Sorry - starting again. I see the previous thread was getting over-long.

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=page&id=2 gives the marriage of Thomas (stonecutter) James's son Theophilus (Benjamin's bro), who is already described as a 'gardener' there, in 1849. Marrying Elizabeth Butt - hasn't that name cropped up before ?

An older Theophilus, also a gardener, would make perfect sense, if both Benjamin and the younger Theophilus end up gardening.

There was a Theophilus James baptised in 1818 (Mitcheldean Cong.), parents George and Ann; age about right, but parents' names don't ring any bell. Maybe ?

Apologies to m p griffiths - I see you've already mentioned this marriage. Its significance is dawning ....

If you go through the Gloucestershire Genealogical Database for JAMES - non-conformists - there might be a clue.....

1830

Thomas JAMES -
Parish: Newland
Occupation: Stone-Cutter

Baptism Date: 10 October 1830

Forename: Elizabeth

mother: Sarah F WHITE

Newent, Culver Street, Chapel, Methodist

----

Just throwing this in, as because in later census the surname was transcribed as JOYNES

Fod recods

Marriage at Walford - 10 October 1813

Thomas JEYNES - Bachelor, residence, Walford

married

Sarah WHITE, Spinster, Walford

witnesses: Elizabeth PARRY, James WEBB

Thanks very much, m p. That's another one to store for possible future use ! Thomas James 'Stonecutter' seems to have got around a bit.

You will also see on the same data base

a Theophilus JAMES - parents George & Ann - 11 January 1818

And yes, I found today that using the soundex facility, both Jeynes and I think Joynes come up with James. Even more confusing .....