James Burns
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 12 Mar 1850 - Wolverhampton
Christening:
Death: 1920 - Pool St, W'ton
Burial: 18 Apr 1920 - Merridale (General) Cemetery
Parents
Father: James X Burns
Mother: Mary Mason
Spouses and Children
1. *Sarah Ward
Marriage: 1876 - Wolverhampton
Children:
1. Charles J Burns
2. Annie Burns
3. Alice Burns
4. Albert Burns
5. Robert Burns
6. Harry Burns
7. John Burns
8. Ethel Burns
Notes
General:
Marriage Notes (Sarah Ward)
b:James Burns Jan-Feb-Mar 1850 Wolverhampton 17 410
bap:31 Mar 1850 James son of James & Mary Burns Townwell Fold Locksmith John Ford Born 12 March 15/0253
1851: Townwell Fold, Wolverhampton. James Baume 34 b:W'ton Stock Lock mkr; w Mary 31 Polisher/Japanner; James 1 (nxt dr to Masons)
1861: St Mark's, W'ton. James Bourne 43 b:W'ton Locksmith; w Mary 41; James 11; Elizabeth 8; John 5; John Mason 39; Joseph Mason 32
1871: 2 North Rd, W'ton. James Burns 53 b:W'ton Stock Locksmith; w Mary 51 Polisher/Japanner; James 21 Spectacle Frame mkr; Betsey 19 Polisher/Japanner; John 15 Brass dresser; Joseph Masson 42 Stock Locksmith
1881: 1 Ct Charles St, W'ton. James Burns 33 b:Scotland (???) Spectacle Frame Maker; w Sarah Burns 28 b:W'ton; Annie M. 1
1891: 24 Thomas St, W'ton. James Burns 42 b:W'ton Spectacle Maker; w Sarah Burns 38; Chas J 13 Spectacle Frame Maker; Annie 11; Albert 7; Alice 9; Robert 4; Harry 2; John 4m; Joseph Mason 62
1901: 49 Thomas St, W'ton. James Burns 51 Spectacle Frame Maker; w Sarah 49; Charles J 23; Annie 21; Albert 17 Basket mkr, blind; Harry 12 Barber's asst; Jack 10; Ethel 8 (all b:W'ton)
1911: 22a Mander Street, Wolverhampton. James Burns 62 Spectical Frame mkr; w Sarah 59 Assisting in a Business, News Agency; Albert 27 N ews papaer agent; Harry 22 ditto; Robert 24 Fitter, Oxygen wks; Jack 20 Brass filer, Brass foundry; Ethel 14; rel Emily Harding 17; rel Marria Harding 50 wid
bur:18 Apr 1920 James Burns 70years Pool Street St.Paul Spectacle frame maker 23372 93812 G5/C13 G5/04727
warning there is another:
b:James Burns Jul-Aug-Sep 1850 Wolverhampton 17 348
possibly
James Burns & Sarah Ward Apr-May-Jun 1876 Wolverhampton 6b 731
I suspect this is the other James b1850:
8 Aug 1873 James Burns 22 b Tailor Bilston Street David Burns Weaver & Lizzie Eddowes 20 s Bilston Street William Eddowes Tin plate worker B William & Elizabeth Eddowes Thomas C.Britten St.Geo.
1 Mar 1874 Agnes Jane dau.of James & Elizabeth Burns Bilston Street Tailor T.C.Britten St.George
James Burns
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 1858 - West Ham, Essex
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Parents
Father: John Burns
Mother: Mary Dunn
Notes
General:
It has been suggested that James was born on 26 Dec 1857 in West Ham which would point to this set of records:
parents:
1851: 23 Well St, Stratford, West Ham. John Benns 34 Labourer, w Mary 30, John 4, William 3, Thomas 2
bc: 26 Dec 1857 James Burns. Well St, Stratford, Essex f: John - Fish Hawker
b: James Burns 1858 Jan-Feb-Mar West Ham Essex, Greater London v4a p6
1861: 7 James Ct, Well St, West Ham. f John Burns 45 b Middlesex Edmonton, m Mary 42, John 14, William 12, Thomas 10, Catherine 8, Peter 6, Bridget 11, James 3 b Essex West Ham, Edward 1
1871: 5 Elizabeth Gardens, Stratford, West Ham. f John 54, m Mary 53, William 27, Thomas 21, Peter 16, Bridget 13, James 13 b Essex Stratford, Edward 11
1881: missing from UK census but probably in the East Indies
1891:
1901: Essex > Colchester > Colchester, First Ward > District Garrison (2) > 37. James Burns 40 marr b:Wanstead, Essex (Head with younger men from Stratford)
Three reasons why this is not the man who married Charlotte Grainger in Wolverhampton in 1882:
a) West Ham (bp on bc) is in Essex not Middlesex - the bp given on the 1911census for the hus of Charlotte
b) This James's father was a fishmonger/labourer not a 'Gun Locksmith' as indicated on the marriage cert to Charlotte.
c) Recently released military records indicate that this James seems to have been a military man who joined the Essex regiment on Aug 1879 when aged 21yr 6 months and was finally discharged, still unmarried, in 1907. He is recorded as a bricklayer from Stratford, Essex (like br William?) and his father (listed as next of kin) was John Burns. Between '81and '87 he served in the East Indies. When enlisting in 1891 he gives his residence as: 38 Francis Rd, Stratford which is the next street to Well St.
James Burns
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: Abt 1859 - Enfield, Middlesex, London
Christening:
Death: 6 May 1928 - Wolverhampton
Burial:
Parents
Father: John Burns
Mother: Betsey Sheward
Spouses and Children
1. *Charlotte Grainger
Marriage: 27 Aug 1882 - St Lukes, Wolverhampton
Children:
1. Tryphena Burns
2. George James Burns
3. Annie Burns (kc)
4. Thomas Burns
Notes
General:
Research:
My thanks to Tony Smith for the pointer to the 1871 census which was badly transcribed by Ancestry. In my opinion, this record more than any other 'clinches the deal' regarding James's parents and we can push back another couple of generations with a little more certainty.
This is a possibility - 'Burns' is easily misread as 'Brown' and this 'Brown' family do not seem to appear in any census other than '61:
1861: 1 Dolphin Cottage (nr Grove Rd W), Enfield. John Brown 25 b:Wolverhampton, Gun Lock maker; w Betsy 23 b:Wolverhampton; Elizabeth 3 b:Birmingham; Albert 2 b:Waltham Cross (It is also possible that 'James' been misread as 'Albert'. I cannot find any other record of this Albert in any other year. In 1871, there is a 13yr old Elizabeth Burns b:Birmingham still living in Enfield (in service) - but no Elizabeth Brown.)
1871: 19 Salop St, Wolverhampton. Elizabeth Sheward (Anc:Shuara) 52 b:Montford Salop wid Greengrocer; dau Betsey Burns (Anc:Broms) 32 b:Kinver marr. wife of Gun locksmith; s (sic: should be gs of Head) James Burns (Anc:Broms) 10 b:Enfield Middlesex, Errand boy; bdr Thomas Ellis 40; bdr William Ingram 32; bdr Able Rutter (Anc:Putter)78
1881: 20 Salop St, W'ton. Betsy Burns 42? wid, m Elizabeth Sheward 75, bdrs: Thomas Ellis 50, Mary Ann Hayward 34, George 5, John 8, Mary Andrews 23, Albert 2, Phillip 0, son of head James Burns 21 b:W'ton, Brasscaster
1882m Charlotte Grainger 28 res:Finchfield & James Burns 23 occ:Brasscaster f: John, Gun Locksmith
1891: Bridgnorth Rd, Compton, Wton James Burns 32 b:London, Brass Caster; w Charlotte 37, Tryphina 8, George 6, Annie 4, Thomas 1
1901: Bridgnorth Rd James Burns (Anc:Buras) 41 b:London Brasscaster, w Charlotte 46, George 16, Annie 14, Thomas 11
1911: 107 Bridgnorth Rd. James Burns 54 b:Middlesex Brass Caster, w Charlotte 59, Thomas 21, gs James Roberts (Anc:Robits) 6
d: James Burns 68 1928 Wolverhampton 6b 515
So, where was James born and where was he in 1861 (assuming that he was born before then)? I still have no records for his father John other than his marriage to Betsey Sheward in 1856 in St John's, Wolverhampton and a possible listing of them together in Enfield in 1861 under the name 'Brown'.Marriage Notes (Charlotte Grainger)
A Wild Goose Chase:
It had been suggested that James was born on 26 Dec 1857 in West Ham. Here are my thoughts as to why this is not the case:
Bear in mind that for our James:
a) On his marriage certificate, he said that his father was John, a 'Gun Locksmith'
b) On the 1911 census, although somewhat unclear, James records that he was born in Middlesex (actually: 'London, Middx'). Have a look for yourself
These are the census records for the 'West Ham' James:
[Remember, not our James]
1851: 23 Well St, Stratford, West Ham. f:John Benns 34 Labourer, m:Mary 30, John 4, William 3, Thomas 2
bc: 26 Dec 1857 James Burns. Well St, Stratford, Essex f: John - Fish Hawker
b: James Burns 1858 Jan-Feb-Mar West Ham Essex, Greater London 4a 6
1861: 7 James Ct, Well St, West Ham. John Burns 45 b Middlesex Edmonton. Fishmonger, w Mary 42, John 14, William 12, Thomas 10, Catherine 8, Peter 6, Bridget 11, James 3 b:Essex West Ham, Edward 1
1871: 5 Elizabeth Gardens, Stratford, West Ham. John 54 Labourer (unemp), w Mary 53, William 27, Thomas 21, Peter 16, Bridget 13, James 13 b:Essex Stratford, Edward 11
1881: none found - see below
1891: none found - see below
1901: Essex > Colchester > Colchester, First Ward > District Garrison (2) > 37. James Burns 40 marr b:Wanstead, Essex
Note: there is a separate set of pages in this database for this James and his parents and siblings - use the Names or Surnames index to look for the 1958 James or his mother Mary Dunn
[/Not our James]
These records create three inconsistencies with what we know for our James:
a) Stratford, West Ham is in Essex not Middlesex
b) West Ham James's father was a fishmonger/labourer not a Gun Locksmith.
c) Recently released military records indicate that West Ham James seems to have been a military man who joined the Essex regiment in Aug 1879 when aged 21yr 6 months and was finally discharged, still unmarried, in 1907. He is recorded as being a bricklayer from Stratford, Essex (like br William). Between '81 and '87 he served in the East Indies hence his absence from the '81 census. When re-enlisting in 1891 he gives his residence as: 38 Francis Rd, Stratford which is the next street to Well St.
Now, back to 'our' James:
James Burns & Charlotte Grainger 1882 Jul-Aug-Sep, Wolverhampton, Vol:6b Page: 759
27 Aug 1882 St Luke's Parish Church, Wolverhampton.
James Burns 23 b Brasscaster Finchfield f:John Burns Gun Locksmith
& Charlotte Grainger 28 s --- Finchfield f:George Grainger Gardener (both signed own names). Wit: Edward Grainger (X) & Mary Grainger (br & sil)
James X Burns
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 1817 - Wolverhampton
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Parents
Father: James Burns
Mother: Ann Southall
Spouses and Children
1. *Mary Mason
Marriage: 13 Oct 1844 - St.Peter's, Wolverhampton
Children:
1. James Burns
2. Elizabeth Burns
3. John Burns
Notes
General:
Probably not 'our' James.Research:
The '41 census suggests that this James is the son of James b1796 & Frances - so unless his father first married an Ann who died and then married this Frances, there must be another James b1817. The '41 census records that all members of the family were all born 'out of county' (although James isn't there and in subsequent census he claims to have been born in W'ton) and no baptisms of children for parents 'James & Frances' have been found - yet.
1841: Townwell Fold, W'ton. James Bourn (Anc:Brown) 45 b:not in county Lab; Frances 45; Frances 15; Alice 10; Elizabeth 5 (nxt dr to Masons inc Mary) - but where's James?
1844: m Mary Mason
1851: Townwell Fold, Wolverhampton. James Baume 34 b:W'ton Stock Lock mkr; w Mary 31 Polisher/Japanner; James 1 (nxt dr to Masons)
1861: St Mark's, W'ton. James Bourne 43 b:W'ton Locksmith; w Mary 41; James 11; Elizabeth 8; John 5; John Mason 39; Joseph Mason 32
1871: 2 North Rd, W'ton. James Burns 53 b:W'ton Stock Locksmith; w Mary 51 Polisher/Japanner; James 21 Spectacle Frame mkr; Betsey 19 Polisher/Japanner; John 15 Brass dresser; Joseph Masson 42 Stock Locksmith
Marriage Notes (Mary Mason)
21 Feb 1847 William son of James & Mary Burns Townwell Fold Locksmith Dr.Slade 13/1856
31 Mar 1850 James son of James & Mary Burns Townwell Fold Locksmith John Ford Born 12 March 15/0253
30 Jan 1853 Elizabeth dau.of James & Mary Ann Burns Townwell Fold Locksmith J.O.Dakeyne 15/0755
16 Sep 1855 John son of James & Mary Burns Townwell Fold Locksmith Geo.Cottom St.Peter's 15/1270
11 May 1873 John Burns 19 b Stock lock smith 8 Dudley Road James Burns Stock lock smith & Elizabeth Lloyd 18 s x Hall Street Samuel Lloyd Maltster B Thomas & Jane Clarke Thomas Orrell St.Luke 1/0337
13 Oct 1844 James Bourn full b Locksmith Wolverhampton f:J.Bourn Locksmith & Mary Mason full s x Wolverhampton f:J.Mason Labourer B T.Holding & J.Biddulph Jr. Geo.Cottom St.Peters 33/0003
Joan C Burns
Sex: F
Parents
Father: Eric Bernard Burns
Mother: Sarah J Powers
Johanna Burns
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth: 1881 - West Ham, London
Christening:
Death: 1886 - West Ham, London
Burial:
Parents
Father: William Burns
Mother: Johanna
John Burns
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 1847 - West Ham, London
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Parents
Father: John Burns
Mother: Mary Dunn
Spouses and Children
John Burns
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 1834 - Wolverhampton
Christening: 30 Mar 1834 - St.Peter's, Wolverhampton
Death: Bef 1881
Burial:
Parents
Father: James Burns
Mother: Ann Southall
Spouses and Children
1. *Betsey Sheward
Marriage: 10 Mar 1856 - Wolverhampton
Children:
1. Elizabeth Burns
2. James Burns
3. Albert (maybe) Burns
Notes
General:
Marriage Notes (Betsey Sheward)
Known facts:
1. From son James's marr.cert:
James Burns 23 b Brasscaster Finchfield f:John Burns Gun Locksmith
2. In '71 son James is with his mother Betsey (a gun locksmith's wife) and grandmother Elizabeth Sheward
3. Betsey Sheward had married John Burns, a 22 yr old locksmith, in 1856 - placing his birth about 1834.
4. Betsey was a widow by 1881.
The only record found for a baptism in W'ton in this year is for a Bourne rather than Burns. There is a birth record for a Burns but this is for 1838:
b:John Burns Jul-Aug-Sep 1838 Wolverhampton 17 331
(Parents unknown as yet) - this is probably someone we need to be wary of.
A detailed look at the records show that the surname is variously written as Burns, Burn, Bourn, Bourne, Bourns (although not Byrne, as yet) and misread as Brown, Bowen and Bowin - maybe others.
possibly then:
bap:30 Mar 1834 John son of James & Ann Bourne Locksmith. St Peter's
1841:
1851:
This is a possibility - 'Burns' is frequently misread as 'Brown' and this 'Brown' family do not seem to appear in any census other than '61:
1861: 1 Dolphin Cottage (nr Grove Rd W), Enfield. John Brown 25 b:Wolverhampton, Gun Lock maker; w Betsy 23 b:Wolverhampton; Elizabeth 3* b:Birmingham; Albert 2 (has 'James' been misread as 'Albert'? I can't find any other record of this person)
1871:
* In 1871, there is a 13yr old Elizabeth Burns (b:Birmingham) still living in Enfield (in service) - but no Elizabeth Brown.
John Burns & Betsy Sherrard 1856 Jan-Feb-Mar Wolverhampton 6b 567
10 Mar 1856 John Burns 22 b x Keymaker Worcester Street f:James Burns Locksmith & Betsy Sheward 21 s Worcester Street f:Thomas Sheward Farmer Henry & Ellen Priest F.O.White St.John's Wolverhampton
Ellen Priest was born Ellen Burns b1836, his sister
John Burns
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: Abt 1816 - London - Possibly
Christening:
Death: 1888 - West Ham, Essex
Burial:
Parents
Father: William Burns
Mother: Elizabeth
Spouses and Children
1. *Mary Dunn
Marriage:
Children:
1. John Burns
2. William Burns
3. Thomas Burns
4. Catherine Burns
5. Peter Burns
6. Bridget Burns
7. James Burns
8. Edward Burns
Notes
General:
This is likey to be the father of the James who joined the Essex Regiment until 1907 and not the one who married Charlotte Grainger in 1882 in Wolverhampton.
[
1851: 23 Well St, Stratford, West Ham. John Benns 34 Labourer, w Mary 30, John 4, William 3, Thomas 2
1857: Well St, Fish Hawker on b of James (from bc 26 Dec 57).
1861: 7 James Court Well St, Stratford, West Ham. John 45 Fishmonger b Edmonton, Middlesex with w Mary 42, John 14 (farm lab), William 12, Thomas 10, Catherine 8, Peter 6, Bridget 4, James 3, Edward 1
1871: 5 Elizabeth Gardens, Stratford, West Ham. John 54 Labourer (unemp), w Mary 53, William 27, Thomas 21, Peter 16, Bridget 13, James 13, Edward 11
1881: 5 Elizabeth Gardens, Stratford, West Ham. John 64 Ret fishmonger widr/imbecile, s William (bricklayer) 32, Johanna 32, Johanna 8m
d1888 John Burns 71 Oct-Nov-Dec West Ham, Essex, Greater London Vol:4a, Page:105
Possible brother William b1823
]
John Burns
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 1890 - Wolverhampton
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Parents
Father: James Burns
Mother: Sarah Ward