George Scrace BIRCH

  General Notes:

BORN. 14 JANUARY 1830, PARISH OF WASHINGTON, COUNTY OF SUSSEX, ENGLAND.

BAPTISM. 21 FEBRUARY 1830 SAINT MARY, BRYANSTON SQUARE, WESTMINSTER, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND. (RES. 9 BOWLING GREEN BUILDINGS).

MARRIED. 1 JANUARY 1851 ST.NICHOLAS CHURCH, PARISH OF BRIGHTON, COUNTY OF SUSSEX, ENGLAND. (RES. 9 WATERLOO STREET NORTH).

DIED. 7 OCTOBER 1904 UNION INFIRMARY, SUB-DISTRICT OF WEST CROYDON, DISTRICT OF CROYDON, COUNTY OF CROYDON, ENGLAND. (RES. 12 SUNDERLAND ROAD, CROYDON).

  Research Notes:

Born around 1829/30. Parents were Thomas Birch and Lydi a Luckin. They were married in St.Marylebone, London 1829. Going by the Census Reports, George was born in Washingt on, Sussex. The same birth place of his Mother Lydia Luckin . At present there are no account of his birth in Washingto n, Sussex. George could have been Baptized at St.Marylebone aroun d 1829. This could be correct as his 2 Brothers Thomas 183 5 & William 1839 were born in London. Its looks like, his p arents moved to Brighton, Sussex. With the birth of Henr y in 1845.

George Birch married Hannah Hobden in January 1851. Hi s residence at the time was at 9 Waterloo Street North, Bri ghton. On the marriage certificate his profession at the ti me was 'Smith'.

At the time of the 1851 Census, George is now living a t 11 Frederick Place, Sussex. Along with Hannah and new bor n Daughter, 2 Month old Jane Hannah Birch. Jane Hannah woul d only live for 6 Months, cause of her death was Bronchiti s in July 1851. George had his first Son in October 1852 called George F rederick Birch. Three weeks later, George Frederick would a lso die due to Convulsions. George and Hannah would have a third child called Sara h Ann Birch in November 1853. The future of Sarah Ann is no t known.

At the time of the 1861 Census. George and Hannah are no w not in Brighton but in the Parish of St.Pauls, Borough o f Greenwich. Along with a new Daughter called Helena Birch . Born in Deptford 1860. There is no record of Sarah Ann Bi rch. Helena was born at 11 Georgina Terrace, Kinder Street. G eorge's occupation at the time was Blacksmith (Journeyman).

When George and Hannah left Brighton is unknown, must o f been between 1853 & 1860. It looks like George followe d in his Father footsteps. Thomas was originally from Heref ord but settled in Brighton. Thomas had also travelled betw een London and Brighton. Unlike his Father, George would ne ver return to Brighton and would make his life around the C amberwell London area.

At the time of the 1871 Census. Hannah Birch and Daughte r Helena were living at North Street in Ditchling, Sussex . Going by the census, Hannah was still married and livin g with her sister Ann Vincent nee Hobden. What caused the m to move from London is still unclear. There is no record of George Birch in the 1871 Census a t present.

What happens now in the 1871 Census takes a different di rection. Living at 127 St.Stephens Road in the Borough of T ower Hamlets. Is Jane Priscilla Birch aged 28 years old an d married. On the census her occupation is Smiths Wife. Also living there are four children aged from 6 years t o 5 months. There father being George Birch. At present the re is no Marriage Certificate. The oldest child is Lydi a A Birch aged 6 years and born in Newington Butt. At prese nt there is no birth certificate for Lydia. Pre- 1875 an es timated 6 to 10% of births not registered. The next child is Jane Priscilla Birch born on March 186 6 at Newbold Street, Mile End. Parents being George Birch a nd Jane Priscilla Birch nee Griffiths. The occupation for G eorge is Journeyman Blacksmith. For residence on the certif icate for George is 13 Paulin Street, Bermondsey. Whether t his is place of work, not sure. Like George's first marriage their first son would als o be called George. George Henry Griffiths Birch was born o n January 1869 at Three Colts Street, Bow. George Henry Griffiths Birch would later be called Georg e James Birch, Also Alfred Griffiths Birch would be calle d Alfred Robert Birch. Was there a reason to this, not sure. The fourth child on the 1871 Census is Edward Walter Bir ch. Born on October 1870 at Three Colts Street, Bow.

After the 1871 Census, George and Jane Birch would hav e four more Sons. Joseph John Birch 1873, Alfred Griffths B irch 1876 and Henry Birch 1878. William Lewis Birch bein g born at 39 Cator Street, Camberwell in 1881.

At the time of the 1881 Census. George is head of the fa mily and married to Jane. Also living with them are thei r 5 Sons. Three years earlier, Helena Birch had married Walter Ski lton in Camberwell in the year 1878. Whether Helena knew o f her half- brother & sisters not to sure. But both are no w living in Camberwell. George's first wife had also now remarried to William Pa yne from Ditchling, Sussex. In the 1881 Census both Hanna h and Helena with spouses were now living at Salisbury Cott ages in Camberwell. Also there is no record of a Marriage C ertificate between Hannah and William Payne. I wonder whet her the children of Jane & George knew of Hannah Hobden an d the previous marriage to her.

George's 2nd Wife, Jane would die in January 1888 aged 4 5 years old. Cause of her death was Liver problems. On th e death certificate, George address was at Canal Bank.

At the time of the 1891 Census. George is now living alo ne and aged 62 years old. His address at the time is Waterl oo Street, 13 Block I, Camberwell.

George's Daughter Jane aged 25 years old is now head o f the family. Along with her Brothers Edward 21 yrs, John 1 7 yrs and Alfred 14 yrs. Living at 58 Camden Grove North, C amberwell. Could there be a reason why George was not hea d of the family.

In 1895, George's Son George would marry in 1895. But o n the Marriage certificate. George was down as deceased. Wh ether this was a mistake or a reason, not sure. With futur e Marriages of his children, there not much evidence whethe r he was present or not.

At the time of the 1901 Census. George is now 72 years o ld. Living at the Municipal Lodging House in Croydon, Surre y. Hannah, George's first wife is now a Widow aged 72 year s old. Living at Salisbury Cottages in Camberwell. Her deat h is still unknown.

George Birch died in the year of 1904 aged 75 years old . Place of death is Union Infirmary. George was living at 7 2 Sunderland Road, Croydon !. Cause of death was Chronic Br onchitis. The Informant was his Son Edward Walter Birch o f 82 Granard Road, St. George Road, Peckham.

With so many question and no answers. Was George left al one for any reasons. Like to thank Stuart Law in the research of family members. (His wife, descended from Lydia Annie Birch).

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation. BLACKSMITH.

George married Hannah HOBDEN, daughter of Daniel HOBDEN and Mary Ann BEAL, on 1 Jan 1851 in Brighton, Sussex, England. (Hannah HOBDEN was born on 16 Aug 1829 in Ditchling, Sussex, England..)

George next married Jane Priscilla GRIFFITHS, daughter of John GRIFFITHS and Ann Edmondson COUPLAND. (Jane Priscilla GRIFFITHS was born on 28 Dec 1842 in Saint George In The East, Middlesex, England., christened on 16 Apr 1843 in Saint Mary, Whitechapel, Middelesex, England. and died on 8 Jan 1888 in Camberwell, Surrey, England..)