thomas! Often I have found that you can find a relation if you search outside the box, as it were, search for siblings etc; that's how I found more about Thomas & his family through a holiday in New Zealand!

One of Thomas's children was William, born in New Holland. He went on to become company secretary of the Grimsby Ice Company, his daughter, Edith married a refrigeration engineer called George William Clayton. Edith & George & son Ralph emigrated to New Zealand, North Island, where George became manager of a Refrigeration plant in Waitara. I managed to discover that Ralph grew up in New Zealand, worked as  a newspaper reporter, and married in Christchurch. He and his new bride, came to England on holiday. Ralph had  been in contact with an Austin Readman relation in Sheffield, to find out more about his family background, and they met up with Austin. Through the magic of the internet I was able to discover the wherabouts of Ralph's bride, and we met her in Christchurch in 2006. So as well as having a holiday in New Zealand I visited the grave of Edith Clayton, nee Readman, and  met up with a lady who knew more about a Readman family in Sheffield than I did. Then tracing back with this Sheffield Readman family I discovered that they were all descendants of a William Readman, an engine driver.Could he be related to Thomas?

Okay a bit more about Thomas, a little intriguing though! Back in the year 2000, I had sent for the death record of Thomas. I rarely sent for certificates, they were and are still expensive, but still do prove things by document, the best proof, rather than just story & word of mouth. I was amazed when I received his death record:-

Registration District: Caistor, that's some 12 miles east of Grimsby. 

301: Fourth July 1879, at 44, Garibaldi Street, Grimsby, Thomas TATTERSON Readman, male, 60 years, Engine Driver, Mistral Disease, Certified by G S Stephenson, MB, X the mark of John Readman, son of the deceased, at 44, Garibaldi St, Death registered, Fifth July, 1879.

So not Thomas Feathstone Readman, but Thomas TATTERSON Readman. Had the minister christening Thomas misheard is parents, had the clerk mixed up the name, or had Thomas changed it at sometime? Bearing in mind the previous rules, was there a TATTERSON name  in the family beforehand, I couldn't find a Featherstone? 

Was he the driver of that first train into Grimsby? Well the opening of the line from New Holland to Grimsby & then to Louth took place on February 28th, 1848. It was quite a day, because firstly, the carriages had to be brought from Hull, over the Humber estuary to the wooden pier, which was 500 feet long and 30 feet wide. On the opening day, there was no railway track on the pier, so the carriages were unloaded and set down onto the line. Meanwhile, the directors of the railway company and their guests crossed the same river in a new steam boat the "Prince of Wales", and then dined at the new railway hotel called the Yarborough Arms. Lord Yarborough had a country seat at Brocklesby, and his own railway station. He was the major landowner in the area, and a supporter of the line. The carriages had been improved so that there were springs, "to increase considerably the ease and comfort of the passengers". The train and its carriages moved on to Grimsby, via Goxhill, Ulceby, Habrough, Stallingborough, Great Coates & Great Grimsby (16 and half miles). At Grimsby the whole party went to view the new docks which will when fully opened be large enough to accommodate 1200 vessels. Then the party left from Grimsby to Louth, where they admired the church and town. Then they returned to Grimsby, taking 16 minutes to do the 14 mile trip, the locomotive was "Phlegon", one the Company's most powerful engines. The reporters were then allowed to inspect the engine & carriages, consisting of three first class and four second class carriages. The train and its passengers then returned to New Holland for an excellent dinner at the Yarborough Arms, followed by a return trip on the "Prince of Wales" back to Hull over the Humber. The following day the line was opened to the public. (See The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent (Sheffield, England), Saturday, March 04, 1848; pg. 2; Issue 1464)

We know for sure that in 1848, Thomas was not living in New Holland, but was still in Selby, for his sons John & Joseph were born in that town. It's more likely that a driver from New Holland took the train to Grimsby & Louth, as opposed to a stranger from Selby, who would have had to either drive a train from Selby to Hull on the newly opened Hull & Selby railway, or travel to New Holland by ferry boat from Hull before the party of guests did.  It's also likely that in 1848, Thomas was employed by either the York and North Midland Railway company who in 1840 leased the Leeds & Selby railway which had opened in a blaze of glory on September 7, 1834. I think it most likely that Thomas either acted as fireman/driver on one of these engines, as the family were living in Leeds in 1824. Firemen received about 15 shillings a week, and drivers, 32 shillings. However this company started to lose money in 1840, so the York & North Midland took it  over, and in 1845, the Hull & Selby Railway Company  opened their line to Hull from Selby, so that there was then a through train from Leeds to Hull. Elizabeth Dufton, was born in Selby, and Thomas married  her in 1846, she was living there, so it's more than likely that was how she and Thomas met. He was living in Selby and working from the railway base there as  seen above.Thomas would have had to live in his railway company rented house in Ousegate, and was employed by that company, not the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway & East Lincolnshire railway that jointly operated the line from Louth to New Holland via Grimsby. The M, S & L Railway had its houses in New Holland where we saw Thomas in 1861, so some time between 1850 & 1853, he changes companies, so more than likely operated engines on that line from New Holland to Grimsby, just wasn't the first one to do so. For a picture of the line and New Holland station see this website: http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/n/new_holland_town/index.shtml  & http://gb.geoview.info/new_holland,2641633

Disappointing to find that a family tradition is just that, not a fact, but it's made quite a journey, hasn't it-a railway journey!

John James Readman found him at last, but no way an engine driver.

In my last blog I talked about trying to find John Readman, the engine driver who drove the first train into Grimsby. Well clearly that story was just fiction, John Readman wasn't an engine driver, he was a musician, a keyboard player, piano teacher, organ player and piano tuner. So lets start with his birth-

On November 22nd 1846, John James Readman, as on his certificate is born in Ousegate, Selby. This house is near to the river Ouse, as the name suggests. In the 1851 census, John is shown as living at 103, Ousegate, well  in that census the houses weren't named, I was able to identify the house as one of those below.

John's father was Thomas Tatterson Readman, an engine driver working at the nearby engine shed, (shown above). I took this photograph on a bike ride to Selby in 2013, when I was allowed to inspect the station as well, now a store for a local catering company.

  John's mother was Elizabeth Dufton, a native of Selby. John was  named after his paternal grandfather John Readman and his maternal grandfather James Dufton. John was christened at St. Mary's Church, Selby on 27 December 1846. This record was found on the International Genealogical Index (IGI), one of the occasions I did not actually find the fiche record myself.The birth record of John shows his surname to be "Redman" as opposed to "Readman", this has always been a problem with my family, how actually do we pronounce this name, let alone spell it. All I know is that my grandfather, George William Readman pronounced it "Redman" but spelt it "Readman", however he was of the era of literacy, I am sure that my great great grandfather Thomas did not know how to spell in 1846; so put the name the Redman on the form. Thomas Readman, his father was described by his grandson, Samuel Thomas Readman as a "pioneer engine driver". Samuel was himself a bit of a family historian.  Samuel wrote about his Memoirs of Grimsby from 125, Heneage Road, Grimsby. These "memoirs" were found attached to a copy of "Ye Byrde of Gryme" and "Bates' ' A gossip about Old Grimsby", now held in Grimsby Central Library. Selby station shown above was right on the side of the River Ouse. A description of this station I found in a book written in 1842 by a Francis Wishaw entitled "Railways of Great Britain & Ireland", which I can quote because it is out of copyright. 

At Selby, the station has the same fault exhibited in its arrangement as that of Leeds, viz, want of platforms. It is otherwise a spacious and well-proportioned building, divided down its length into three spaces by two lines of cast-iron columns, which support the three spans of roofing. There are altogether seven lines of running quite through this building with as many carriage turntables, each placed half-way along the shed. The middle space, which has a triple way, is about 35 feet wide; and the side spaces, each having a double way, 24feet 6 inches each. The gates to the middle space are made to slide; and those to each of the side spaces are hung folding. As one line is calculated to hold fourteen carriages, there is altogether space sufficient for ninety-eight carriages and wagons within this shed. There is an engine turntable conveniently placed at the south entrance. The railway passes through the shed and onto the steam-boat jetty projecting into the river Ouse. The offices are placed on the left of the shed, and at the end next to the river. 

Not long after we moved from Cleethorpes where we had been living to Leeds, I carried out a study of the Leeds & Selby Railway, some of which I will describe in later blogs. I was hoping to find some reference to John's father Thomas whom I knew must have worked on this railway, but despite much searching both in Leeds Library at at the National Archives in Kew, London, I was unable to find any employment records for Thomas. I did find however a record of John's grandfather, John Readman, who worked as a joiner for the above railway, information which will come later. Getting back to John, I can't find anything about him from 1851 when he 5 years old with his family in Selby until he marries Sarah Mayor in Southwold, Suffolk. All I do know that in 1853 the family are living in New Holland, Lincolnshire where William, John's 2nd youngest brother was born, whilst Joseph, his first brother was born in 1850 in Selby. By the time of the 1861 Census, John would have been 14 years of age. The family are shown as living in 34, Railway Terrace, New Holland. John is not with them on census day, and I cant find him in the census nor any records about him.

 On May 27, 1869, John marries a Sarah Mayor in the Parish Church at Southwold, Suffolk. Neither of the parents are witnesses at this marriage. Samuel Mayor, Sarah's father is dead. However this is where I think the below photograph was taken of the groom.

The certificate of the marriage is shown below:

The record states: No. 387: May 27th 1869, John James READMAN full age, Bachelor, Professor of Music,of Great Grimsby, son of Thomas READMAN, an engine driver marries:

Sarah MAYOR, full age, spinster, no occupation, of Southwold, daughter of Samuel MAYOR (deceased), a store keeper.
John James Readman (his mark) & Sarah Mayor witnessed by Thomas Durrant & Elizabeth Mary Annie Girling.

Marriage Certificates are great sources of information, and this one is no exception. The certificate proves that John James Readman was the son of Thomas Readman an engine driver, & gives his occupation as Professor of Music (just like a man trying to impress his new girl), that annoying example of age, (of full age-not much use really). He was from Great Grimsby, that's not an adjective by the way, it's too differentiate it from Little Grimsby also in Lincolnshire. John still can't sign his name, but uses the surname Readman as opposed to Redman. 
His bride, Sarah Mayor, also of full age, was living in Southwold, the daughter of Samuel Mayor, a store house keeper, but deceased. It puzzled me for long time how she became to be living in Southwold, when I know she was living in Grimsby, just like John. But looking at the witnesses to the marriage, Thomas Durrant & Elizabeth Girling, I now know what this certificate is saying. It's all to do with H. M. Customs. Sarah''s father, Samuel, worked for H. M. Customs until he did something dishonest and was dismissed to become a store house keeper.
The Morning Chronicle (London, England), Saturday, May 20, 1854; Issue 27271
The appointment of comptrollership of customs at Grimsby is vacant caused by the dismissal of Mr. S. Mayer. (Civil Service Gazette)

 His wife was Mary Elizabeth Durrant, sister to Thomas Durrant. Thomas was also employed by H. M. Customs, as can be seen from a probate record & newspaper article about his death.

 DURRANT Thomas, 9 September, The will of Thomas Durrant formerly of Southwold in the County of Suffolk but late of Burnham in the County of Essex, Principal Officer of Her Majesty’s Customs deceased who died 08 March 1870 at Burnham aforesaid was proved at the Principal Registry by the oath of Mary Hannah Durrant, of Harwich in the County of Essex, aforesaid Widow the Relict the sole Executrix.

Effects under £200.

A newspaper article in the "The Essex Standard, and General Advertiser for the Eastern Counties (Colchester, England), Friday, March 11, 1870; Issue 2047.from 19th Century British Newspapers states:

Deaths: DURRANT:- March 8^th, at Burnham, Mr. Thomas Durrant, tide surveyor, Burnham, aged 49 years.

By the way I didn't start using newspapers for research until 2006-I was doing this course on the City of Leeds run by the Civic Society-a family historian there told me about online resource at my local library available with my library ticket. I have been hooked ever since! I now also use Trove, for Australian Newspapers, Papers Past for New Zealand, and several in USA, mostly free sites.

So it might be an idea now to add some background information about Sarah Mayor & her parents.

Sarah first appears in the census in the 1841 Census.
1841 England Census for Samuel Mayor
Northumberland Horton District 5
Waterloo Place: Samuel MAYOR: 30, H. M. Customs: Not born in Northumberland
Mary MAYOR, 25, Not born in Northumberland
James MAYOR, 4 years, Not Born in Northumberland
Elizabeth MAYOR, 2years, not born in Northumberland
Sarah MAYOR, 4 months, Born in Northumberland

Looking at the census entry, there is another family in the area living at Cowpen Lodge.

I found this map of the area which has Cowpen Lodge on it & also the Custom House where presumably Samuel Mayor, Sarah's father worked.

Waterloo Place is just below the letter "H" in BLYTH on the left hand side of the map with the Custom House on the right hand side.

So in the Census of 1841, Sarah is shown to be only 4 months old and born in Blyth, whilst the rest of the family were from Essex, her sister Elizabeth from Mistley & brother James Samuel from Harwich, Essex.  Information about Waterloo Place I found here, known later as Waterloo Road:http://northumberlandpast.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/waterloo-road-blyth.html

The Mayor family were all originally from Sheffield in Yorkshire, a Joseph Mayor born 1723 in Sheffield and died there in 1798. Then a Samuel Mayor born 17 March 1767 in Sheffield, Yorkshire and died 30 December 1844 in Colchester Essex. He moved to Sussex where he became a Master Mariner marrying a Frances Woodland in Birdham, Sussex on 13 September 1791_13 September 1791 • Birdham, Sussex, England

13 September 1791: Samuel Mayor mariner, bachelor & Frances Woodland,spinster, both of the parish of Birdham are married by banns in the presence of William Cox & John Clayton

Frances Woodland (1766–1837). In 1805, Samuel & Frances are in Essex, when their daughter Frances is born 25 March 1805 in Harwich & christened at Dovercourt on 22 December 1805. 

Then on 19 March 1808, his son Samuel MAYOR was born in Harwich, Essex.

Baptism: 28 December 1808 • Harwich St Nicholas, Essex, England

Samuel, son of Samuel & Frances Mayor, was born March 19 1808, was christened December 28 1808 by William Whinfield, curate.

I think by now Samuel Mayor was no longer a mariner but a member of "Trinity House", the organisation responsible for lighthouses & H. M. Customs.  Certainly by 1837 a newspaper article supported this idea:

 Died, lately Mrs Mayor, wife of Mr. Samuel Mayor, agent to Trinity Board at Harwich (Source: The Ipswich Journal (Ipswich, England), ; Issue 5158) A Burial record for her confirms that Samuel was an agent for the Trinity Board in January 1837: This is that record
Burial: 17 January 1837 • Harwich St Nicholas, Essex, England
Number 58: Frances Mayor, of Harwich, buried 17 January 1837, aged 71 years, by William Bull, curate. (Source-Essex Archives-Parish Registers-SEAX as it is known-I took out a subscription for a couple of days and got some info that way)

Then this article confirms it as well: Marriage

18 October 1844 • Ipswich, Suffolk, England

On the 18th inst. At Ipswich, Captain Samuel Mayor, agent for the Honourable Corporation of the Trinity House for the port of Harwich, was married to Mrs. Till, widow of the late Mr. John Till, shipwright. The gallant captain is in his 78th year. (The Essex Standard, and General Advertiser for the Eastern Counties) Samuel died 30 December 1844 after he  had been married for just 6 weeks.

By this time, his son Samuel, who was Sarah's father was married to Mary Elizabeth DURRANT-this is the record of that marriage(I don't have the original so it doesn't show his employment at the the time)

22 November 1835 • Harwich St Nicholas, Essex, England

Number 265: Samuel Mayor, Bachelor, & Mary Elizabeth Durrant, both of this parish, were married by licence on 22nd November 1835 by William Smith Curate. Witnesses: Sarah Durrant, Eliza Durrant, James Durrant, M C Waidy

However I have just found the baptism record of their first child James Samuel MAYOR.

8th April 1837, James Samuel MAYOR, born 5 September 1836 in St Nicholas Parish, Harwich, son of Samuel MAYOR & Mary Elizabeth MAYOR formerly DURRANT, at Harwich, Samuel of the Customs.

So we also know, that Samuel & Mary Elizabeth had a daughter Elizabeth who was born in Mistley, not far from Harwich, still on a river estuary, so Samuel must have been a Customs officer there, before he was moved to Blyth, Northumberland, where sometime either in late December or early March 1840/1841 their daughter Sarah was born.

The next event in Sarah's life was the death of her brother James Samuel MAYOR who died in either January or late December 1843 at their home in Blyth, Northumberland. Without either of the certificates of Sarah's birth & James's death I am unable to exactly when these events occurred. Then her sister Eliza was born in either late December or January 1843/1844 for it was recorded in March quarter of 1844. Eliza was given the second forename Durrant after her mother's maiden name.

Anyway sometime after Eliza's birth, Samuel is moved to Grimsby where he appears in the 1851 census:
1851 England Census for Samuel Mayor
Lincolnshire Great Grimsby 4g
Newmarket Place: Samuel MAYOR, Head, Married, 43, Comptroller of H. M. Customs, born Harwich, Essex
Mary L MAYOR, Wife, Married, 39, Comptroller’s Wife, born Harwich, Essex.
Elizabeth Mayor, Daughter, Unmarried, 12 years, Scholar, born Mistley, Essex.
Sarah MAYOR, Daughter, Unmarried, 10 years, born Blyth, Northumberland
Eliza MAYOR, daughter, Unmarried, 7, Scholar, Born, Blyth, Northumberland.

I think the move must have happened when the new dock in Grimsby was constructed. The new dock was started to be constructed in March 1846, and on 18th April, 1849, Prince Albert laid the foundation stone of the new dock. He stayed overnight at Brocklesby Hall, home of the Earl of Yarborough, who was chairman of the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire line the company responsible for building the new dock.

There is a statue of Prince Albert commemorating this opening of the new dock. The new dock was finally completed and opened on 27 May 1852. Even whilst the new dock was being constructed trade was still going on as the new railway was opened from New Holland on March 1 1848 from New Holland Pier to Grimsby & Louth, and later on November 1 1848 the line to Sheffield & Manchester was opened from Grimsby, so trade between Grimsby & the continent increased.

So the Grimsby of 1831 was soon to change with a railway line by 1848 and a new dock to be built by 1852.

The Illustrated London News Saturday 27 March 1852

GREAT GRIMSBY DOCKS. Six years have now elapsed since a far-seeing mercantile company fastened npon the spot which the sagacity of the old roving sea-kings chose to give them the command of the Humber; and there they commenced planting, In defiance of all natural obstacles, a new commercial city, to become the great entrepot of the trade between western and northern and eastern Europe. The Initial works are now approaching completion. The company have pushed out into the domain of the rolling waters, and amid the treacherous mud they have raised massive superstructures, and thus added nearly 140 acres of solid land to the occupation of man ; and there, by the happy union of science, capital, and labour, has been founded the finest harbour on the eastern coast of England. The new Docks, when completed, will present a striking example of the advantage to be derived from a union of railways, docks, and warehouses, executed under one complete plan, and worked under one management. Grimsby, at the mouth of the Humber, five miles from its confluence with the sea, has in front a deep roadstead with excellent anchorage in blue clay, protected from the ocean by the promontory of Spurn Point. Great Grimsby Roads afford the only refuge between the Thames and the Firth of Forth.The Old Dock was purchased by the Manchester and Sheffield and Lincolnshire Company, when they decided on their Water Terminus.” It has an entrance-lock of 150 feet in length and 37 feet In width, with 18 feet on its sill at high tide. In 1845 they obtained an act for the new dock ; the first stone was laid by Prince Albert on 18th April, 1849; and the very interesting celebration of this event was represented In the Illustrated London News, No. 3G7. The entrance tidal basin has an area of 15 acres: its depth at low spring tides is 9 feet; low neaps, 12½; high springs, 27⅜high neaps, 24¼ at landing slip within the tidal basin the largest steamers can lie-to safely at any time of tide. The Dock is entered from its tidal basin by two locks of massive masonry, with double gates for ebb and flood tides. The larger lock, constructed (by arrangement with Government) to admit the largest war-steamers, Is in length between gates 200 feet; breadth from wall to wall, 70; depth on sill at low spring, 7 feet; neaps, 10½; high springs, 25½ high neaps, 22¼ at half-tide the average depth on sill, 16 to 17 feet; at three-quarters tide, 20 to 22 feet. The small or second lock is for general purposes, and is in length between gates 300 feet, breadth from wall to wall 45, and its sill being 9 inches below the large lock, it will have at half-tide a depth of water of 17 to 18 feet, and at three-quarter tide from 21 to 22 feet. The Dock has a water area of upwards of 25 acres, including a timber pond at the upper end, and it will never contain a less depth of pure fresh water than 25 feet at its entrance, shoaling gradually to 20 feet at the timber pond the general depth will be two feet more. In constructing these works, 135 acres have been reclaimed; wharves or quays extend 3600 feet in length, quays to be traversed by railways from the main lines and Into sheds and warehouses. Sheds are close to the quays 760 feet in length, and 50 feet in breadth, affording a covered area of 4000 feet, and a vaulted warehouse 150 feet for free and bonded goods. All the machinery and the accessories are on the newest and most perfect principles, and the arrangements for passenger traffic and light perishable merchandise are on equally complete scale; the railway extending to the edge of a low water landing stage in the outer tidal-basin, where a station is built provided with accommodation for passengers, who, without leaving the cover of the station, may be carried by trains in attendance, goods also may, to any part of England or Scotland. The extent of the work is best seen from a brick tower, now in course of erection, 300 feet in height. A communication is open to London, through Louth, Bosten, and Peterborough, through Market Rasen to  Lincoln, and, by the Midland Railway, with Nottingham and Derby, and the Great Northern Railway to Boston, through Gainsborough to Retford, where it communicates through the Great Northern with Doncaster and York, from Retford to Worksop, into Sheffield, where the Midland and Lancashire and Yorkshire Railways afford communication with Leeds, and all the Yorkshire clothing districts. The parent line completes a communication between Sheffield. Manchester, Liverpool, and all the hardware, iron, pottery, and cotton districts. The works have been carried out from the beginning byMr. Rendel, engineer-in-chief; Mr. Adam Smith, the resident engineer; and, for the last three years, Messrs. Hutchings, Brown, and Wright, the contractors. The works are brought so nearly to a state of completion, that the piles of the cofferdam, which interpose between the lock-gates and the sea, only require to be removed to give accessto the Dock. To celebrate this important epoch in the history of theundertaking, the spirited contractors, Messrs. Hutchings,  Brown, and Wright, gave on Thursday week, the I8th, amagnificent banquet, for the second and last time on which the lock-pit can be so occupied. The works and the shipping in the Old Dock were decked in their gayest colours. In the lock-pit a large marquee was erected, for the dining of more than 300 persons, for whom sumptuous entertainment was provided by Mr. Longhurst, of the Yarborough Arms. Special trains were arranged leave London and Manchester at 8 a.m , and to return in the evening, at the cost of the hospitable entertainers. The whole place was on the qui vive on the occasion. The London train reached Grimsby about half-past twelve, and the Manchester a little before one.

In fact in October 1854, Queen Victoria visited the new dock which was then afterwards called the Royal Docks. In the same year Samuel Mayor lost his job as Comptroller of Customs, and became a shipping clerk instead.
Occupation
20/05/1854 • Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England
"The appointment of controllership of Customs at Grimsby is vacant caused by the dismissal of Mr. S. Mayer. Research at Kew reveals he did not receive a pension.(Civil Service Gazette).

1861 England Census for Samuel Mayor
Lincolnshire Great Grimsby District 03
Entry 96: 17 Worsley Street:
Samuel MAYOR, Head, Married, 53, Shipping Clerk, born Harwich, Essex.
Mary Elizabeth MAYOR, Wife, Married, 49, Born Harwich, Essex.
Elizabeth MAYOR, Daughter, Unmarried, 22, Governess, Born Mistley, Essex.
Sarah MAYOR, Daughter, Unmarried, 20, born Blyth, Northumberland.
Eliza MAYOR, Daughter, Unmarried, 17, Born Blyth, Northumberland.

Worsley Street is no longer a street in Grimsby. It was lost in the 1970's when the predecessor to Freshney Place, Grimsby shopping centre was built. It connected Sanctuary lane with Victoria Street and got its name from Lord Worsley, the title given to the Earl of Yarborough's eldest son. It was one of Grimsby's oldest streets and in 1852 had 18 households.It was in the old town of Grimsby, as opposed to New Market place which was in the new town of Grimsby.

Then came another sad event for young Sarah, the death of her elder sister Elizabeth.
Louth and North Lincolnshire Advertiser - Saturday 29 June 1861
DEATHS
At Grimsby, on the 26th instant, aged 22 years, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Mr. Samuel Mayor, 17,
Worsley-street. Elizabeth was buried in Doughty Road Cemetery, Grimsby.

I have recently received some records of Doughty Road Cemetery Burials from a contact in Grimsby. These records have quite a lot of information on them for every person buried in this cemetery which was put in place in the 1850's as  the population of Grimsby started to increase thanks to the improvements to the docks & railways and the local parish church graveyard was getting filled up. The Parish Church of St James's graveyard closed in 1854, much to the dismay of the vicar.  Unfortunately the site chosen for this graveyard had a very high water table, so many of the graves were often full of water. So much so that at first a wind pump was erected to drain a tank holding excess water, which was soon replaced with a steam pump capable of pumping 300 gallons of water a minute out of a tank holding 4,000 gallons of drainage water.  This cemetery became known as Doughty Road Cemetery as it sited at the junction of Doughty Road with Ainslie Street. Mind you Doughty Road didn't get its name until 23rd November 1895, when it was named after Alderman DOUGHTY.  The Hull Daily Mail in that year carried this report:

Hull Daily Mail - Wednesday 04 December 1895
GRIMSBY "MAIL" MEMS. by OUR OWN REPORTER. When the question of naming the road to the new subway came up for discussion at the Highways Committee on Monday night it produced some fun. It was claimed that Alderman Doughty had taken the initial part formulating the work, and that the road should be named after him. * » The committee began to get mixed over three aspirants for the honour of creating the improvement, but the Mayor solved the difficulty. He pointed out that the schemes propounded by Mr Wright and Mr Popple did not include the position of the present subway. * * * The rest consequently became easy, and as the borough member was entitled to the honour, the road will be named "Doughty-road." * * He will perform the opening ceremony on the 23rd inst., thus bestowing upon the town a much-needed Christmas box.

As for the Cemetery, eventually it was closed down & a new cemetery opened on land given to the Grimsby Corporation by the Earl of Yarborough off Scartho Road, Grimsby. This was in September 1888 with George DOUGHTY, chairman of the Cemetery Committe laying one of the Foundation Stones of a Non-Conformist chapel at the Cemetery. This is a copy of that stone.

This is a newspaper article about this event.
Stamford Mercury - Friday 09 November 1888
On Monday morning last the foundation-stones of the chapel of the new cemetery were laid by the Mayor of Grimsby (Aid. Veal) and the chairman oi the Cemetery Committee (Councillor Doughty). The members of the Corporation met at the Town-hall at 11-30, where carriages were waiting to convey them to the site. On arrival. Aid. Jackson presented the Mayor with a silver trowel bearing an appropriate inscription. The Mayor then laid the stone of the chapel on the side to be consecrated, saying, "I lay this stone in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost," expressing a wish that the place would always be held sacred. The Rev. Canon Young, Vicar, offered a dedication prayer, and the Rev. J. Spawforth pronounced the benediction. Mr. Doughty then laid the stone of the chapel on the Nonconformist side, where the Mayor presented Councillor Doughty with a silver trowel. The first stone bears the following inscription:— This stone was laid by Aid. H. J. Veal, J.P., Mayor Grimsby, on the 5th day of November, 1888.— E. W. Farebrother, F.R.I. B. A., architect. The inscription on the other stone was This stone was laid by Councillor George Doughty, chairman of the Cemetery Committee, on the 5th day Nov., 1888.

The records for Elizabeth Mayor's burial are thus:
 Mayor Elizabeth, Worsley Street. d.o.d: 26 Jun 1861 d.o.b: 28 Jun 1861 age:22  plot no : 42/127 religion: Baptist Spinster    Ref:  1104
So these records tell us that Elizabeth MAYOR died on 26 June 1861, at Worsley Street, aged 22. She was buried in plot number 42/127. She was a member of the local Baptist Church and buried on 28 June 1861-Reference No. 1104.

I found this reference to Samuel MAYOR on Ancestry lists of Railway Employment records. 

Residence: 1 Jul 1865 • Grimsby, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom

Employed as a store keeper, by the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire railway in the Steam ship department on a wage of £14 a week(£62.80d) a year. Recorded as deceased June 18 1868.

Then on 22 February 1867, their mother died Mary Elizabeth MAYOR nee DURRANT. She too was buried at Doughty Road, Cemetery.
The records at the cemetery record this event:

, Ref:2615d: Mary Elizabeth Mayor of Worsley Street. died :  17 Feb 1867 & buried on  22 Feb 1867 aged 55 plot no: 42/119 , religion:Baptist, wife of  Samuel Mayor, a  storekeeper  with the  Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway Company,  steam shipping dept.

Then later the same year  her younger sister Eliza Durrant MAYOR died  

Stamford Mercury - Friday 12 April 1867

Died At Great Grimsby on the 5th inst, Miss Eliza Durrant Mayor, aged 23. She too was buried in the same grave as her mother & siblings.

Ref: 2649d: Eliza Durrant MAYOR, of  Worsley Street. died 5 Apr 1867 & buried on 10 Apr 1867 aged 23 plot no: 42/118,  religion: Baptist, daughter of  Samuel Mayor, store keeper to the steam shipping dept in MSL com. 

So by 1869, Sarah's parents were dead, so was her brother James Samuel & sisters Eliza & Elizabeth, so she had been living with her uncle in Southwold, who no doubt gave her away in place of her father. Elizabeth Girling was the daughter of a harbour pilot. Southwold in 1869 had a harbour & a customs house, but no railway, that did not arrive until 1879, but shut in 1929.

I know that Thomas Readman, John's father went to the wedding; he had his photograph taken there before it. 

John & Sarah go back to Grimsby, most likely to 39, Freeman Street, where John has his music shop. On the 27th May, 1870, their son Samuel Thomas Readman is born, the birth record states at Freeman St, Grimsby, son of John Readman a teacher of music and Sarah Readman, formerly Mayor.

The census of 1871, taken on 2nd April, shows John  Readman, age 24, teacher of music, born in Selby, Yorkshire, Sarah Readman, age 30, born Blyth, Northumberland & Samuel T Readman, 10 months, born Grimsby, Lincolnshire. They live at 39, Freeman Street, Grimsby.

This fact was borne out by Samuel Thomas Readman in his memoirs mentioned above:

I was born at Freeman St. on May 27^th, 1870 in a music shop established by my father. I think that it was the first of its kind at that time and was later taken over by Mr. Hopkins and his son carries it on in a shop 2 doors away to this day.After leaving we went to live in a house in Bunkers Alley on G.N. Wharf off Pasture St. I remember several incidents during the five years we were there. 

Below are John James Readman & his wife Sarah Readman nee Mayor plus Sam Readman

The Whites Directory of 1872 shows John Readman living at 39, Freeman, Street and listed as a teacher of music. I came by the above photos after contact was made with a Readman relation  in Pittsburg, Pennsylvannia, USA.

Back in 1995, when I first started this quest, wrestling with a microfilm reader in Grimsby Central Library, looking at the census reels, I was puzzled again (I often am by Family History), because Sarah, John's wife, kept on changing her age and birthplace, so it wasn't until, I found that at this most excellent library they had a very good Family History Section, with a directory of Grimsby names. Amongst them was these memoirs by a Samuel Readman, whom I knew from the census, was the John's son. Samuel was named after his grandfathers too, Samuel his maternal grandfather & Thomas his paternal grandfather. 

Reading these memoirs, this was the next paragraph: When my mother died when I was five, and she was ill for a very long while before she died. (It's clear doing this blog, that for many years after 1995, I didn't do much with my family history at all, probably because I was working then and had enough to cope with) 

This was another clue, so Sarah Readman nee Mayor had died in 1875, then came another clue, something that clinched how John James Readman came to witness the death of his father, Thomas, the engine driver.

After the death of my mother,  I and father went to live with Grandfather in Garibaldi St. and went to Mr. Whiteley’s school. I was there until about 9 years old. The problem we Family Historians have in UK is that the census is only every 10 years, and a lot can happen over that period. So unless someone re-marries and has children  in that time, breaks the law in a big way, it's difficult to find out what happens over that length of time. So now I was on the hunt for John's second wife, whom I had seen in the 1881 census as being Sarah, born in Grimsby, aged 32. It wasn't long before I had this marriage certificate, and another family name to search!

Certified Copy of an entry of Marriage: Registration District of Louth: 1879 marriage solemnized at The Parish Church of Louth in the County of Lincoln by Heather Rodgers, Supt. Registrar, September 14th, 2001.
98, 23rd September 1879: John James Readman, full age, widower, Musician, of Great Grimsby, son of Thomas Readman, engine driver & Sarah Duckering, full age, spinster, of Louth, daughter of Joseph Duckering, butler were married in the Parish Church according to the rites & ceremonies of the established church after Banns by me Albert S. Wilde, Rector. John James Readman, Sarah Duckering (signatures), witnessed by George Forman & Susannah Duckering.

So Sarah was the daughter of Joseph DUCKERING, a butler, and Sarah Wildman DUCKERING nee Bucknall. 
Notes for JOSEPH DUCKERING:
Joseph Duckering was born 1823, at Willoughton, Lincolnshire, the youngest child of Samuel Duckering & Sarah Pinnin. According to the 1841 census he is a manservant at Stone's Place, Skellingthorpe, just outside Lincoln.
1841 Census possible entry-

Skltp HO107/622/7/f4 DUCKERING Joseph [ ][ ][15] [M.S. Skellingthorpe, Lincoln
Between then and 1848 he meets a Jane Wildman Bucknall, who was born in North Somercoates,
Lincolnshire. They marry on 26 September, 1848,at Hull Holy Trinity, with Jane already 6 months pregnant with their first daughter Sarah, who is born at Louth, in Walkergate. Joseph is by now a gentleman's butler, but his place of work is yet unknown. Sarah is born on 14th December, 1848, see her birth certificate.

1849 Birth in the Sub-district of Louth, in the County of Lincoln:
No. 139: Fourteenth December 1848 at Walkergate, LOUTH, Sarah,, girl, daughter of Joseph DUCKERING & Jane Wildman DUCKERING, formerly, BUCKNALL. Joseph's occupation a butler, Informant J. W. DUCKERING, mother of Walkergate, Louth on 9 January 1849.

but by 1851, at the time of that census, the family have moved to Westgate, Louth. In the 1851 census HO107/2111/590 the address is Westgate, Louth Joseph is 27, a House servant born Willoughton, Jane 28 born Somercotes (?) Sarah 2, born G. Grimsby, Susanna, 11 months, born Louth. Throughout the census reports, Jane & Joseph say Sarah is born in Grimsby, but her Birth certificate above  says Louth.
In 1861 census, the family now live at 7, Edward St, Louth, the house they live in for the next 30 years. Joseph is a Gentleman's butler, Jane a housewife, born North Somercoates is 38 years of age. They now have 4 children, Sarah, 12 years, a scholar, Sussana, 10 years, a scholar, Mary Ann, 8 years, a scholar and Charles aged 4, a scholar. They also have a lodger, Louisa Bunting, 23 years an infant schoolteacher, from Liverpool.

It was a shame that his father, Thomas did not live to see his son married-he had died 4th July 1879. No doubt, John carried on living in the home of his father, 44, Garibaldi Street, Grimsby-his mother was still alive, but after his marriage they moved. 

In 2001, a remarkable piece of information came my way. It was a letter sent by a George William Readman to his father Samuel Thomas Readman in Grimsby in 1919, then serving as a young soldier in Germany. I managed to trace (more later about the letter etc), a living relative of Samuel Thomas Readman he had died in 1967, another John Readman who lived in Kent, England. We corresponded a number of times and he told me that his grandfather, Samuel Thomas Readman remembered walking with his father John James Readman from Grimsby to Waltham on a Sunday morning in the 1870's so that his father could play the organ with Samuel pumping it! After being entertained by the ladies of the church for lunch, Samuel and John would then walk back to Grimsby.  So this must have been when Sam and John were living in Garibaldi St, after the death of Sarah Readman nee Mayor. John still had his music shop then, but also played the organ at Waltham, about 4 miles away, on a Sunday and gave piano lessons. 
So I must now try to find out if there are any records of this. 
A local newspaper article confirms this story that John James Readman is the organist & choirmaster of Waltham Parish Church.
Lincolnshire Chronicle - Friday 23 January 1874

Waltham.—A concert was given on the evening of the 8th inst., in the National School-room, by the members of the parish church choir, kindly assisted by several amateurs, in aid of the fund for building anew organ in the parish church. The various pieces were performed to the entire satisfaction of a numerous audience, who evinced the pleasure they received encoring several of their favourite singers—Mr. J. Ful ford in—"Let me like a soldier fall," Miss Shepherd in "He thinks I do not love him,"Mr. F. Suddaby, whose voice has vastly improved, in—" I'm lonely since mymother died," and others. The cultivated voices and finished style of Mrs. Overton, of Thorganby Hall, and Miss Gedge, of Ludborough, the former of whom sang Pinsuti's—"l love my love and the latter " Sing me English song," by Wrighton, afforded especial pleasure to all lovers of music who had the good fortune to be present. Mrs. Slingsby, as heretofore, most kindly played the accompaniments with great taste and feeling, Mr. Readman, organist of the parish church, under whose management the concert was got up, commenced each part with pianoforte solo. The net proceeds of the concert amounted to the sum of £7. The following was the entire programme:—Pianoforte solo—Wedding March, Mendelssohn—Mr. J. J. Readman. Chorus- Silver moonlight, Christy's—Choir. Song- Life is river, Nelson—Mr. E. Stamp. Solo and chorus—Dear mother I've come home. H. Tucker—Miss Shepherd and choir. Duet- Sisterly love, C. Blamphin—Miss Coverdale and Miss E. Coverdale. Song—When night is darkest, E. Land —Mr. Jennings. Violin solo—March, Rossini- Mr. C. E. Borman. Duet—O Lady Moon, V. Wallace—Mrs. Overton and Mr. Pacey. Song—He thinks I do not love him, Mad. S. Dolby—Miss Shepherd. Song—Let me like a soldier fall, V. Wallace—Mr. John Fulford. Solo and chorus—Leaf by leaf, Christy's—Miss Coverdale and choir. Solo pianoforte—March—Mr. J. J. Readman. Chorus —Softly falls the moonlight, Christy's—Choir. Song—l love my love, Ciro Pinsuti —Mrs. Overton. Solo and chorus—Mother I've heard, Christy's—Mr. John Fulford and choir. Song—Sing, sweet bird, Wilhelm Ganz—Miss E. Coverdale. Duet Army and navy, T. Cooke—Mr. Jennings and Mr. E. Stamp. Song—Sing me an English song, Wrighton— Miss Gedge. Duet—Row us afar, Manzocchi—Miss Coverdale and Miss E. Coverdale. Solo and chorus— I'm lonely, Christy's—Mr. F. Suddaby and choir. Song—Children's voices, Clanbel —Miss Gedge. Fiuale —God save the Queen.

According to the 1881 Census, John and his family move to a private house in Kirkgate, Waltham. John is the organist at Waltham Parish Church, and lives nearby. He probably had a small stipend from this post. In this house on 5th May 1881, Alice Readman is born. This was too late for the 1881 Census. In August, on the 14th, Samuel was Christened at All Saints Waltham. His step-sister Alice was christened at the same time.  
So while Sarah & John are living in Waltham, Sarah's mother & father, Joseph & Jane DUCKERING are living at 2 different addresses. 
1881 England Census for Joseph Duckering
Lincolnshire Great Grimsby District 5
4, Holme Street, Grimsby.
Ellen WRIGHT, Head, Widow, 59, Boarding House Keeper, born County Clare, Ireland.
Laurence Derani, Son, Unmarried, 18, Sawyer, Born Gainsbro, Lincolnshire,
Fanny Tuplin, Servant, 13, Servant, born Laceby, Lincolnshire

Then follows 5 people all whom are lodgers including Joseph DUCKERING, Boarder, Married, 57, Gentleman’s Servant, born, Blyton, Lincolnshire.

1881 England Census for Jane W. Duckering

Lincolnshire Louth District 17

Entry 131: 7, Edward Street, LOUTH:

Jane W. DUCKERING, Head, Married, 50, Lets Furnished Apartments, born N. Somercotes, Lincolnshire.

Mary A. DUCKERING, daughter, Unmarried, 26, Dressmaker, born Louth, Lincolnshire.

Then on 17 September, 1881, Joseph DUCKERING, Sarah's father died. A newspaper article in the Lincolnshire Chronicle describes his death.
Lincolnshire Chronicle - Friday 23 September 1881

Found Dead in Bed.—An inquest was held on Monday, at the Duke of Wellington public-house, Pasture-street, before 0. B. Moody, Esq., district coroner, on the body of Joseph Duckering, 57 years of age, a lodger with Mrs. Wright, 4, Holme-street, who was found dead in bed on Saturday afternoon. Dr. J. E. Smith said he had made a post-mortem examination of the body of deceased that day, the result being that he found the brain comparatively healthy. The lungs were gorged with blood. The heart was fairly healthy. The stomach was completely devoid of food but full of gas. The bowels also contained nothing but wind, except that for about three inches the rectum there was deposit of cancerous matter. The lungs were so much gorged with blood that it almost, in his opinion, amounted to pulmonary apoplexy, which he considered was the cause of death.—The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.

By 24th May 1883, the family are back in Grimsby, at 159, Willingham Street, as May Readman is born there. John is still the organist at Waltham Parish Church, with Samuel still pumping it.The 1891 Census has John and his family at 135 Hainton Street, later renamed Hainton Avenue. John is still a piano teacher. Samuel Thomas is now a labourer for the railway company whilst Annie and May are both at school.The census of 1901 finds the family still at 135, Hainton Avenue, where John is a piano tuner. It's possible by now that John was going blind hence the change in occupation. This photograph of him appears to show a man of poor sight. It would be good to find some advertisements in a local newspaper for John Readman, piano tuner to confirm this or not. His two children Alice & May, 19 & 17, are at home with his wife Sarah. 

10 years, and a lot can happen in that time, but I have little knowledge of that time, John & Sarah are in the home of May Brown, nee Readman, and their young daughter. May and Herbert Brown, a bank clerk live in Harrow, Middlesex. Sarah Readman, nee Duckering died on 25th March 1925, in Grimsby. John James died on 3rd October 1930, at the home of his daughter Alice now married to Arthur Ernest Bradley at 29, Beard Road, Gorton, Manchester. He was buried in Gorton Cemetery, later so were Alice and her husband. So still a lot to discover, but John is the most photographed of all my early relations-no doubt others were but the photographs have not survived. John is not a close relation, because I am descended from his younger brother Arthur. 

Just recently I have found some more information about May BROWN nee Readman. I have found her grand daughter, so that has sent me back to research more about May & her family.
May was born on the 24 May 1883 at 159 Willingham Street, Grimsby. This is her record of birth.

Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth: Registration District Caistor: 1883, Birth in the sub-district of Great Grimsby in the County of Lincoln, by B. Hutson, Superintendant Registrar, 6th September 2001.

470: 24th May 1883 at 159, Willingham Street, Grimsby: May: Daughter of John James Readman & Sarah Readman nee Duckering, Father’s occupation, musician. Informant, father, J J Readman on 25th June 1883, HM Leppington, Registrar.

She was called May, daughter of John James Readman a musician & Sarah Readman nee Duckering. Her father informed the registrar of the birth of his second daughter, the first being Alice.on 5 May 1881 in Waltham. The census shows that May moved with her family and was eventually married from 135, Hainton Avenue on 27 March 1910 to Herbert BROWN who lived in Kensington, London. 

I have a CD of Grimsby Marriages who can be obtained from Denise Light from Grimsby for £10-about 40,000 marriages in the Grimsby area.

The record states that at All Saints Church,  Heneage Road, Grimsby on 27/03/1910 BROWN HERBERT, aged 26, occupation, clerk of 79 Sterndale Rd, Kensington son of MATTHEW BROWN a deceased master mariner  & READMAN MAY aged 26 of 135 Hainton Ave , Grimsby, daughter of JOHN JAMES READMAN a pianoforte tuner were married in the presence of  KATE NUTCHEY & FRED A. TRIGG.

That's a lot of information there, so off I went searching now for Matthew BROWN's family and found a lot about him. First of all I was guided by the fact that Herbert BROWN's father, Matthew BROWN a Master Mariner, was dead in March 1910. Soon I discovered that in the early 1900's there were a lot of Master Mariner's called Matthew BROWN. A Master Mariner is a man qualified to be in charge of a merchant vessel.  

I now have a photograph of Herbert Brown's father called Matthew BROWN-it came from a new friend of mine who is researching the Laverick Family.

Matthew Brown as seen above died on 2nd February, 1900, and was buried in the Cottingham Cemetery on 5th February, 1900, because as you can see below, he died at his residence in Cottingham on February, 2nd, 1900.

His death was reported in a newspaper, which I have found in my account with British Newspaper Archive.

Whitby Gazette - Friday 16 February 1900

DEATHS. February 2nd, at his residence. Finkle Street, Cottingham, aged 43 years, Matthew Brown, master mariner, and dearly beloved son of Matthew Brown, master mariner, of Wilberforce Street, Hull, late of Staithes. Deeply regretted by all who knew him.

So lets start with Herbert BROWN in the census and see what that brings.He was 26 at the time of his marriage so born about 1884-the 1891 Census states:

Census Entries for Herbert BROWN born 1884.

1. 1891: aged about 7. Remember that each person below the first shows their relationship to them.

39, Queen Street, (2 Beaconsfield Terrace), Withernsea, East Yorkshire.

Elizabeth GRAY, Head, Married, 53 years, Lodging House Keeper, Born Barton, Lincolnshire.

Sarah Ann BROWN, Daughter, Married, 34 years, Living on own Means, Born Ticton, Yorkshire.

Herbert BROWN, Grandson, Single, 7 years, Scholar, Born Cottingham, Yorkshire.

Kate NUTCHEY, Grand daughter, Single, 6 years, Scholar, Born Cottingham, Yorkshire

Ernest NUTCHEY, Grandson, Single, 4 years, Scholar, born Cottingham, Yorkshire.

Hannah SMITH, Servant, Single, 17 years, Servant Domestic, born Dunswell, Yorkshire

Harold NUTCHEY, Grandson, Single, 2 years, Born Dunswell, Yorkshire.

39, Queen Street, Withernsea is currently a terraced house, close by Hubert Road.

So Sarah Ann GRAY is the mother of Herbert BROWN, born in Ticton, Yorkshire-her mother, Elizabeth GRAY, was born in Barton, Lincolnshire. Elizabeth GRAY has 3 grandchildren at her house called NUTCHEY, all born in Cottingham excepting Harold NUTCHEY, who was born in Dunswell, Yorkshire, as was the servant girl Hannah SMITH. Herbert BROWN, aged 7, was born in Cottingham, about 1884. 

2. 1901: aged about 17:

FINKLE STREET, 6 doors from Elm Tree House, Cottingham, Yorkshire.

Sarah A. BROWN, Head, Widow, 44 years, Living on own means, Born Ticton, Yorkshire

Herbert BROWN, Son, Single, 17 years, Bank Clerk, born Cottingham, Yorkshire.

Minnie HARRISON, Servant, Single, 22, Housemaid Domestic, Born Cottingham, Yorkshire.

So in the 10 years since the last census, Herbert's mother is now widowed, because her husband, Matthew BROWN, died on 2nd February, 1900 at their home in Finkle Street, as that newspaper article states above. But  she has an income of her own as she did in the last census. Herbert is single, and works as a bank clerk, they can afford to employ a local woman as a servant. 

3. 1911: aged 27: 

“Northcote”, 30, Woodlands Avenue, Harrow-on-the Hill.

Herbert BROWN, Head, 27, Married, Clerk, working in the meat trade, a worker, born Cottingham, Yorkshire.

May BROWN, Wife, 27, Married, been married for 1 year, has 1 child living, none whom have died, born Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

Joan BROWN, Daughter, Under 1 month, single, Born Wealdstone, Middlesex.

John James READMAN, Father-in-law, 64, married, Piano Tuner, Pianist, Own accord, born Selby, Yorkshire.

Sarah READMAN, Mother-in-law, 61, married, 31 years married with 2 children both living, born Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

 10 years later Herbert is married to May, who we know was the daughter of John James & Sarah Readman who are visiting their daughter & her husband at their home in Harrow on Census Day.

Herbert BROWN on his wedding day was 26 years old so born about 1884, so looking in the newspapers I found this article.

Hull Packet - Friday 28 March 1884

BIRTHS: BROWN:- March 24th, at Cottingham, the wife of Matthew BROWN, jun., master mariner, of a son. 

So this baby Brown is the son of another Matthew BROWN, both are Master Mariners. Sure enough searching in the birth records there is a Herbert BROWN registered in the April, May & June quarter of 1884 in registration district of Sculcoates, which includes Cottingham.

In Yorkshire BMD there is only one record in 1884:-

BROWN Herbert Cottingham Hull COT/12/275, so without going to obtain a birth record, I think that Herbert was born on March 24th in Cottingham, near Hull to the wife of Matthew BROWN and  her husband Matthew BROWN, a master mariner. Looking in 1939 England & Wales Register, in which Herbert is mentioned-it states this:

Name, Herbert Brown, Gender, Male, Marital Status, Married, Birth Date 24 Jan 1884, Residence Year 1939 Address 26 Residence Place Brentford and Chiswick, Middlesex, England Occupation Company Accountant Line Number37 Schedule Number36 Sub Schedule Number1 Enumeration District BBCX Borough Brentford and Chiswick Registration district128.6 Inferred Spouse May Brown Inferred Children Joan Brown Household Members

Name May Brown Age 56 Name Herbert Brown Age 55 Name Joan Brown Age 28

 

So Herbert was born 24 January 1884.

So then I went for a search of a marriage of a Matthew Brown before 1884, but failed to find one in Free BMD which covers marriages in England & Wales. However then a stroke of luck:

Whitby Gazette - Saturday 16 June 1883

June 12th, at Christ Church, Cork, Ireland, by the Rev. Canon HARLEY, Mr. Matthew BROWN, master mariner, HULL, to Sarah Ann GRAY, Cottingham.

So Sarah Ann GRAY travelled to Cork, Ireland just to get married to her master Mariner boyfriend Matthew BROWN. Maybe she travelled with him on his ship to Ireland.

 So far no baptism records either for Herbert BROWN. So I did wonder who put the advertisement in that newspaper-was it Matthew the father of Matthew the grandfather. 

Still sticking with newspaper entries I searched for a death of Matthew BROWN before the census day of 1901 and found this entry.

Whitby Gazette - Friday 16 February 1900

DEATHS: February 2nd, at his residence, Finkle Street, Cottiingham, aged 43 years, Matthew BROWN, master mariner, and dearly beloved son of Matthew BROWN, master mariner of Wilberforce Street, Hull, late of Staithes. Deeply regretted by all who knew him.”

So there's a potted history of Herbert's Father, & grandfather-we now know that his father died on 2 February 1900 at Finkle Street, Cottingham, Yorkshire, and he was the son of Matthew BROWN, a master mariner of Wilberforce Street, Hull, formerly of Staithes. So son died before his father, such a sad loss.

Herbert's father, Matthew was buried in Cottingham Cemetery as this newspaper article states:

 Hull Daily Mail - Monday 05 February 1900 

Matthew Brown who died February 2nd, master mariner, Interred Cottingham Cemetery

I found this photograph of the gravestone in the cemetery:

Gravestone Details above

Matthew BROWN Master Mariner, Who died February 2nd 1900, aged 43 years.

Also of Jonathan GRAY, who died March 3rd 1898 aged 68 years

Also of Elizabeth GRAY his beloved wife who died October 26th 1900 Aged 66 years.

The gravestone inscription doesn't give the relationship between the persons named on the stone. The first person in the grave was a Jonathan GRAY-he must have purchased the plot. He died in 1898, followed by Matthew BROWN in February 1900, then Jonathan's wife in October 1900.  However from the information given above we know that Jonathan GRAY was Matthew BROWN's father-in-law. Jonathan's daughter Sarah Ann, was Matthew BROWN's wife. Using Ancestry & newspaper reports I found that she died in 1908 & was buried in the Western Cemetery, Kingston-upon-Hull.

Hull Daily Mail - Thursday 23 January 1908

 DEATHS:

January 22nd, at 95, Newland Avenue, Sarah Ann BROWN, late of Cottingham, widow of the late Captain Matthew BROWN, in her 52nd year. Cortege will leave the residence at 1-30p.m. on Saturday for interment at the Western cemetery, Spring-Bank, at 2-10p.m.

So then I started to look at this BROWN family to see what I could dig up about them & the Gray family seeing as they were both connected. That newspaper article about the death of Matthew Brown, Herbert's father states he was 43 at the time of his death, so born about 1856-1857 to Matthew Brown & his wife in Staithes, Yorkshire.

Looking on Family Search website I found this entry: 

Matthew Brown

 Male, baptism/christening date: 24 Aug 1856 at  HINDERWELL,YORKSHIRE,ENGLAND

Son of Matthew BROWN & Jane.

"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NGBZ-M13 : 30 December 2014), Matthew Brown, 24 Aug 1856; citing HINDERWELL,YORK,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 550,531.

On the same website was another baptism of Matthew BROWN, born to the same couple in 1854 but he died in 1856, whilst his mother was pregnant with her next child, so they named Matthew after his deceased brother.

Matthew Brown, Male, born 27 August 1854, baptism/christening date 03 September, 1854 at HNDERWELL,YORKSHIRE,ENGLAND, but died on 03 February 1856 son of Matthew & Jane BROWN.

"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NGBZ-M1M : 30 December 2014), Matthew Brown, 03 Sep 1854; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 550,531.

 Research then shows that Matthew BROWN married Jane Rodham.

 Matthew Brown, bachelor, son of Joseph Brown, & Jane Rodham, spinster, daughter of Thomas Rodham, were married at St. Thomas’s Church, Stockton-on Tees, County Durham, on 23rd September 1847.

Source: Marriage to Jane RODHAM in Family Search

"England, Marriages, 1538–1973 (M00835-5-source film number: 1894163.

The Rodham family were boat-builders in Staithes-according to a trades directory for Staithes. So Matthew Brown senior's father was Joseph BROWN & Jane RODHAM's  father was Thomas RODHAM. From that information it's possible to trace the birth of both persons birth & baptism dates and where etc.

Children of Matthew BROWN & Jane BROWN nee RODHAM

1. Hannah Elizabeth Brown
Baptism/christening date: 16 August 1848 at Hinderwell, Yorkshire, England
Daughter of Matthew & Jane BROWN
Source: (batch) number: C04048-1, England-ODM, film number:  550531

2. Jane Rodham Brown
Birth date: 27 August 1854 at Staithes, Yorkshire, England
Baptism date: 03 September 1854 at Hinderwell, Yorkshire, England
Daughter of Matthew & Jane Brown
Source:  (batch) number: C04048-1, England-ODM, film number: 550531

3. Matthew Brown
 Born: 27 August 1854, Baptism/christening date, 03 September 1854 at Hinderwell, Yorkshire, England. Son of Matthew & Jane BROWN
Death date: 03 Feb 1856
Source: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NGBZ-M1M: 30 December 2014), Matthew Brown, 03 Sep 1854; citing, reference ; FHL microfilm 550,531.

4. Matthew Brown
 Baptism/christening date: 24 August 1856 at Hinderwell, Yorkshire, England
Son of Matthew & Jane Brown

Source: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NGBZ-M13:30 December 2014), Matthew Brown, 24 Aug 1856; citing HINDERWELL,YORK,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 550,531.
5. Sarah Brown
 Born: 03 February 1858 at Staithes, Yorkshire, England, baptism/christening date: 05 March 1858 at Hinderwell, Yorkshire, England
Daughter of Matthew & Jane Brown
Source: (batch) number: C04048-1, England-ODM, film number: 550531

6. Joseph Thomas Brown
Born: 13 April 1862 at Staithes, Yorkshire, England, Baptism/Christening 04 May 1862 at Hinderwell, Yorkshire, England, son of Matthew & Jane BROWN.
Source :( batch) number: C04048-1, England-ODM, film number: 550531

7. John William Brown
Born: 04 December 1866, at Staithes, Yorkshire, Baptism/christening date, 06 January 1867 at Hinderwell, Yorkshire, England, son of Matthew & Jane BROWN. Source: Batch number, C04048-1, England-ODM, film number: 550531

Jane RODHAM, was the daughter of Thomas RODHAM & Hannah TRATTLES, she was born in 1824, in Staithes,

North Yorkshire, and christened on 7 May 1824 at Hinderwell Church near Staithes. Her father Thomas RODHAM

married her mother Hannah RODHAM nee TRATTLES on 30th May, 1811, at Hinderwell Parish Church.

Marriage 30 May 1811 • Hinderwell, Yorkshire, England 30 May 1811: Thomas Rodham, carpenter,bachelor, & Hannah Trattles, spinster, both of this parish were

married by banns on 30 May 1811 in the Parish Church of St Hilda’s, Hinderwell, Yorkshire, England.

Thomas RODHAM was the son of Michael RODHAM and Adilinah RODHAM nee ADAMSON.

He was born on 21st December, 1787, at Staithes, and christened around the same time at St. Hilda's

Parish Church at Hinderwell. Michael RODHAM, his father, was born about 1752 in Stokesley, North Yorkshire,

and then on 4th November, 1775, he married a person called Mary COOPER in Stokesley Church, and between

them they had 3 children, namely Katherine in 1776, then Mary in the same year, then John in 1778, but in

that same year, Mary RODHAM, nee COOPER died, so Michael RODHAM, then married a Sebrina

Andrew as this marriage record states:

Marriage 31 August 1784 • Hinderwell, Yorkshire, England Number 304: Michael Rodham of this Parish, Hinderwell, widower and Sabrina Andrew, of the parish of Hinderwell, spinster, were married in this church by licence on 31 August, 1784 by Thos. Porter, officiating minister
They had a son between them called Robert RODHAM on 23rd January, 1785, but then Sebrina died on February 5th 1785, so that's why, Michael Rodham married for a third time to Adilinah ADAMSON in

1786, as this record states: Marriage

16 September 1786 • Hinderwell, Yorkshire, England

Parish Church of St Hilda, Hinderwell, 16 September 1786, Michael RODHAM, widower, Cabinet Maker, & Adilinah Adamson, spinster, both of this parish were married at this church.

So between these two people, Michael RODHAM & Adilinah RODHAM, nee ADAMSON, were three children, Thomas RODHAM, 21st December, 1787, then William RODHAM, born 4th January, 1790 and christened on 5th January, 1790-as this record states: Baptism

05 January 1790 • Hinderwell, Yorkshire, England

2. William RODHAM, born 4 January 1790, christened at Hinderwell, Yorkshire, England on 5 January 1790, son of Michael & Adalinah RODHAM.

Their third child was Susannah RODHAM, born before October, 1831, and christened at Great AYTON,

Yorkshire on 9 October, 1831. 

So Jane RODHAM, daughter of Thomas RODHAM & Hannah TRATTLES, married Matthew BROWN, son of Joseph BROWN & Elizabeth BROWN nee TRATTLES, as this record states: 

Marriage

23 September 1847 • St. Thomas' Church, Stockton-On-Tees, Durham, England

Matthew Brown, bachelor, son of Joseph Brown, & Jane Rodham, spinster, daughter of Thomas Rodham, were married at St. Thomas’s Church, Stockton-on Tees, County Durham, on 23rd September 1847.

Jane died on 22nd December, 1896 at Kingston-upon-Hull, as these newspaper entries state:

York Herald - Wednesday 23 December 1896: BROWN.-On the 20th inst.. at Hull, Jane, the dearly beloved wife of Matthew Brown, master mariner, in her 73rd year.

Whitby Gazette - Thursday 31 December 1896:

DEATHS. December 20th, at 31, Wilberforce Street, Hull, aged 72 years, Jane, wife of Mr. Matthew Brown, master mariner, late of Staithes.

Matthew BROWN, Jane RODHAM's husband, died on 1st August, 1903 at 31, Wilberforce Street, Kingston-upon-Hull, as these newspapers state.

Whitby Gazette - Friday 07 August 1903

DEATH OF CAPT. MATTHEW BROWN. Captain Matthew Brown, native of Staithes, but for many years, resident in Hull, died at Hornsea on Saturday morning at a patriarchal age. He had been in failing health for some time, but his death was unexpected, and came as a shock to his numerous friends. As one of Messrs. Bailey and Leetham's old captains, he was well known in Hull, and more particularly in connection with the Sailors' Orphan Homes, in which he took deep and unaffected interest; especially after he retired from active service some years ago. The last vessel that he commanded was the s.s. "Durham.” Tall in stature, well-built, and of manly and refined countenance, his appearance excited interest, and made a favourable impression upon all with whom he came in contact. It was an interesting experience to engage with him in a quiet half-hour's chat over varied adventures of his sailing ship days. He loved to dwell upon the old, forceful lives and customs of the Staithes fishermen of fifty or sixty years ago; but he especially retained in his memory his strange experiences in Japan in the summer of 1859, when he commanded the barque, "Countess of Seafield.” Japan had long isolated herself from commercial relations with the world, and the resumption of business intercourse was exceedingly interesting to both the Japanese and Europeans. On June 14th, he chartered the barque for any port in Japan or on the coast of China, and on the 24th received orders to proceed to Kanagowa, near Yeddo, which he reached on July 5th—" a very fine bay, with apparently good holding-ground." Here he was visited by the Japanese authorities, but as the British Consul having gone to Yeddo, he had no interpreter, and written orders had been left that no British subject was to land. On July 9th, Captain Brown landed at Yokohama for a walk. "No sooner landed than we were surrounded by the inhabitants, who, having never seen any Europeans before, thought us as strange beings, and followed us by hundreds all around the town. The men were quite naked, and the women partly naked. They viewed as very much, and felt our clothes and whiskers. Apparently, they are a very harmless race of people, low. stiff-made, and without whiskers." For some days all went well; then a large party of Russians came from Yeddo in man-of war’s boat, and the Japs found them less to their taste than our frank British tars; there was a skirmish, two Russians had to be buried, and a number had to be passed over to the surgeons. So, the good time passed, to be succeeded by greater care on the part of the sailors, and drawing back on the part of the Japs, so that it was, perhaps, with some sense of relief that Capt. Brown weighed anchor on September 17th, firing salute of two guns as he took his departure. Captain Brown’s experiences at Yokohama were varied and interesting, including some provoking cases of insubordination on the part of his crew, but, the details necessarily occupy too much space to be more particularly dealt with here. Captain Brown always regarded his opening the trade with Yokohama as being one of the most interesting experiences of a long and active life, and one full of incident.

The People - Sunday 16 August 1903

Capt. Matthew Brown, who was the first European to open up trade with Yokohama, in July, 1859, when he was master of the barque Countess of Seafield, has died at Hornsea, aged 82.

So I wonder how a man from Kensington, London could meet & marry a woman from Grimsby. Well I think the clue may lie in the bride's witness, no doubt her chief bridesmaid, Kate NUTCHEY. Kate, who is in the 1891 census above at her grandmother's house in Withernsea, was the daughter of Henry NUTCHEY & his wife Ann Eliza GRAY, who was Sarah Ann GRAY's sister-both were daughters of Elizabeth GRAY nee Jenney & Jonathan GRAY of Beverley. Henry NUTCHEY, Kate's father was living in Hainton Street, Grimsby, at least by 1896-there is a newspaper entry describing him as a director of a Grimsby company then and living in Hainton Street, Grimsby. 

Hull Daily Mail - Wednesday 12 August 1896

Dalton Barclay & Company Ltd Directors:

Henry NUTCHEY, esq., Hainton-street, Grimsby.

Henry NUTCHEY in the census of 1891 was a provision merchant on Market Green, Cottingham. In 1888, his father David NUTCHEY, a land surveyor & auctioneer died in Beverley. Clearly Henry's business had gone well for him to become a director of this provision merchants.

This record in 1897 shows him with a shop in Hainton Street, Grimsby

Stamford Mercury - Friday 07 May 1897

TO BE LET, as a going concern, GROCERY AND PROVISION BUSINESS in a large market-town in North Lincolnshire. Double-fronted Shop and best position in town. –Full particulars from Henry NUTCHEY, 106, Hainton Street, Grimsby.

 Another record, in 1900, states that in 1900, Henry & family were living at 106, Hainton Street, Grimsby-later to become Hainton Avenue. This is that record: Beverley Echo - Wednesday 12 December 1900

DEATHS: NUTCHEY: December 4, at 106 Hainton-street, Grimsby, Annie, wife of Henry NUTCHEY, late of Cottingham, and daughter-in-law to Mrs Nutchey, of this town.

Hull Daily Mail - Wednesday 05 December 1900

DEATHS: NUTCHEY, December 4th at Hainton-Street, Grimsby, Annie, wife of Henry NUTCHEY. Interment at Cottingham cemetery, 3p.m. Friday 7th Instant.

 That Annie, is Ann Eliza GRAY, as above, the youngest daughter of Jonathan & Elizabeth Gray nee Jenney. 

John James Readman & his family of May & Alice Readman was living at 135, Hainton Street at the same time, so no doubt the girls knew the Nutchey family as well. So I think it's quite likely that Herbert BROWN, who would have been a cousin of Kate NUTCHEY would have visited Grimsby sometime between 1896 & 1910, so would have met May Readman there. Maybe they had a piano that John taught them to play or at least tuned it!

I can't find this NUTCHEY family in the 1901 Census, but in the 1911 Census they are all living at 45, Tasberg Street, which is off Hainton Avenue, Grimsby.

Okay lets go back to consider this person called Herbert BROWN who in the 1911 census was living at "Northcote", 30, Woodlands Avenue, Harrow-on-Hill.

Herbert was born in the early period of 1884. A newspaper entry, the Hull Packet Newspaper states this: 

Hull Packet - Friday 28 March 1884

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS BIRTHS. BROWN.-March 24th, at Cottingham, the wife of Matthew Brown, jun., master mariner, of a son.

Then looking much later on at the 1939 Register, I found this entry:

Name, Herbert Brown, Gender, Male, Marital Status, Married, Birth Date 24 Jan 1884, Residence Year 1939 Address 26 Residence Place Brentford and Chiswick, Middlesex, England Occupation Company Accountant Line Number37 Schedule Number36 Sub Schedule Number1 Enumeration District BBCX Borough Brentford and Chiswick Registration district128.6 Inferred Spouse May Brown Inferred Children Joan Brown Household Members

Name May Brown Age 56 Name Herbert Brown Age 55 Name Joan Brown Age 28

So Herbert was born on the 24th January, 1884, as the son of Matthew Brown & his wife Sarah Ann Gray. 

Then in 1911, according to the Census, Herbert, May and their daughter Joan, and his father-in-law called John James Readman and his wife Sarah Readman nee Duckering are living in Harrow-on-the Hill, in the house called "Northcote", which is 30, Woodlands Avenue. 

  1911 England Census for May Brown

Middlesex, Wealdstone.

“Northcote”, 30, Woodlands Avenue, Harrow-on-the Hill.

Herbert BROWN, Head, 27, Married, Clerk, working in the meat trade, a worker, born Cottingham, Yorkshire.

May BROWN, Wife, 27, Married, been married for 1 year, has 1 child living, none whom have died, born Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

Joan BROWN, Daughter, Under 1 month, single, Born Wealdstone, Middlesex.

John James READMAN, Father-in-law, 64, married, Piano Tuner, Pianist, Own accord, born Selby, Yorkshire.

Sarah READMAN, Mother-in-law, 61, married, 31 years married with 2 children both living, born Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

The next record I have for John James Readman is his death, which was in Manchester on 3rd October, 1930, as this probate record states:

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 for John James Readman

READMAN John James, of 29, Beard-road, Gorton, Manchester, died 3 October, 1930, Probate, Manchester, 25 October, to Alice Bradley, (wife of Ernest Bradley). Effects £219 18s. 8d.

There is a burial record for him at Manchester

Burial

08 October 1930 • Gorton, Manchester

Gorton Cemetery BB Conscecrated 83

Alice Bradley, was the wife of Arthur Ernest Castell BRADLEY, who was living in Manchester, which was probaly why it was that her father died in Manchester too, because maybe he was living with his daughter Alice & her husband, Arthur Ernest prior to his death in 1930. 

So May Brown nee Readman, and her husband Herbert BROWN, son of Matthew BROWN, marry on 27 March, 1910 at All Saints Church, Heneage Road, Grimsby. The congregation was founded in 1891. The church building closed in 1993 and was demolished in 1997.

All Saints Heneage Road 27/03/1910 BROWN HERBERT 26 clerk 79 Sterndale Rd, Kensington son of  MATTHEW BROWN a  deceased master mariner married READMAN MAY, aged 26 of  135 Hainton Ave, Grimsby daughter of  JOHN JAMES READMAN, a  pianoforte tuner witnessed by KATE NUTCHEY & FRED A. TRIGG.

Herbert & May between them had 3 children, first was Joan BROWN, born 12th March, 1911, at 30, Woodland Road, Wealdstone, Middlesex, London. She remained a spinster all her life and died in 2003, aged 92. 

The Brown family are in the 1939 England & Wales Register, which gives persons on it their dates of birth. So looking at this register this is the result: 

1939 England and Wales Register for Joan Brown

Middlesex, Brentford and Chiswick MB: BBCX

So at the time of the 1939 England & Wales Register which was on 29th September, 1939,

Joan BROWN and some of her family members are living at Brentford & Chiswick, Registration sub-district 128-6 in a road called Gainsbrough Road.

26 Ditto, 36, 1, BROWN, Herbert-Male, born 24 Mar 1884, Married, Company Accountant

26 Ditto, 36, 2, BROWN, May, -, Female, born 24 May 1883, Married, Unpaid Domestic Duties

26 Ditto, 36, 3, BROWN, Joan, -, Female, born 12th March, 1911, Single, Unpaid Domestic Duties.

So, their daughter Joan, is living with them in 1939, and the record says she is single, so a spinster. Herbert her father is a Company Accountant, and his wife and Joan's mother May, nee Readman, is working as a housewife, with Unpaid Domestic Duties!

So in September 1939, Herbert Brown was 55 years of age, his wife May was 56 years of age, and Joan their daughter was 28 years of age, and Harry, their son would have been 27 years of age, but probably not living at home, as he had joined the Royal Navy at the start of World War 2.

Harry BROWN married Moreen Freda Garnett on 29th August, 1942 in Key West Florida, USA. I found a record of their marriage on Family Search. 

The record states Marriage License, State of Florida, Monroe County, 

Harry BROWN and Moreen GARNETT, and that you make a return of the same, duly certified under your hand, to the County Judge aforesaid, Witness, my name as County Judge, and the seal of the said Court, at theCourthouse in Key West, Fla. this 29 day of August, AD 1942.

Certificate of Marriage:

I certify, that the within named Harry BROWN and Moreen GARNETT done this 29th day of August, AD 1942 at Key West, Florida. 

A year later, his father Herbert BROWN died on the 25th October, 1943, at 30 Twickenham Road, Isleworth, Middlesex, England. Then on 20th February, 1952, his mother May BROWN, nee READMAN died. 

So now on my Ancestry tree record, my relationship with George Delaval LAVERICK, has been connected right through to me John Readman, whose great great uncle was John James Readman, who is the person mostly described on this blog.

George Deleval Laverick 1779-1852

father-in-law of granduncle of husband of 1st cousin 2x removed, had a daughter called 

Eleanor Laverick 1816-1847

Daughter of George Deleval Laverick, who married 

Thomas Rodham 1815-1895 on 1st December, 1836 at St Hilda's Church, Hinderwell.

Husband of Eleanor Laverick.  Thomas, the husband of Eleanor Laverick, had a father called

Thomas Rodham 1787-1866 who had married Hannah Trattles. 

Father of Thomas Rodham

Jane Rodham 1824-1896 who was Thomas Rodham's sister, married Matthew BROWN, born 1820-died 1893

Daughter of Thomas Rodham

Matthew Brown 1856-1900 was the son of Matthew BROWN born 1820 and died 1893, and Jane Rodham, and he married Sarah Ann Gray, asnd they had a son called Herbert BROWN,

Son of Jane Rodham

Herbert Brown 1884-1943 

Son of Matthew Brown married 

May Readman 1883-1952

Wife of Herbert Brown and daughter of 

John James Readman 1846-1930

Father of May Readman had a father called 

Thomas Tatterson Readman 1818-1879 and a brother called Arthur Readman

Father of John James Readman

Arthur Readman 1861-1921

Son of Thomas Tatterson Readman

George William Readman 1886-1965 was the son of Arthur Readman, and his son was William Sneath Readman.

Son of Arthur Readman

William Sneath Readman 1918-2002

Son of George William Readman

John Readman was the son of William Sneath Readman.