Maria Pelham b.1794

Brian:

I searched the subscription site Roots Ireland and the earliest Pelham baptismal record was an Eliza Pelham in 1821 in Co. Antrim. This was a Church of Ireland record.

You don't mention the religious denomination but finding church records back to 1794 is difficult. Less than 10% of the RC parishes would have records back that far. Church of Ireland records on Roots Ireland would be more problematic.

Roger McDonnell

Pelham is a very rare name in Ireland . In the 1901 census there wasn’t a single person of that name in the country, and in 1911 there was just 1 and he was born in England. None in Griffiths Valuation of Ireland 1848 – 1864.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGKB-ZXW 1851 census Maria Pelham age 57 years, a widow , occupation weaver. Lodger with Mr John and Mrs Elizabeth Dobson and their children Catherine, John, Joseph, Dorothy and William in Carlisle.

Thanks all,

I have the English records nd know that Maria was born in Ireland. I just don't have any evidence as to where she lived before she came to England. I recognise the difficulties in tracing people around that time but keep hoping someone may have some information about her roots in Ireland.

With Maria being a widow, Pelham clearly wasn’t her maiden name. You are not going to find her birth in Ireland without her maiden name.  With Pelham being such a rare surname in Ireland, I’d wonder if she married in England where it is more common. So I’d be looking for a marriage for her. Perhaps also a death certificate for her husband and her own death certificate. All of those might have information you could find helpful.

Brian,

I looked at that 1851 census document, and I think it shows she was unmarried "U"...just like the children listed above her with the same letter "U". There is a man at the very top of that record who was a widower, and it shows "wid'r" next to his name. I also looked in the 1861 and 1871 census records of the Dobson family, and she is not there.

Regards,

Carolyn

Thanks all. I'm not sure the census says she was a widow. It just shows a 'U' for unmarried as Carolyn says. My assumption has always been she came to England unmarried but Elwyn, you are right - I should be looking to see if there is a marriage record or record of a husband's death somewhere in England. That's my next step.

Any tips on searching for Maria X before she married and became Maria Pelham? I don't know who she was married to or when it was, so I have no name to search for other than her married name.

I'm guessing, because of the naming of infant girls, she lodged with the Dobson family before the firstborn 183 and after the final daughter Maria in 1856. The fact she is not on the census in 1861 she had either died or moved somewhere else (although I think the latter unlikely because she was special to the family).

Brian.

Hi Brian, sorry this is long but worth it, because it has the info to help

I have looked online for records for the Pelham family... interested in the Fox connection.

There are DEFINITELY records back to the 1700s for baptisms in Ireland, there are DEFINITELY multiple baptisms for PELHAMs too..  I know the surnames in Ireland were spoken and then recorded by the English, so the Gaelic pronunciation may not have translated into the English written form as we expect it too.  I guess an example is Fox, when it is Fox, Fee, Foy, Fuchs... it depends who wrote it... so with Pelham, move the H and the name is Phelam... so please be flexible with looking... although I have been very strict in my search just to be sure, to be sure.

The Pelham family are related to the Singleton Copley family, from County Clare.  The Singletons and the Copley's were both well known and 'GENTLEMENT' (they have a bit of $) and by the looks, there is a Singleton Copley that has relocated to London... which is probably where the Pelham family originated from.  It DOES mention Henry Pelham is the nephew of the family.  There is an image I have attached which is a Betham Genealogical Extract (info on how to get them in a moment...)  This document is dated 1797 so right in the correct search time for you. It looks like the family are involved in the textile trade and shoe makers are seen a lot.

I have looked at multiple census on Family Search, for any Pelham born in Ireland up to 1830.... there seems to be a strong connection between the Pelham family and the shoe making trade, which does fit in with the areas of County Cork and County Clare..... but there are definite ties to Wexford. sorry if I repeat, I have a brain injury and forget what i said.

JUST a guess.... I think there are at least two Pelham brothers who were in Ireland in the 1790s... because I can see at least TWO Pelham MEN fathering children in Ireland 1790s-1810s... so Henry who was born c1784... and there is a John but I don't have an estimated birth year for him... but its possible Henry and John are brothers from London.  Henry is the one listed in the Betham extract.

Just a GUESS.... Maria's parents may be the John and Maria... simply based on the mothers name...

there is a baptism of a Fran's (guessing Frances) born to a Joan's (Joannes/John) and Marae (Maria/Mary) on 5 August 1797 but the baptism is at St Andrews in Dublin (not unusual for baptisms to be in Dublin even if the family were somewhere like Cork or Clare in my personal experience with family research).  

there is also a William Pelham born/baptised 1798... so this could be a sibling or cousin for your Maria too. No parents mentioned.  Also says baptism Dublin, but no more detail yet (guess it would be the same parish).... he ends up having a son James Pelham in Ireland in 1825 with wife Julia Brown.  He appears on the census in England in 1851 in Manchester.... as a shoemaker.  His family search ID is M35W-DGC

There is definitely a William and Mary plus a John? and Maria/Mary in Ireland and I guess either couple could be your Maria's parents.... so it may need digging from you, but I feel that is more than we had before we looked today. There is also a Henry... not sure exactly where he is but he has been in Ireland.

There are a lot of possible cousins for Maria, could be siblings, that have moved to the US.... and there are a few that have Henry repeated, so likely Henry's descendants.

For a more specific location, I can see a Hannah Pelham is mentioned in a baptism in Youghal Cork in 1817 for a Sarah Pelham.  

There ARE Tax Assessment records for Pelham's in Wexford 1830s.. attached...

OOH... YOU HAVE A LORD IN THE FAMILY.... LORD Pelham...  

LORD THOMAS PELHAM is mentioned in DUBLIN in 1712.... so way before 1794!  He is mentioned in the COURT of CHANCERY books, that's another one I will leave you to explore, but I am happy to help if you need.  Not sure where in the world you are, but I am used to digging up my Irish ancestors... and helping others.

Then in 1803 there is STILL a Lord Pelham mentioned... in Ireland... Court of Chancery again in April 1803.

Going to start another comment, so I can keep up with myself :D 

but to search for the Betham extracts I mentioned....log onto FAMILY SEARCH, its free.   type in T search just for the surname Pelham, with the location being Ireland, the dates 1700-1840.   Then look under COLLECTIONS, look for the group of OTHER collections, then look for IRELAND BETHAM GENEALOGICAL EXTRACTS.... because in there, I found some information for you.

Hope that helps, I am excited and OFF to find some Pelhams in Ireland.... hoping they are in some books because they are gentlemen

Cheers

Alrighty.... I had a look at the Landed Gentry book, by Burke 1912... it definitely mentions multiple Pelhams who were in Ireland... screenshots just to show you some of the bio info, but the book is free online.  I only included really early entries, but there are a lot more.

I would also look online for the Gentlemans Almanac or the Gentleman and Citizens Almanac - directories which should show trades and businesses... possibly look at the Kellys Directories and the Slaters... both for England and Ireland.

Lilly,
Thank you so much for ll this information. I am just back home from holiday so it will take a while to digest it all and see where it leads. Many thanks for the time you've spent on it.

Brian.

It looks more likely now that Maria married in England. The 1851 census noted her as a widow. I havent yet been able to find a marriage in the Cumberland area.

I began to wonder if she was related to Elizabeth Fox - perhaps an aunt or older cousin. She was too important in the family (they named 3 successive daughters after her and the Pelham name continues as a middle name 3 generations on).

I started to look for death records after 1851 but still cannot find any that match. The search continues.