Genealogy Forum UK

Hi Everyone,

Here is my first brick wall for the forum:

Jesse Dunn, b. abt 1818
marries Thirza Burgess, 20 Oct 1839
(have certified copy of marriage register)
Witnesses are listed as Silas Ward (on Black Country Connections marriage info he is listed as "Ware") & Sarah Burgess (probably her mother)
Jesse's father is listed as John Dunn, gardener

While I have all the census info for Jesse, both his and Thirza's death registers, I have hit a complete blank on John Dunn.

I almost ordered the Staffordshire Memorial Inscriptions today (at about $30 U.S. dollars today, but stopped myself )

I've tried looking up the marriage witness Silas Ward (possible relative to Lord Ward?) Perhaps John was a gardener on an estate. I've found multiple John Dunns in the census data, with one even being a farmer, but nothing to definitely connect any of them to Jesse.

Jesse became an engineer very young...listed as such on his marriage register. Would he have needed some connections to achive this?

Should I try parish registers next?

Much thanks for any advice! Best, Lora

Hi Lora,
In those days "engineer" usually just meant the man who ran an engine in a factory.
Cheers,
Di

England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index: 1837-1915
Name: Jesse Dunn
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1818
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1892
Age at Death: 74
Registration district: West Bromwich, Staffordshire

The only Silas Ward that I can see in the right area seems to have gone to America in 1842.

The Sarah Burgess witness at Jesse & Thirza's marriage could also be a sister:

1841 at Darby Hand
Richard Burgess 49 Schoolmaster
Sarah Burgess 49 Governess
Mary Ann Burgess 25 Governess
Sarah Burgess 20 Governess
Ketenah Burgess 18 Governess
Jane Burgess 16
Edwin Burgess 13
Caleb Burgess 10
Henry Burgess 7
Thomas Burgess 5

Looks like Richard may have run his own school with his wife and 3 of his daughters acting as teachers.

1861 at Darby End, Dudley
Richard Burgess Head 68 Schoolmaster b. Shropshire, Clee Hill
Sarah Burgess Wife 69 b. Worcs., Darby End
Thomas Burgess Son 24 Butcher b. Worcs., Darby End
Sarah Durn ('Dunn' on image) Serv. 19 Servant b. Worcs., Darby End

Sarah Dunn is granddaughter?
cf.
1851. Portway Road. Wednesbury.
Jesse Dunn 33. Engineer. (down as John on transcript)
Thereza Dunn 32.
Henry Dunn 10.
Sarah Dunn 9.
Jane Dunn 4. Sedgley.
Others born Dudley.

Came across this ?


Sarah Willetts
Death date: 17 Apr 1899 event place: Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
age: 57
estimated birth year: 1842

father: Jesse Dunn
mother: Thursbe Dunn

reference number: v 94 p 267
film number: 505864
digital folder number: 4672770
image number: 168

DUNN Sarah WILLETTS Jesse 1865 Halesowen, St John the Baptist West Midlands Dudley Register Office 014/003/169

bcc

http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/tr ... =729523090

Sarah & Jesse Willetts in USA 1880:
At Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Jesse Welletts 34
Sarah Welletts 38
Jesse Welletts 15
Joseph V. Welletts 14
Edward Welletts 11
Sarah Welletts 8
George Welletts 7
Leah Welletts 4
Harry Welletts 2
Ernest Welletts 8m
James Downing 20

1851 census he down as john was he cristened john ? called jesse to seperate him from his father ?


John Dunn
baptism/christening date: 02 Mar 1817 SAINT THOMAS,DUDLEY,WORCESTER,

father's name: John Dunn
mother's name: Lydia


ndexing project (batch) number: C04014-3
system origin: England-ODM
source film number: 378765, 378766, 378767

sibling

Mary Ann Dunn
baptism/christening date: 02 May 1819 : SAINT THOMAS,DUDLEY,WORCESTER,

father's name: John Dunn
mother's name: Lydia

indexing project (batch) number: C04014-3
system origin: England-ODM
source film number: 378765, 378766, 378767

dianel wrote:Sarah & Jesse Willetts in USA 1880:
At Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Jesse Welletts 34
Sarah Welletts 38
Jesse Welletts 15
Joseph V. Welletts 14
Edward Welletts 11
Sarah Welletts 8
George Welletts 7
Leah Welletts 4
Harry Welletts 2
Ernest Welletts 8m
James Downing 20

who james downing ? lodger / visistor ?

Poss. Jesse on BCC?

http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/tr ... &pid=32318

peterd wrote:

dianel wrote:Sarah & Jesse Willetts in

USA 1880: At Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania

Jesse Welletts 34 Foreman in Glass (looks like) 'House"
Sarah Welletts 38 Keeps House
Jesse Welletts 15 works in (looks like) 'House"
Joseph V. Welletts 14 works in (looks like) 'House"
Edward Welletts 11 works in (looks like) 'House"
Sarah Welletts 8 Goes to School
George Welletts 7 Goes to School
Leah Welletts 4 at home
Harry Welletts 2 at home
Ernest Welletts 8m
James Downing Boards 20 Laborer
Last 6 children born in Pennsylvania so by 1869 they are in America

who james downing ? lodger / visistor ?

Boarder.

Looks like Sarah went back to fetch her sister, Jane.

New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
Ship name 'Teutonic' arrival date: 12 Sep 1889

Names listed one under the other:
Jane Dunn
Arrival: 12 Sep 1889
Birth date: abt 1847
Age: 42 Female
Occupation: Teacher
Ship departed from: Liverpool, England and Queenstown, Ireland
Destination: United States of America

Sarah Willets
Arrival: 12 Sep 1889
Birth date: abt 1842
Age: 47 Female
Ship departed from: Liverpool, England and Queenstown, Ireland
Destination: United States of America

Oh my goodness! I go away to watch a movie and you wonderful people did all this work!!

Yes, dianel, Sarah is their granddaughter, the daughter of Jesse & Thirza.

What are the reference citations for? Film at FamilySearch or a different database in the UK? What places did you both search?

My 3 ggrandmother, Keturah Dunn came to Pittsburgh, but i've never understood why, or who she was joining. I think i know when she came, but the data isn't 100% clear. Knowing a sister also went to Pittsburgh will help with the research.

Thank you SO much!

dianel wrote:Sarah & Jesse Willetts in USA 1880:
At Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Jesse Welletts 34
Sarah Welletts 38
Jesse Welletts 15
Joseph V. Welletts 14
Edward Welletts 11
Sarah Welletts 8
George Welletts 7
Leah Welletts 4
Harry Welletts 2
Ernest Welletts 8m
James Downing 20

U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 about Ernest W Willetts MD
1902
Father a naturalised citizen;
Applicant resides in Pittsburgh; profession; physician
Address: 207 Neville St., Pittsburgh

1900 United States Federal Census
At Pittsburgh City, Allegeny, Pennsylvania
Willetts, Jesse Head 58 b. England Glass Manuf. Immigrated in 1860
Willetts, Sarah A. Daughter 28 b. Pennsylvania
Willetts, Harry Son 22 b. Pennsylvania Day Labourer
Willetts, Earnest Son 20 b. Pennsylvania Student
Willetts, Paul Son 18 b. Pennsylvania at School
Neville, Mary Servant 22 b. Ireland Servant

While I have all the census info for Jesse, both his and Thirza's death registers

do you have the cert if so who the informant and at what address ?