John Blakemore was born in Clifton (tho later censuses record this as Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wales(?)).  He was baptised at St James’ Priory church in central Bristol on the 20^th February 1814, which makes sense if he was born in Clifton.  On his baptism record (transcription only) his parents are given as John Blakemore and Sarah.  It is possible that he is living in Welford on Avon in 1817 as a Sarah Blakemore, daughter of John & Sarah, is baptised there.

19 years later, on the 2^nd February 1833, he marries Elizabeth Coleman in St Peter’s church, St Albans.  Elizabeth is 26 and was born in St Albans.  The marriage is witnessed by John Young, who is almost certainly the John Young who is married to Elizabeth’s older sister Ann, Mary Coleman (Elizabeth’s younger sister), Thomas Branson (?) and James Payne (almost certainly no relation to the James Paynes in this tree)

Their first child, John William, is baptised on the 2^nd of June, four months later, in the same church.  The second son, Charles, is baptised there in November 1834, then two daughters Amelia Elizabeth and Mary Ann – both baptised on the 13^th November 1836, this time in St Michaels’s church but still in St Albans.  (twins or what) A third daughter, Emily, is baptised back at St Peters on 2^nd May 1838 but dies the same year and is buried at St Peters. James Manley is born July 1839.

So in 1841, the census shows John in Adelaide Street, St Albans, aged 27, working as a “Groom, servant”? , not born in Hertfordshire.  The rest of the household are all born in Hertfordshire – Elizabeth aged 35, John age 7, Charles age 6, Mary Ann age 4 and James Manley at 18(?) months.  Amelia is also 4 and living/visiting with her Aunt Ann Young, also in Adelaide Street. In October 1841 Ann’s husband, John is sentenced to 14 months imprisonment for larceny.

Next comes Harriet (April 1841) and then I think a gap until Sarah in 1850.

1851 census is the one in the working children…..

1861 John (47) & Elizabeth with Mary Ann who has married Henry Wilson and they have Ellen Catherine  and William Henry – except I’m not totally sure they are Henry’s – check marriage date / GRO for births. And where are everybody else?

(in 1864 James Manley marries Sarah Steel (widowed, nee Goff) in Glasgow. The record confirms his Mother’s name as Elizabeth Col(e)man. Sarah’s daughter from xx Steel, Margaret, marries a Corinaldi)

1871 Him, Elizabeth, Daughter Sarah & a lodger

Sarah dies

1881 It’s him & Elizabeth with Flossie; she appears to have been baptised as theirs but I’d guess granddaughter. Sarah’s??? need birth cert

1885 Elizabeth dies

1891 He’s in Everton with the Corinaldis?!  Except it says he’s born in Walse, everything else fits And a bit later that year he dies in West Derby.  Get a death cert