Help on George Weir

andrewb · Post by **andrewb** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 12:20 pm

I am looking for some help in unblocking a problem on my family tree.
My gt grandfather was George Weir. I know that he died in 1912 aged 46 which would put his birth at around 1865. He married Emily Mapletoft in Croydon, Surrey in 1888 and they had five children - Cyril, Grace, Elsie (my grandmother), Eric and Ralph.
On all the census records post 1891, George shows his place of birth as Dorset but there are no records of a birth of a George Weir in any relevant quarter.
His father - George Thomas Weir - is shown as a sailor on the marriage certificate of George and Emily.

I have found a birth of a George Weir in Glasgow in Feb 1865 and the father is shown as George Weir a seaman. The mother is shown as Helen (possibly nee Anderson). The marriage of george and Helen is supposedly in Sept 1852 in Glasgow but I cannot find it.

Is there anyone out there who might have any information or any sugestions as to how to break the blockage

Thanks

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 1:52 pm

Hi Andrew
..and welcome to Talking Scot

Do you know where your man was in 1871? He should still be with his parents aged around 5-7 with any luck, but you've probably had a look for this already?

He married Emily Mapletoft in Croydon, Surrey in 1888

In which church did they marry?

The mother is shown as Helen (possibly nee Anderson).

Are you unsure of the surname because of the writng or for some other reason?
There is a match for a Helen Weir, other name Anderson b. 1816 on SP who died in Lanarkshire in 1900, but no way of telling without looking if it is your Helen. Seems a wee bit of an earlier birth then I was expecting.

Best wishes
Lesley

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 2:09 pm

Hello Andrew - welcome to TS.

Do you have any census returns for George before he was married?
In 1881 he might be working so away from home, but 1871, as a child with his parents, could be easier and then it would be a parent who stated where he was born.

Is this him in 1891?
Piece: RG12/773 Place: Eastbourne -Sussex Enumeration District: 12
Civil Parish: Eastbourne Ecclesiastical Parish: All Souls
Folio: 128 Page: 84 Schedule: 586
Address: 68 Cavendish Place
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
WEIR George Thomas Head M M 29 Stnry Toys Fncy Gds Dlr(Em'er) Dorset - Poole
WEIR Emily Florence Wife M F 27 Assists Husband (Em'ee) Surrey - Croydon
WEIR Ursula Mercy Boardr S F 36 Living On Own Means Buckinghamshire - Mentmore(Originally: Buckinghamshire - Mentmor)
GIVEN William Best Lodger M M 72 Retired Watchmaker Ireland - Ballymona
GIVEN Harriet Lodger M F 64 Retired Watchmaker Norfolk - Aylsham(Originally: Norfolk - Aylesham)

If so then who is Ursula! a sister? Cousin or co-incidence? I can't find her anywhere either.
That census would give a birth year of 1861/62 so you should broaden your search a bit.

andrewb · Post by **andrewb** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 4:45 pm

Wilma
Thanks for your prompt response
I have looked at census returns for 1871 and 1881. There is a George Weir at Royal marise baracks in Deal in 1881 and that could fit. problem with 1871 is uncertainty about place of birth and also there are a large number of george weirs.
I have the entry for 1891 and also 1901 and 1911.

I thought Ursula might be a clue as well but she is also proving elusive

Lesley
They were married at Croydon Parish Church

I agree that 1816 is an earlier birth. That would put her at 49 when George was born. I will do some further checking out on her just in case

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 5:56 pm

andrewb wrote:Wilma
Thanks for your prompt response
I have looked at census returns for 1871 and 1881. There is a George Weir at Royal marise baracks in Deal in 1881 and that could fit. problem with 1871 is uncertainty about place of birth and also there are a large number of george weirs.
I have the entry for 1891 and also 1901 and 1911.

I thought Ursula might be a clue as well but she is also proving elusive

Lesley
They were married at Croydon Parish Church

I agree that 1816 is an earlier birth. That would put her at 49 when George was born. I will do some further checking out on her just in case

Ursula appears to be the daughter of John Mercy and Hannah Fountaine? according to somebody at Ancestry. A look at the original record shows her surname isn't Weir but Mercy.