Hi, I have a hole in my family tree and am hoping someone can help me. My great-grandad was Albert James who married Florence Preest (born 1886) in 1915. They had children Helen, Shelia, Hugh, William & Jack (my Grandad). I have the Preest line pretty sussed, but I can't track down any info on Albert James prior to the marriage to allow me to track back that line further. Can anyone help ?

Hi Julia

Do you have a copy of their marriage certificate? Florence lived in Ayleburton and their marriage was registered in Chepstow, so it's possible he lived on the Monmouth border. Do you know his age or his occupation?

Mary

No I dont have their marriage certificate yet, but I might have to consider it. I believe they settled in Tutshill (maybe spelt wrong ?) so they were in the district of Chepstow but still in Glos (I think). I dont know what his occuptaion was but the family rumour is that she was well-to-do and him not so I assume a labourer of some sorts. My Grandad was their eldest child and it was only found out after he died that he was a year older than he had led everyone to believe throughout his life (told everyone he was born in 1916 when it was 1915) so I assume it was a rushed/hushed wedding and thats why I'm struggling to find details of the marriage or Jack's birth. I dont have any details on Albert apart from the marriage date.

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=11080#p11082

Year: 1886
Month: Feb
Day: 19
Parents_Surname: PREEST
Child_Forenames: Florence
Fathers_Forenames: Thomas Grantley
Mothers_Forenames: Charlotte
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Aylburton
Occupation: Commercial Traveller
Officiating_Minister: G B Shsrpe
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes: [not numbered]
Register_Reference: PFC 209 IN 1/6
Page_Number: 59
Parish_Chapel: Lydney

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Name: Florence Preest
Name: Albert James
Year of Registration: 1915
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
Spouse's Surname: Preest
District: Chepstow
County: Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 13

Name: Jack James
Year of Registration: 1915
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Mother's Maiden Name: Preest
District: Monmouth (1837-1939)
County: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 25

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Slowhands, have you got any birth info on Albert James so i can trace the family backwards from him ?

Lance Corporal Albert James Married Florence Preest 29th January 1915

I bet it's this one - just to be annoying!

Record_ID: 208055
Entry_Number: 45
Year: 1883
Month: Jul
Day: 19
Parents_Surname: JAMES
Child_Forenames: Albert
Fathers_Forenames: [not stated]
Mothers_Forenames: Lydia
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: o[f] t[his] p[arish]
Occupation: [not stated]
Officiating_Minister:
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: [1]s[on] o[f] [2]single
Notes:
Register_Reference: 1882-1895
Page_Number:
Parish_Chapel: Chepstow Monmouth
Soundex: J520

Thanks for that. Looks like Lydia James wasnt married (possibly widowed during pregnancy) when she had Albert in 1883 (hence no fathers name on the baptism record), but married a Stephen Large soon after in 1888. This give me a starting block to research the tree so thanks again!

I suspect the marriage cert will help , hopefully with an age and some parent detail for Albert, it may also confirm age/parents for Florence ( you did say how you had 1886 as her year of birth)

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

I have details on Florence Preest going back if you need anything.
Nicky

Hello pclark - I've got to ask, how do you know the exact marriage date and that Albert was a Lance Corporal?

Mary

Hi

Have it in my tree as Florence in my Grans cousin

Found out the info from the Aylburton marriage register at the Glos records office.

Pete

was there anything recorded in the register to help narrow the search for Albert ?

Age ? Father? Residence etc

thanks

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Hi

Sorry no.

I never did seacrh for the actual certifiacte on the microfiche copy.
I think it should be there though

Pete

Well, it looks like Lydia James's family originated from Caldicot, then she was a servent in Swansea (where daughter Mary James was born), then was a servent in Chepstow (where Albert James was born), and then married in 1888 five years after Albert was born to a Stephen Large where she settled in Mathern and had another daughter Clara.

Either I've got confused or she had both Albert and Mary out of wedlock. I bank on that I've got things wrong. I can't find any trace of Mary James prior to the marriage.

BTW Sorry just realised that I'm talking outside the remit of the forum. I moved from the Forest of Dean as a child and for some reason I thought Caldicot was in Glos! Albert's Son Jack (my Grandad) settled in Lydney so I hope I am still losely complying ;)

Sorry just realised that I'm talking outside the remit of the forum.

They "moved through" the Forest so thats good enough :-)

1841
George James abt 1813 Monmouthshire, Wales Caldicot, Monmouthshire
Mary Ann James abt 1822 Monmouthshire, Wales Caldicot, Monmouthshire
Ann James abt 1836 Monmouthshire, Wales Caldicot, Monmouthshire

1851
George James abt 1813 Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales Head Caldicot, Monmouthshire
Mary James abt 1821 Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales Wife Caldicot, Monmouthshire
Ann James abt 1841 Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales Daughter Caldicot, Monmouthshire
Henry James abt 1850 Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Caldicot, Monmouthshire
Lilie James abt 1845 Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales Daughter Caldicot, Monmouthshire
Sarah James abt 1843 Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales Daughter Caldicot, Monmouthshire
William James abt 1848 Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Caldicot, Monmouthshire

1861
George James abt 1814 Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales Head Caldicot, Monmouthshire
Mary James abt 1821 Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales Wife Caldicot, Monmouthshire
Henry James abt 1850 Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Caldicot, Monmouthshire
James James abt 1847 Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales Servant Caldicot, Monmouthshire
Lydia James abt 1845 Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales Daughter Caldicot, Monmouthshire

1871
Lydia James abt 1846 Caldecote, Monmouthshire, Wales Servant Oystermouth, Glamorgan

1881
Lydia James abt 1845 Caldicot, Monmouth, Wales Servant Chepstow, Monmouthshire

1891
Stephen Large abt 1849 Mathern, Monmouthshire, Wales Head Mathern and St Pierre, Monmouthshire
Lydia Large abt 1847 Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales Wife Mathern and St Pierre, Monmouthshire
Clara Large abt 1885 Mathern, Monmouthshire, Wales Daughter Mathern and St Pierre, Monmouthshire
Albert James abt 1884 Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales Stepson Mathern and St Pierre, Monmouthshire
Mary James abt 1876 Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales Stepdaughter Mathern and St Pierre, Monmouthshire

1901
Stephen Large abt 1851 Mathern, Monmouthshire, Wales Head Muthern and St Pierre, Monmouthshire
Lydia Large abt 1848 Caldicote, Monmouthshire, Wales Wife Muthern and St Pierre, Monmouthshire
Albert James abt 1883 Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales Stepson Muthern and St Pierre, Monmouthshire

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

SEARCHING FOR MEMBERS OF JAMES FAMILY AROUND 1884 UPWORD. MOTHER WAS ANN HUGHES.
COULD WE BE RELATED? JUDY