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Archiver > ESSEX-UK > 2007-07 > 1183505934


From: Dick Mathews <>
Subject: Re: [Ess] Robert McGregor
Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2007 00:38:54 +0100
References: <531296.36634.qm@web86406.mail.ird.yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To: <531296.36634.qm@web86406.mail.ird.yahoo.com>


Hi Sam

The 1861 census entry is interesting. I have a subscription to
Ancestry, and when I tried searching this afternoon for Robert McGregor
in RG9/276 it only gave me one hit, a man born about 1792. He is a
printer (or possibly a painter) , and the father in law of Ellen
McGregor, the wife of a labourer who was in hospital. Ref. /RG9/;
Piece: /276/; Folio: /133/; Page: /38: Sch. 237/

When I tried searching for anyone named Robert on page 1 of piece 276 I
got rather more hits, including "Robert St George" whose parents are
Robert W and Harriet A - so clearly your man. The reference is /RG9/;
Piece: /276/; Folio: /1/; Page: /1: Sch. 3/ But when I tried to view
the image of the page I got a message saying that it was unavailable. I
then noticed that you referred to Disk 13, and I realised that you must
have used a set of 1861 census images on CD. I also have these for the
London area for 1841, 51, and 61, so I was able to find the image. But
as you say, the right hand edge of the page is black, and completely
unreadable.
I've just re-run my search on Ancestry, and now the image is available -
and is different from the one on the CD in that most of it is quite clear.
It shows that the older Robert was born in Shoreditch and his wife in
Kingsland (both Middlesex). All five children are shown as born in "St
Geo East".

You refer to Robert the father being a widower in 1861 - I take it you
mean 1881. That entry doesn't help, as he's a lodger in Plaistow.

I found the family in 1851 (indexed by Ancestry as McGreger) Ref.
/HO107/; Piece: /1547/; Folio: /410/; Page: /9; Sch. 38 /- this shows
the whole family having been born in "St Georges"

And in 1871 (indexed by Ancestry as McGeggor) Ref /RG10/; Piece: /530/;
Folio: /4/; Page: /1: Sch 3/ Robert is again born Shoreditch and Harriet
is born Haggerston. I don't know how well you know that area of
London, but St Leonards Church, Shoreditch, is at the northern end of
Shoreditch High St, which continues northwards as Kingsland Road, and
the area on the eastern side is known as Haggerston.

I presume their son Robert is the person at Ref. /RG10/; Piece: /572/;
Folio: /100/; Page: /35/; Sch 206

You say that Harriet's maiden name was Beanwhite or Branwhite.
Presumably this is from the birth certificate of James. A seach on
FreeBMD for Beanwhite produces no hits at all, but quite a lot for
Branwhite, many in the London area. A search of the IGI for Harriet
Branwhite provides the useful information that she was baptised at St.
Leonard, Shoreditch on 12 Mar 1829, (born 17 Jun 1815) and that her
parents were Thomas Edward, and Ann. I think Harriet's death aged 58
is June 1876 Poplar 1c 421

It seems likely that Robert and Harriet were married before the start of
civil registration - there's nothing on the IGI for them..

In 1841 there is a Robert McGregor aged 49, a printer, with Mary 49,
Mary 20, and Thomas 16 in Shoreditch Ref /HO107/; Piece /705/;
Book: /2/; Folio: /16/; Page: /25/; Line: /6 /I suspect they are the
parents of the Robert who married Harriet, and they also had a daughter
in law named Ellen, who was probably the wife of Thomas - there's a
FreeBMD entry for Sep 1858 that looks likely.

So the answer to your original query is that Robert McGregor was born in
Shoreditch, as was his father.

I've copied this reply to the Essex list so it gets into the Archives,
but it seems clear that you don't have an Essex connection, and you need
to direct further enquiries to the London list. I can let you have
copies of the census images - let me know if you want them.

Dick


PE THOMAS wrote:
> Hello Dick,
>
> Many thanks for your prompt reply and suggestions. I have very little
> information other than that which I have already given below, but here
> is what I have:
>
> 1861 Census - Ref. RG9/276.p.1 or 136, Disc 13. The parish I believe
> to be St. George in the East, Tower Hamlets (gleaned from previous page).
>
> Robert W. McGregor aged 47, occ. Stevedore
> Harriet A. his wife aged 46
> Robert W. son aged 24 occ. Stevedore
> James J. son aged 18, occ. Stevedore (I have his B.C - born in Wapping).
> George, son, aged 16, occ. Page
> Harriet N.V. dau. aged 13.
>
> Rest of page black so no birthplace for older son.
>
> 1861 Census
>
> Robert, the father, is now a widower, still a Stevedore, born London
> Essex.
>
> This is all lthe information I have on Robert W. McGregor.
>
> I have not been able to find him in the 1851 Census, or the 1871
> Census despite trying all the spellings of his name that I can think
> of. I also could not find him on the I.G.I. All descendents through
> his son James J. are documented with Birth, Marriage and Death certs,
> and they all stayed in the Dockland areas of East London
>
> Hope this additional information might assist anyone who has any
> further sources that they might be prepared to consult on my behalf.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Sam Thomas
>
> */Dick Mathews <>/* wrote:
>
> Hello Sam
>
> Since a simple search on Ancestry for Robert McGregor born Essex
> living
> Middlesex doesn't appear to produce you man, perhaps you could
> provide
> the reference, and say what else you know about him, such as when
> he was
> married, his occupation, children etc.. More help might then be
> forthcoming.
>
> Dick Mathews
>
> PE THOMAS wrote:
> > I have a huge problem which to me appears insuperable.
> >
> > I am seeking the birthplace of Robert William MCGREGOR, about
> 1814 (from 1861 London Census), and also his wife Harriet
> BEANWHITE or BRANWHITE, about 1815 (again fron 1861 Census. Robert
> William gives his birthplace as simply Essex, whilst Harriet's is
> indecipherable. I have the McGregor family documented from 1861,
> when they are in London, to the present day.
> >
> > Can anyone offer any assistance/suggestions. Any input would be
> much appreciated
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Sam Thomas
> >
> >
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