John Connor was born in Ayton, Berwickshire in 1847. As the family were Catholics, he was Baptised on 6 December 1848 at Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland (England, Northumberland Non Conformist record. At this time his family was living in Newton by the Sea, his father Jeremiah being in the Coast Guard Service there. Census 1851 In the 1861 Census the Family was living in Northfleet Kent, as Jeremiah was retired. From then on through G.S and others, nothing was found. But today in Family Search it threw up 1871 Census, Berwick on Tweed, there is a John Connor, Catholic Priest. I have no idea how to check this out. Can anyone give suggestions, or trace? Thanks, Bernard
Aha! Found it! Piece 5183, folio 36, page 15 Recorded as O'CONNOR rather than CONNOR and an age of 30 instead of 23, if he was born about 1847 There are other people on the record including a brother, Francis, aged 28, also born in Scotland. However, there is no record of Francis in the 1861 census, John being the youngest. Neither is Francis with the family in 1851 (2419,14,14). Given the above information: O'CONNOR instead of CONNOR Born about 1840 instead of 1847 No record of a brother Francis I don't think that this was your John CONNOR.
By the way, I have found John's brother Thomas in 1881, living at 53 British Street, Bromley, Poplar. As well as a wife and lots of children, their sisters Elizabeth and Letitia are also there. Ref: piece 497, folio 39, page 18 No sign of John, though.
Ten years earlier, in 1871, Thomas, Elizabeth and Letitia are living with their widowed mother Catherine at 53 British Street, Bromley, Poplar. (piece 571, folio 57, page 8) The surname is recorded as O'CONNOR There is no sign of John nor Jeremiah, but there is a death for a Jeremiah CONNOR aged 75 in the March quarter of 1871 in Poplar Registration District, which looks like him.
Seems they changed from Connor to O'Connor between 1861 and 1871 Census. When I was quite young, I recall my Grandmother Mary O'Connor (Rea) 1879-1965, talking about the change of name but cannot recall the reasons for it. All the Family adopted O'Connor.
I wonder if this is John in 1871. Okay, the surname is recorded as O'CONNOR and the place of birth is Edinburgh, but the enumerator might not have known better. At least the year of birth is 1847! Lodging at 3 Moray Road in Islington and working as a Clerk for the Great Northern Railway. Ref: piece 299, folio 21, page 35 Just a thought but might be worth investigating...
This John was found by @janetbooth back in 2019 on an earlier thread for John Connor/O’Connor. Also it was suggested two marriage certificates be purchased. One for John and Henrietta Lott and another for Emily Adeline.
Thanks. Something to look into. John is the only child of Jeremia and Catherine who is giving me the run around. All others nicely documented.
