COMPLETED ..Surname gone crazy. Help!

[apowell]

Hi everyone,

I think this is mission impossible but here goes.

My x6 Great Grandfather was Thomas Dellicott, Derricott, Derrycourt and Delicourt (God knows which is correct) born 1793 Trowbridge, Wiltshire who married in 1813 in Trowbridge Mary Watts born 1796 Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

I do know Thomas, Mary and family moved to Tipton, Staffordshire around 1836 but the surname is mis spelt so so many times on documents that I've no idea what the surname was originally. It's been spelt Derricott, Derrycourt, Delicourt, Dorricourt and Dellicott. All the family that stayed in the West Bromwich and Tipton area from the late 1860's seemed to have started to use the name Dellicott and that surname seemed to have stuck till today.

The only surname near the aboves was Dorricott but that family seemed to have originated from the Shropshire area.

I just can't find mention anywhere of Thomas' family although in later census I've found some Delcates born late 1700's in the Trowbridge area of Wiltshire.

What strange surnames and I've never heard of any of these, is it a local Wiltshire name or is it foreign and which would be the correct spelling and what does the surname mean.

I really haven't a clue and any help would be fantastic.

Kind regards
Adrian

[MarkCDodd]

It is spelt Dellicoatt in the 1841 Census (which has been transcribed as Dellicoath by Ancestry....).

[apowell]

Hi Mark,

That's an interesting find because on Thomas marriage entry in 1813 his surname is spelt Dellicoatt which is identical to the one mentioned but I've tried to find other Dellicoatts on the IGI but with no luck, however I did managed to find a few Delicates on the census around the Wiltshire area but no idea if they're related or not.

Could it be French or is it one of those really old Anglo Saxon surnames

Regards
Adrian

[grangers14]

Theres this variation including some you have,
Dorricott, an explanation on this web site
http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Dorricott

[grangers14]

I was just thinking you could try the soundex converter, leave it up to you on your thoughts on it!
http://resources.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ ... xconverter

Jo

[peterd]

hi Adrian there two large dorricott tree's with various spelling and im in one of them as my surnames dorricott will check my database see what ive got ?

[peterd]

got nothing on this guy you could send to wiltshire archive and get a copy of parish register to see who are the witnesses where did the census you have say he was born ?

[apowell]

Hi,

Thank you for checking Peter and I didn't think this family had any connection with the Dorricotts who seemed to have a long established history with Shropshire.

The problem is Thomas is only listed on the 1841 census which doesn't state where he was born (he must have died between 1841-1851) but he was married in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. The only other interesting fact I found was my direct relative Elizabeth his daughter stated on the 1851 census place of birth not known and on the other census she gives West Bromwich which we know is untrue. She then goes and states on the 1891 census being born in India, British Subject so what's that all about

I tried searching FIBIS for Elizabeth's birth or any mention of the family name but with no luck, however I just don't understand why on the 1891 census did Elizabeth decide she'd been born in India, maybe she'd lost her marbles.

I'll look into those parish records you mentioned but you make a good point I haven't got any evidence Thomas actually came from Wiltshire only that he was married there and most of his children were born there.

Cheers
Adrian

[peterd]

india might be west indies ive seen that before somewhere on this forum ?

if you can get a copy of the parish register witnesses might be family ?

[apowell]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to update you on my research because I may have found some interesting information and wanted to get some feedback from you.

I was searching on the National Archive website for some information for our military section when I started thinking about Elizabeth's birth being India or the West Indias and I thought if that's correct Thomas may have served in the Military. I decided to try a search on the Dellicott surname and to my joy I got this back:

Scope and content THOMAS DELECOAT alias THOMAS DELLICOAT; THOMAS DELICOTT
Born MINDERBURN, Armagh
Served in 66th Foot Regiment; 9th Royal Veteran Battalion
Discharged aged 27 after 4 years 9 months of service
See film image 304
Covering dates 1821

I investigated further and found this:

Scope and content THOMAS DILLICOTT alias THOMAS DELLICOT; THOMAS DILICOTT; THOMAS DELICOTT; THOMAS DELLICOTT.
Born BANFF, Durham.
Served in 66th Foot Regiment; 3rd Royal Veteran Battalion.
Discharged aged 33 after 5 years 7 months of service.
Residence or place where pension paid stated in document.
See film image 106.
Covering dates 1826

The date of birth fits my Thomas about 1794 and the 66th Regiment of Foot was based in Wiltshire and Hampshire so I'm going to order both and let's see.The dates don't match Elizabeth's date of birth 1828 but this was estimated on the census.

Anyone got any ideas where Banff, Durham or Minderburn, Armagh are because I couldn't find them on the map so I'm thinking they must have been misspelt.

Kind regards
Adrian

[grangers14]

I dont know of Banff in Durham?
Scotland.
I looked through Genuki for each area and couldnt come up with anything.
It will be interesting to see what you find.
Jo

[grangers14]

Arhtur Delacourt, Alice Brice, 24 June, 1590, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Charles Delicate, Mary Oborne 31 Oct 1815 Laverstock, Wiltshire,

Anne Delicate, Thomas Grace 12 Dec 1825 West Harnham, Wiltshire,

Peter Delicate, Emma Blake 6 Aug 1827 West Harnham, Wiltshire,

Emma Delicate, Peter Georgeson 26 Apr 1852 Salisbury, Wiltshire,

Thomas Dellicoat, Mary Watts 19 Mar 1813 Trowbridge, Wiltshire,

Frances Dellicott, George Ratty 27 Apr 1814 West Harnham, Wiltshire,

[MarkCDodd]

The 66th Foot is quite famouse for being wiped out several times.

I have obtained Redcoat service records from the Archives and they are excellent in detail. Sometimes they are the only place you will find mention of "ex-marital" children as the soldier leaves a portion of his pension to their upbringing.

[MarkCDodd]

Just spent some time looking through the GRO Regimental Birth and Chaplain Birth registries and there are some Dilicate and Delicourt births listed.

As for people changing their place of birth on later Census.

It mostly has to do with the Poor Law rules. Sometimes it is to avoid bigotry.

I have families who change their place of birth to suit whatever Parish they are in during the Census.

In reality the place of birth information from the Census was not available to the those looking after the workhouses etc but paranoia was enough to make people "lie" on Census night.

By the 1890's the new welfare laws made everybody a bit more relaxed and suddenly you have honesty on the Census.

The same thing happens with people's ages.

[apowell]

Hi,

Thanks Mark for that information interesting stuff any idea what the names and years are given for the GRO birth entries?

Jo that was also interesting about the entries of the surname or similar in Wiltshire going back to 1590.

I feel I'm starting to get somewhere although very slowly and all the information is Food for thought

Kind regards
Adrian