Finding George Courtney c1841

It occurred to me that Abigail and Edith Courtney may have been sent away to school at Holdenhurst whilst their parents had gone away.  Perhaps they had family residing there.  They were clearly not estranged from their mothers family as their cousins Henry and Martha Paice were visiting at the time of the 1881 census, suggesting their stay with the Brown family at Holdenhurst was not just a few days. Most of the Paice family lived around Droxford, Hampshire.  Their fathers family was possibly from Middlesex.   There was one Courtney family residing in Holdenhurst at the time of the 1881 census.  Four women of independent means born in Ireland and boarding at 'Stoney Crop'.  Sidney, Eleanor, Charlotte and Florence Courtney.  It does accord with the family story that the Courtneys were 'a bit better' - assuming that means wealthy of sorts?  Also, in his memoirs Ted Roberts describes his mother Abigail Courtney to have 'a little bit of Irish ...

At the time of the 1881 census, Abigail Courtney and her sister Edith were lodging in the small hamlet of Holdenhurst Hampshire, with a married couple named William and Jane Brown.   Martha Paice nee Marsh   and  Henry Paice  were also visiting.   Henry and Martha are half siblings to the mother of Abigail and Edith, Abigail Courtney nee Paice  (wife of 'George') .   A  Downer family is also living next door, who may also be possible connections to the Paice family. Why are they in Holdenhurst and where are their parents?   They are listed as scholars, so perhaps they had they been sent away to school, but where is their sister Alberta, twin to Abigail?   This photo is believed to be George’s daughter Abigail Courtney at school in England.  Could it have been taken in Holdenhurst?  She’s said to be the one with the white scarf around her neck near the tear on the bottom left hand corner. Believed to be Abigail Co...

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...