William CONNOR Birth 1870

[Pompeyskipper]

Hi,
I'm really stuck trying to find the origins of my wife's Great Grandfather, William CONNOR (AKA CONNER) - any help would be most appreciated.

I'll try to brief with the facts that I have.
All the records I have seen point to a birth in London, Middlesex between June 1869 and April 1871 of a William Connor, sometimes spelt ‘Conner’.
It is only the 1901 Census where it is a bit more specific and states Newington, Middlesex.

There is no middle name or initial on any of the documents I have stated below.
As I am trying to find William’s birth certificate, I do not know his mother’s name at all.
The only clue is his marriage certificate which states his father was William Conner so any entries should have William Conner/Connor as the father.
He should be on the 1871 and 1881 Census somewhere before he ‘arrives’ in Portsmouth on the 1891 Census.

The facts I do know are:-

1911 Census: (Living in Portsmouth)
Stated as born in London, Middlesex - Occupation ‘Hawker’ (Fish) – Age 40 (So born between May 1870 to April 1871) – married.

1901 Census: (Living in Portsmouth)
Stated as born in Newington, Middlesex - Occupation ‘Hawker’– Age 30 (So born between May 1870 to April 1871) – married.

1892 Marriage (Portsea Register Office)
Married Annie CRIPPS 24th Dec 1892 at Portsea – His stated age 22 (So born between January 1870 to December 1870)
He was living in Hyde Park Road in Portsmouth at time of marriage – Fathers name stated as William CONNER. (His name on the certificate is also spelt as ‘CONNER’)
Both William and his father William were stated as labourers.

1891 Census: (Living in Portsmouth)
Stated as born in London, Whitechapel ‘Labourer’ – Age 20 (So born between May 1870 to April 1871) – un-married.
William was lodging with another family in Belgrave Street which adjoins Hyde Park Road where he was for his stated marriage one year later.

1924 Death Certificate:
This document states that the date of death was 18th June 1924 aged 54.
(So born between 19th June 1869 and 18th June 1870)

I cannot find any burial, Probate or Military Records that might help.

I contacted the Hackney Registrars Office, but they could not find any birth records for a William CONNOR, with a father named William CONNOR around the dates listed.

The only record that is credible is a 1871 census entry:-
1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
White Horse Alley, St Sepulchre Middlesex, Holborn, London, England
Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
William Conner Head - Male 44 1827 - Ireland
Elizabeth Conner Wife - Female 48 1823 - Ireland
Mary Conner Daughter - Female 13 1858 - Middlesex, England
Elizabeth Conner Daughter - Female 7 1864 - Middlesex, England
Enora Conner Daughter - Female 5 1866 - Middlesex, England
William Conner Son - Male 3 1868 - Middlesex, England

By 1881 William CONNOR senior had died and William CONNOR junior 'gained' a year closer to our estimate, being listed as 12 years old.

1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
8, New Court, St Sepulchre, Holborn, London, England
Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Eliza Connor Head Widow Female 54 1827 Hawker Ireland Transcription

Mary Connor Daughter Single Female 23 1858 Hawker Middlesex, England Transcription

Eliza Connor Daughter Single Female 17 1864 Hawker Middlesex, England Transcription

Norah Connor Daughter Single Female 15 1866 Hawker Middlesex, England Transcription

William Connor Son Single Male 12 1869 - Middlesex, England


Can anyone assist please to narrow down the possibilities of where I might locate the correct William CONNOR and which Registrar might hold the records.


Many thanks for your help.

Regards

Julian

 

[p.risboy]

Could his birth been registered in Southwark, London.

I think Newington is in the Reg. Dist. of Southwark.

CONNOR, WILLIAM JAMES. Mother's Maiden Surname: BROWN.
GRO Reference: 1870 D Quarter in SAINT OLAVE SOUTHWARK Volume- 1D Page 173.


Steve.

 

[Pompeyskipper]

Thanks Steve for the suggestion.
The Southwark site has a broken link at the moment to where pre 1900 Birth records can be obtained, so I'll have to phone them.
Still not sure if this link will result in a Fathers name of 'William'
How did you establish the mothers name was BROWN ?
I have been scrabbling around trying to find CONNOR/BROWN marriages. Think there may have been Edward Connor who married Nancy BROWN, in which case this is not the parents of the William CONNOR I am seeking.

Also - from my information a birthplace of 'Whitechapel' was also mentioned (1891 Census) would this have been Southwark as well ?

All the best and thanks.

Julian

 

[DaveHam9]

I have not been able to match a mother's maiden name for Mary, Elizabeth/ Eliza, Enora/Norah/Hanora, etc... and William using CONNER/CONNOR and +/-1 year and Middlesex/London.

Dave

 

[p.risboy]

Thanks Steve for the suggestion.
The Southwark site has a broken link at the moment to where pre 1900 Birth records can be obtained, so I'll have to phone them.
Still not sure if this link will result in a Fathers name of 'William'
How did you establish the mothers name was BROWN ?
I have been scrabbling around trying to find CONNOR/BROWN marriages. Think there may have been Edward Connor who married Nancy BROWN, in which case this is not the parents of the William CONNOR I am seeking.

Also - from my information a birthplace of 'Whitechapel' was also mentioned (1891 Census) would this have been Southwark as well ?

All the best and thanks.

Julian

I used the GRO web site. Search for births with the information given by you.
If you know an appoximate age, and what Reg. District born......results will be shown with mmn, usually.

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/


Steve.

 

[rupert]

Death notice (Funeral Kingston Cemetery) & In Memoriam


Rupert

 

[Pompeyskipper]

Thanks for the newspaper entries Rupert,
I did have the memorial ones, but not the death notice.
At least I know now he was buried at Kingston Cemetery and may possibly find a DOB with the burial record/headstone.
I couldn't find a grave listed online, so I will take a trip there when I'm passing and ask in Milton/Kingston Cemetery office.

 

[Pompeyskipper]

I have not been able to match a mother's maiden name for Mary, Elizabeth/ Eliza, Enora/Norah/Hanora, etc... and William using CONNER/CONNOR and +/-1 year and Middlesex/London.

Dave

Thanks for looking Dave.
If this is the correct family for my elusive William CONNOR, then the Irish nationality probably means they were Catholic ? Can I ask please if you used the English GRO index only ?
Thanks again for looking.
Julian

 

[DaveHam9]

English GRO index only

Yes, I tried to match a mother's maiden name to the children listed in 1871 census as born Middlesex.

Dave

 

[Ellie7]

WILLIAM
Last name--CONNOR
GenderMale
Birth day
Birth month
Birth year--1828
Age--50
Death quarter--4
Death year---1878
District---Greenwich
County--London
Volume--1D
Page--628
Country---England
Record setEngland & Wales Deaths 1837-2007
CategoryBirth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
SubcategoryDeaths & burials
Collections fromGreat Britain
is this the elder William,s death.In these circunstances ( both William and Elizabeth being Irish) I would look for a Poor Relief Record around the time of William seniors death.

Ellie

 

[p.risboy]

I used the GRO web site. Search for births with the information given by you.
If you know an appoximate age, and what Reg. District born......results will be shown with mmn, usually.

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/


Steve.

Some districts can be eliminated quite quickly, and with the information you have, and where they lived, you should be able to narrow the area down further.

https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/Reg/gtl.html
https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/Reg/districts/london city.html

It's a trawl, but that's family histroy for you.

Steve.

 

[Ellie7]

HONORA
Last name-CONNER
Birth year-1869
Birth quarter-3
Registration month
Mother's last name
District-Holborn
County-London
Country-England
Volume---1B
Page---733
Record setEngland & Wales Births 1837-2006
CategoryBirth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
SubcategoryBirths & baptisms
Collections fromGreat Britain

Will have parents names
Ellie

 

[Ellie7]

Honora Connor
Event Type
Birth Registration
Registration Quarter--Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration Year---1866
Registration District--Whitechapel
County--London
Event Place--Whitechapel, London, England
Volume--1C
Page--422
Line Number--61

Think this is closer.
Ellie

 

[p.risboy]

Honora Connor
Event Type
Birth Registration
Registration Quarter--Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration Year---1866
Registration District--Whitechapel
County--London
Event Place--Whitechapel, London, England
Volume--1C
Page--422
Line Number--61

Think this is closer.
Ellie

CONNOR, HONORA. mmn - WELLEY.
GRO Reference: 1866 M Quarter in WHITECHAPEL Volume 1C Page 422

CONNOR, BRIDGET. mmn - WELLEY.
GRO Reference: 1868 S Quarter in WHITECHAPEL Volume 01C Page 375

Ancestry. Civil Death Reg. Does not show in the GRO. But GRO does show a death for a 16 year old in Whitechapel.??

Bridget Connor
abt 1868
1869
Jul-Aug-Sep
Age at Death: 1
Reg. dist. Whitechapel


Steve.

 

[p.risboy]

Hmmm. Would this be Mary Connor c1869, in the 1881 census.

CONNOR, MARY ANN. mmn - SULLIVAN.
GRO Reference: 1869 M Quarter in WHITECHAPEL Volume 1C Page 381

Steve.

 

[p.risboy]

1881 census, Registration district:Holborn, gives William Connors p.o.b as London St Sepulchre, London, Middlesex, England.

I think this is in the RD of Holborn.

CONNOR, WILLIAM. mmn - HAYES
GRO Reference: 1868 M Quarter in OF HOLBORN Volume 1B Page 642
CONNOR, WILLIAM. mmn. LAVERY
GRO Reference: 1869 S Quarter in HOLBORN Volume 1B Page 600


Steve.

 

[Pompeyskipper]

Yes, I tried to match a mother's maiden name to the children listed in 1871 census as born Middlesex.

Dave

Apologies Dave, excuse my ignorance but would the English UK GRO Index still list Catholic births at that time?

Thanks

Julian

 

[Pompeyskipper]

WILLIAM
Last name--CONNOR
GenderMale
Birth day
Birth month
Birth year--1828
Age--50
Death quarter--4
Death year---1878
District---Greenwich
County--London
Volume--1D
Page--628
Country---England
Record setEngland & Wales Deaths 1837-2007
CategoryBirth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
SubcategoryDeaths & burials
Collections fromGreat Britain
is this the elder William,s death.In these circunstances ( both William and Elizabeth being Irish) I would look for a Poor Relief Record around the time of William seniors death.

Ellie

Hi Ellie,

Thanks for reply - I agree with you on this one, as William Connor Senior died some when between 1871 and 1881 and this entry is the only one that comes close to his birth date of 1827 mentioned on the 1871 Census. Not quite sure why he was in Greenwich when the rest of the family were still at St Sepulchre, Holborn ?

 

[Pompeyskipper]

1881 census, Registration district:Holborn, gives William Connors p.o.b as London St Sepulchre, London, Middlesex, England.

I think this is in the RD of Holborn.

CONNOR, WILLIAM. mmn - HAYES
GRO Reference: 1868 M Quarter in OF HOLBORN Volume 1B Page 642
CONNOR, WILLIAM. mmn. LAVERY
GRO Reference: 1869 S Quarter in HOLBORN Volume 1B Page 600


Steve.

Hi Steve,
Thanks for looking these up. So many different maiden names and as Dave has already mentioned none seem to line up with the St Sepulchre, Holborn clan that I am assuming is the most likely family.

Julian

 

[p.risboy]

Apologies Dave, excuse my ignorance but would the English UK GRO Index still list Catholic births at that time?

Thanks

Julian

The answer is yes. All Births/Deaths & Marriages, whatever religion should be registered and should appear on the GRO.

BUT....sometimes it does not happen, but the English and Wales Law says yes. Scotland is slightly different, but almost the same.

That's why it's called, England & Wales, Civil Registration.