Finding George Courtney c1841

When questions were asked about where in the south of Ireland our ancestors came from, the response from my maternal grandmother Mona Roberts (nee Murphy) to her children was always Waterford and Wexford.  Her Murphy line family from Wexford, but in my research to date I have found no connections to Waterford. Could she be referring to the ancestry of the mysterious Elizabeth Bateman/Kennedy, her paternal grandmother?  Elizabeth is said to have come from Limerick which is not that far away. Or, could it be the Courtney's that came from Waterford?  Was she referring to Wexford as her side of the family and Waterford as being her husband Ted's side?  Ted does write in his memoirs that his mother had a 'little Irish in her makeup'. After many years research, I was contacted by another researcher who suggested George Courtney of Waterford might be an appropriate person to explore.  This George came from Lismore in Waterford, a beautiful place we visited on spec in 2...

Where are Abigail, George and Alberta on the night of the England, Scotland and Wales census of 3rd April 1881?  Could they have been in Ireland?  It is understood a census was taken there that night but  records were later destroyed. At the time of the 1881 census, daughters Edith and Abigail were lodging at Madiera Vale, in the small village of Holdenhurst with a couple by the name of William and Jane Brown.   Were they attending school or there for some other reason? Their mother Abigail can be found in all later Hampshire censuses but not 1881.  George and daughter Alberta cannot be found in any subsequent census.  Did they die?  To date, I have been unable to find a death record for either of them.  Did they all go overseas, perhaps to Ireland or Saint Helena?  Family anecdotes suggests connections to these places that have yet to be found.   Filling up the census paper.   Punch 1851 PD ********** This blog is de...

Edith Courtenay is listed as the daughter of Arthur 'George' and Abigail in the 1871 census.  However, it is unclear whether she is in fact the biological daughter of George.  Edith was born in Forton Hampshire in 1867, her birth was registered under the name of PAICE and no father listed on the certificate.    Edith's son Albert was born in 1886, whilst known as Courtney in all records throughout his life, his birth was also registered under the name of Albert PAICE .   This suggests that perhaps Edith knew she was not the child of Arthur 'George'.   At the time of the 1881 census, she and her sister Abigail are lodging at Madiera Vale, in the small village of Holdenhurst with William and Jane Brown.   Martha Paice nee Marsh and Henry Paice , are also visiting;   Henry and Martha are half siblings to their mother, Abigail nee Paice.   A  Downer family is also living next door. Holdenhurst, Moule map c1835 By the time of the 1891 censu...

Arthur or George or William?  Courtney or Courtenay?  Which is it, or is he someone else entirely? 'George' remains my most elusive ancestor.    I published my first blog about our mystery man, my 2nd great grandfather, the father of Mums paternal grandmother Abigail COURTNEY in 2018.  You can view that post  on my genemonkey blog at  Wordpress .   You can find all I know about him and his descendants at  Wikitree.   I call him George as that is the name his wife and descendants have used in the records. This entire blog is dedicated to documenting everything I have looked at in terms of finding my elusive 2nd great grandfather.  You can find a summary of my research  here , but please note it is a progressive 'works in progress' . Essentially, there are only 3 key records of his existence, all of which are conflicting!  Note:  The age in the census actually says 30 (not 36), so his birthdate is probably c1...