Genealogy Chat

I am trying to find an entry on the 1871 census for one of my ancestors and he is proving to be elusive - wondered if anyone can help. The name is Ambrose Culver. He was born c1849 in Sturry in Kent and was a grocer. I have found him on all the other censuses since his birth. In 1861 he was still in Sturry and from 1881 onwards he was in Hull, E.Yorkshire, so I'm not sure where he would be in 1871. I have found his future wife in 1871 living with her parents, so he would be single. He is not living with his parents, as I have found them. If anyone can find him or offer any suggestions that might help, I'd be most grateful - I have tried a number of variations in case it's been mis-transcribed, but no luck so far. Thanks, Victoria.

Did he have a middle name (sometimes they go by their middle names?) could he be in prison/workhouse going by just initials? Suzanne

I see there is a David Culver born Sterry a couple of years older than your guy in the army. Is it likely your chap may be in the army and posted overseas?

Hi Suzanne. There's no middle name that i know of. I don't think he would be in a workhouse, as he had his own business and as far as I know he didn't go to prison but of course, you never know. I did try looking him up by his initials and didn't find anything. I'll have another go just in case. Thanks for your help.

Heather - yes, David Culver is a relative. I don't know of Ambrose being in the army - on all other info I have found, he has always been a grocer, but I suppose he could have been in the army first, or could have just been called up for a war. I will see if I can find out if there were any wars going on at that time. Thanks for that.

He appears to have married Julia Maud DIXON in Sculcoates in March quarter 1876 - so was there in 1876 Jim

It is always worth omitting the surname altogather and just entering the christian name. Calver/Carver are obvious misspellings but i have one lot called Chambers and you only find them when you search under 'Gresham'.Put the christian names in and they are much easier to find. There is an Ambrose Culyer 1847 listed but he is married (claimed to be anyhow) by searching under Ambrose. Glen

Thanks to you all for your tips. I have tried all of your suggestions, but unfortunately no luck as yet. I will keep trying though. Glen - I saw Ambrose Culyer yesterday and thought I had found him, but nothing else ties in, so it doesn't look like it's him. Anyway, thanks again for the help - it's much appreciated. Victoria.

Helen - he was a grocer with his own business in Hull - two shops, I think, so I wouldn't have thought he would have moved around a lot. I have him in 1861 aged 12 with his parents in Kent and then in 1881 aged 32 in Hull with his grocery business, so I am curious as to where he was and what he was doing in between (and what brought him to Hull). He married in 1876 and had his first child in 1877 (all in Hull). Victoria.

Sorry Victoria, I deleted my post as I saw you had put he was a grocer in another! Still can't find him though.....road atlas is out, looking at all places round Sturry. This page has one transcribed as 'E' Culver, says he's from Wingham which is not too far from Sturry but he's a carpenter RG10/997 Registration district: Thanet Sub-registration district: Ramsgate ED, institution, or vessel: 26 Folio: 108 Page: 6

Hi again My lot give me problems too. I have found a few of the males who suddenly join up to the army for one census then re-appear later.Those entries ae usually the most awkward as the soldiers themselves don't appear to give the details themselves,the battalion for one rellie seemed to consist of recruits from one town (250 miles from the barracks),the town only had a population of around 500 anyway and it seems odd that 60 young men from that town (Scottish Borders) would enlist with a battalion in London,something not quite right but my man had an unusual name so i'm happy it is him. Glen