Finding George Courtney c1841

  Whilst continuing my  genetic analysis   looking for potential segments inherited from George Courtney, I have discovered a number of groups that seem to suggest a connection to Norfolk, England.  Two  groups of particular interest have been identified as potential Courtney-Paice segments but are still being analysed to determine whether they were inherited from Abigail's mother Abigail Paice or her father  George Courtney  - our target ancestor.   C05_M_M205:  Courtney or Paice? In 2020 a small  triangulated group was identified on chromosome 5 at 23andme, consisting of 3 DNA matches to my family, all >20cMs and who shared the common ancestors of Glenn Oscar Rich and his wife Golda Emma Sweet, through two of their sons.  This suggested we  might  have a connection through an ancestor of either Glenn or Golda.  Most of their ancestors go back in the US for several generations.   On the Rich side, i...

In 1892 George's daughter Abigail Courtney married Edward Roberts at the Holy Trinity Church in Hampshire.  Witnesses to the marriage were Edith Mary Courtney (Abigail's half sister) and Arthur Thomas Eustace Newberry.  Who was this Arthur?  Was he a relative?   Many years ago I researched Arthur's family but could not find an obvious connection.  His father was a seedsman similar to Edward's father, so perhaps he may have been an acquaintance of the Roberts family? The Newberry's appeared to have been predominantly from Wiltshire.  His mother, Mary Griffiths, came from Wales and at that time I was unable to identify her family in Wales given the common surname.  Edward's fathers family were said to have been originally from Wales so I concluded the connection was probably on that line and not on the Courtney side at all.   The name Arthur did still intrigue me as our missing George Courtney was recorded as 'Arthur George' in the 1871 ce...

According to the records on Find My Past for the 1871 England Census there were 70 records for the name COURTENAY recorded at Middlesex.  This equates to 31 family groups.  Could George be related to one of them?  I am progressively adding links to these families at Wikitree.   Filling up the census paper.   Punch 1851 PD 1.  Mile End Old Town, Jeoffries Terrace      * Maria COURTENAY b1829 in Blois, France (possibly a Courtenay by birth?)      * Louisa TURNER b1847 (husband William b1841)     * Henry COURTENAY b1857     * Percy COURTENAY b1862     * John COURTENAY b1867 2.  Bethnal Green #1, Nelson Place      * Elizabeth COURTENAY b1841 nee McLenan (widow of Robert J COURTENAY of Ireland)     * Augusta COURTENAY b1859     * Sydney COURTENAY b1864     * Adeline COURTENAY b1868 3.  Bethnal Green #2, Charles Street    ...

When I started my research of Arthur George's origins I considered various people by the name of Arthur, George or William Courtney born in Middlesex and still living in the district at the time of the 1871 census. The first theory I explored probably about 20 years ago now, was George William Courtney, baptised at Shoredich in 1839 to parents George Frederick Courtney and his wife Elizabeth Sarah Crow.  The baptism certainly seemed to be in the right timeframe to be my man, but he was already recorded in the 1871 as being home with his wife Elizabeth (nee Duke) that night.  How could he be in two places at one time? Less than a mile walk between the two residences! My Arthur George Courtney was recorded in the 1871 census at 14 Sun Street, Woolwich.  Located behind Church Hill, Sunbury Street is the current name for Sun Street (originally Sun Alley).  George William Courtney m Elizabeth Duke was recorded at 7 Frederick Lane, Greenwich.  The two residences are a...

Before I created this blog, I was publishing my research theories on George's profile at Wikitree .  In 2016 a fellow Wikitreer asked me ' Have you considered John Courtenay's (1775, Ireland-1851, London) grandsons?'  She went on to suggest that one of them was named George who was baptised in 1848. This was an extremely attractive suggestion as these Courtenay's were from Waterford, an area suggested by my grandmother as an ancestral place I have yet to find.  However, was this George too young to be my ancestor?   Could his birth date in the 1871 census have been overstated by 13 years?   His twin daughters were born in 1871, so if he was their father he would have been around 24 which still seems plausible. George Courtenay was born in Middlesex in about 1847 and baptised on 8 Jan 1848, his parents James Courtenay and Louisa Ward.  The grandson of John Courtenay 1775 who married Mary Hogg.  The line traces back to Ensign Edward Courtenay...

In the 1881 England Census taken at Staffordshire, we find a George COURTNEY listed living with his family, occupation described as a brass dresser, similar to our missing George.  He states he was born in Middlesex, could this be him? 1881 census I had a lot of difficulty finding this family anywhere else including any marriage in the right timeframe to Sarah.  After some years I finally discovered the family in the 1871 census listed as George POUNTNEY!   From further research I discovered his parents were Richard Pountney and Sophia Barron, grandparents John and Ann probably from Warwickshire.  Given he is alive and well living in Staffordshire in the 1871 census makes him seem unlikely to be my George. Family Tree of George 1843 on WikiTree (@WikiTreeOfficial) However, one AncestryDNA match (@ 26cMs) has an ancestor listed as Olive Phoebe Courtney of Staffordshire.  I believe her name is actually Phoebe Ann Courtney, her grandparents William Courtney an...

Alberta was the twin of my 2nd great grandmother Abigail Courtney, another daughter of our mysterious George Courtney.  Her birth and baptism were both registered along with Abigail, yet she only appears in the 1871 census and cannot be found in subsequent censuses.  No death record can been found. There is no record for her mother Abigail (Paice) Courtney in the 1881 census either, so perhaps she is with her? All records for Alberta indicate she resided in Woolwich, Kent.  You can read more on Wikitree . Richard Rixon, 1841 – Saint, A., Guillery, P. (ed.), Woolwich – Survey of London, Volume 48, p. 60. Yale Books, London, 2012.  Death Records No relevant death records can be found at https://www.freebmd.org.uk/ between 1871-1892 An infant Emma Jane Courtney, died in 1871, Bridport Lancashire, 5a 272 - unlikely A death record for an Abigail Courtney, died 1873 aged 1 at Greenwich was investigated.  It was a likely place and it was thought the name may have ...

In the 1871 census the newly born twins Abigail and Alberta are 3 months old.  In attendance is Ann Muggeridge a nurse, presumably in attendance to help with the babies.  Could she be a relative of either Abigail or George? Ann is stated as as being born in Marylebone Middlesex (the same place as George) aged 50.  So, perhaps she is more likely to be connected to George. I've researched Ann, her maiden name is Webster. She was married at least twice firstly to James Rudd, then later to John Muggeridge. You can find Ann's profile on Wikitree .   DNA Links In 2018, we found DNA links to two descendants of Ann's daughter Mary Ann Rudd on 5 different chromosomes.  The most significant was the X chromosome.  The X chromosome inheritance path suggests the connection could be via Ann or her husband James Rudd.  You can read more about this match in my 2018 blogpost at Wordpress .  Mary Ann (Rudd) Weston's family tree on WikiTree  (@WikiTreeOffi...

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...

This blog documents my ongoing research to establish the origins of   Arthur/George/William Courtenay/Courtney   my mothers paternal great grandfather.  I first started seriously researching my Courtenay/Courtney line with traditional research in about 2006 and explored many possible theories as to his identity.  In late 2010 I undertook DNA testing expecting my primary theory to be immediately confirmed.   I'm still searching... . Read my initial post -  The facts about George, or is it Arthur or William? For an overview of my research relating to George, please go to the  Research Summary . For more information about all my family research, please check out my  Genemonkey Website . This blog is an ongoing 'works in progress'.  Please contact me if you can help, via the form on the left hand side of this page. Featured image: By Richard Rixon, 1841 – Saint, A., Guillery, P. (ed.), Woolwich – Survey of London, Volume 48, p. 60. Yal...