James Booth

...

...

James Booth married Charlotte Bignell on 09 Apr 1866 at Alverstoke, Hampshire, England.

Together they had a daughter, Helen Julia Booth, shortly after moving to Gosport, who was baptised on 1 Dec 1867 Bishops Sutton, Hampshire, England. I think Bishops Sutton had been their residence prior to moving to Gosport, where James became a Marine or Mariner, depending on how you read the Christening record. Helen was born 15 months after her parents married, and baptised 4 months, 21 days after birth.

The record is from the Parish of Bishop's Sutton, which was the original entry for place of Abode, before being changed to Gosport.

Also of interest is that the surname Booth appears to be overwritten on Bignell. I think that is just an error, and not an indication of illegitimate birth. The two records beneath this one are clearly inscribed 

'illegitimate son of' followed by the mother's name.

 Helen Julia Booth grew up and in 1900 got married.

On 22nd November 1900, at St. John's Church Paddington, London Arthur James Clarke, aged 29, a bachelor of 1 Myddleton Square Clerkenwell, Middlesex, (London), an Insurance Agent by profession, married.

Ellen Julia Booth, aged 33, a spinster, of 3 Hyde Park Place, Westminster. Their fathers were William Henry Clarke, a Coachman, and James Booth, a Royal Marine.

It seems that Helen has become known as Ellen, and not just a vicar's transcription error, as she signed her own name.

The church was known as Saint John The Evangelist, Paddington: Hyde Park Crescent, Westminster, England.

 Number 3 Hyde Park Place is the property behind the lamppost.

OS Map 25" with the marker on 3 Hyde Park Place

From both the Baptism and Marriage records of his daughter Helen, James Booth's occupation was as a Royal Marine, at least between 1867 and 1900. A period of at least 33 years. However, so far I have not found any records regarding his military career. I have searched a number of sites including Royal Marines Historical, and the National Archives.

Ancestry Synopsis at start.

William Bignell was born in 1816 in Bishops Sutton, Hampshire. He married Mary Ann Butcher on 23 January 1841 in his hometown. They had ten children in 18 years. He died in January 1885 in Alresford at the age of 69.

Baptism

Marriage

Census and Voting Registers

Children

Hannah Butcher nee Pitters and Isaac Butcher children's Baptism Records.

Work and locations

Death

Conclusion

Key data about Elizabeth Eldridge and her family.

Tree