Charles JONES 1828-1899

[kentishman]

For a few years now I have been researching the life of a 19th century railway construction engineer whose name was Charles JONES. I know, there can't be many more difficult names to research, especially being my first attempt at genealogy. He was an agent of the renowned railway engineer, Thomas Brassey, and worked on railway lines in Britain and extensively throughout Europe.I have found that very few records seem to exist but I have made, I believe, considerable progress. He seems to have had strong ties with Newcastle under Lyme,(although he was born in Paris of Welsh parents) but I dont know in which capacity. My research has now led me to Paris and I would like to know for example how to obtain a copy of a French will, and whether or not there were population census during the 19th century. What other French archives can be searched. In fact, if anyone has any information about this railway pioneer at all which they think might help, I would be most grateful.

[MarkCDodd]

You will find his as an "Assistant Railway Contractor" in Newcastle Under Lyme in 1851. That is pretty impressive for a 22 year old!

1851 census transcription details for: 3, Penkhull Street, Newcastle Under Lyme
National Archive Reference:
RG number: HO107 Piece: 2001 Folio: 82 Page: 1

Reg. District: Newcastle Under Lyme Sub District: Newcastle
Parish: Newcastle Under Lyme Enum. District: 1B, 2
Ecclesiastical District: City/Municipal Borough: Newcastle Under Lyme
Address: 3, Penkhull Street, Newcastle Under Lyme
County: Staffordshire
Name Relation Condition Sex Age BirthYear Occupation ,Disability Where Born
JONES, Charles Head Unmarried M 22 1829 Assistant Railway Contractor France (British Subject)

His boss is living a slighly more upmarket address in Chelsea. I suppose thats the difference in wages between Contractor and Assistant Contractor!

1851 census transcription details for: 56, Lowndes Square, Saint Luke Chelsea, Hans
National Archive Reference:
RG number: HO107 Piece: 1474 Folio: 279 Page: 5

Reg. District: Chelsea Sub District: Chelsea North
Parish: Saint Luke Chelsea Enum. District: 6
Ecclesiastical District: Trinity Upper Chelsea City/Municipal Borough:
Address: 56, Lowndes Square, Saint Luke Chelsea, Hans
County: Middlesex
Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation , Disability Where Born
BRASSEY, Thomas Head Married M 45 1806 Railway Contractor Bieston Cheshire
BRASSEY, Maria Wife Married F 40 1811 Liverpool Lancashire
BRASSEY, Albert Son Unmarried M 7 1844 Scholar At Home France British Subject
MITCHELL, Sarah C Governess Unmarried F 48 1803 Governess Titchfield Hants
MARTON, John Servant Married M 59 1792 Butler Firsdown Northamptonshire
PAGE, Sarah Servant Unmarried F 31 1820 Cook Northrepps Norfolk
OXFORD, Martha Servant Unmarried F 31 1820 House Maid Oldswinford Worcestershire
OWEN, Hannah Servant Unmarried F 24 1827 House Maid Widmerpool Lancashire
MILLINGTON, Mary Servant Unmarried F 23 1828 Kitchen Maid Hastings Flintshire
PHILLIPS, Ann Servant Unmarried F 28 1823 Needle Woman Wimbledon Surrey

[MarkCDodd]

According to his baptism record in Paris.

Father is Robert who is a Sadler
Mother is Jane
He was born on December 13th 1828
He was Baptised on March 15th 1829

Looking at the "House of H.R.M's Ambassador" records in Paris......and the writing is hard to read.....

Robert Jones, bachelor, of the parish of Machyenlleth in the county of Montgomeryshire married Jane Rogers, spinster, of the aforementioned parish, in the ambassador's house, by licence, on the 26th July 1823. Signed: Robert Jones and Jane Rogers Witnesses: Josiah Hobbs (Robbs?) and ???????

His siblings from the Paris Register.

Piece Description Register of Births and Baptisms in the City of Paris from 1816 to 1844
TNA Reference RG33 / Piece 62 / Folio 25
[Chapel/Registry]
Full Name Robert Pierce Jones
Date of Baptism 27 February 1825
Place of Baptism
Date of Birth 14 January 1825
Place of Abode Paris
Parish of Abode
County of Abode
Registration Date
Registration Town/County Paris, France
Ceremony Performed by E Forster
Godparents
Godfather
Godmother
Parents
Father Robert Jones
Father's Profession Sadler
Mother Jane
Mother's Maiden Name
Mother's Parish
Date of Marriage
Place of Marriage
Maternal Parents
Name(s)
Profession
Town & County
Paternal Parents
Name(s)
Profession

Piece Description Register of Births and Baptisms in the City of Paris from 1816 to 1844
TNA Reference RG33 / Piece 62 / Folio 31
[Chapel/Registry]
Full Name Josiah Jones
Date of Baptism 14 January 1827
Place of Baptism
Date of Birth 25 November 1826
Place of Abode Paris
Parish of Abode
County of Abode
Registration Date
Registration Town/County Paris, France
Ceremony Performed by E Forster
Godparents
Godfather
Godmother
Parents
Father Robert Jones
Father's Profession Sadler
Mother Jane
Mother's Maiden Name
Mother's Parish
Date of Marriage
Place of Marriage
Maternal Parents
Name(s)
Profession
Town & County
Paternal Parents
Name(s)
Profession

Piece Description Register of Births and Baptisms in the City of Paris from 1828 to 1835, with a Register of Burials from 1827 to 1835
TNA Reference RG33 / Piece 64 / Folio 54
[Chapel/Registry]
Full Name Jane Frederica Jones
Date of Baptism 27 December 1835
Place of Baptism
Date of Birth 11 September 1835
Place of Abode -
Parish of Abode
County of Abode
Registration Date
Registration Town/County Paris, France
Ceremony Performed by -
Godparents
Godfather
Godmother
Parents
Father Robert Jones
Father's Profession
Mother Jane
Mother's Maiden Name
Mother's Parish
Date of Marriage
Place of Marriage
Maternal Parents
Name(s)
Profession
Town & County
Paternal Parents
Name(s)
Profession

His Fathers Death

Miscellaneous British Military Foreign Death Returns from 1858 to 1870
TNA Reference RG35 / Piece 12 / Folio 842
[Chapel/Registry]
Full Name Robert Jones
Date of Death 15 February 1869
Place of Death
Date of Birth
Age 60
Profession Seller
Relation
Description
Nationality
Place of Abode -
Parish of Abode
County of Abode
Registration Date 16 February 1869
Registration Town/County Paris, France
Ceremony Performed by
Husband/Father * ()
Husband's/Father's Profession
Wife/Mother * Jane Rogers (-)
Mother's Maiden Name -
Mother's Parish
Cause of death
Grave Number
Undertaker

His sister's death

Piece Description Register of Burials in the City of Paris from 1815 to 1850
TNA Reference RG33 / Piece 60 / Folio 72
[Chapel/Registry]
Full Name Jane Frederica Jones
Date of Burial 5 April 1842
Place of Burial
Date of Birth
Date of Death
Age 6
Profession
Relation
Description
Place of Abode Paris
Parish of Abode -
County of Abode -
Registration Date
Registration Town/County Paris, France
Ceremony Performed by George Le Fevre
Husband/Father *
Husband's/Father's Profession
Wife/Mother -
Cause of death
Grave Number
Undertaker

[kentishman]

Hi Mark
You have been busy, and you are right about Charles stature at only 22. We needn't worry too much about Brassey's wealth at that time because Charles was to become very rich and mix with the rich and powerful of Europe. He also became one of Brassey's most trusted agents. He is now buried in the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris, the resting place of the rich and famous.
Although I did have most of the info you have found, I was not positive about his sister, Jane's death, but you have confirmed that for me. I've got a problem though about the date of his father's death in 1869 at the age of 60. That would put his birth date at 1809. He was married in 1823 so that would make him 14 at the time!
Thanks very much for your help and if you come across anything else I will be very grateful. Do you know anything about how to obtain a French will? I have his English will.

Thanks again