Dear All, Back in January I asked for help in finding info. about my g.grandfather James Browne who went to India to serve in the Bombay Police Force. Len Faragher kindly told me that he married Margaret May at St. Simons in Liverpool on 29/09/1856, I now have the marriage certificate, James Browne was a widower (mechanic), his father was also a James (carpenter). Margaret May, spinster, had John May as her father (farmer). Both James and Margaret were shown as living at Gloucester Street, Liverpool, Gloucester Street is where Lime Street Station now stands, where I wonder was the farm?... Has Liverpool changed so much in150 years?. No country of birth for any of them is given, no mother's names or ages, they were obviously over 21.
I was brought up to believe the Brownes came from Ardglass, Co. Down, but I can't find any record of James' birth, especially in Ireland which is where I believe he was born. Has anyone any ideas please as to where I can start looking? I would really like to find something out in the next few weeks as on 19th of May my aunt by marriage will be 100 and I would like to surprise her with a visit to her nursing home in the Wirral. She is virtually blind but has all her other faculties and has always taken a keen interest in the family, she frequently asks if I have found out any more Browne details. I DO wish James and Browne were more unusual names! Auntie Mabel was married to Norman Douglas Cooile, he was a grandson to James Browne.
Would the National Archives have any pertaining records? I know that a lot of Irish records were lost during the Irish troubles. Any advice would be much appreciated,
Best Regards, Susan Leece