EDWARD SHEARS

I am trying to find out more details about my great great grandad, Edward Shears.  He married Martha Draycott in Barrow Upon Soar in 1858 and their first son, also Edward, was born in 1859. In the 1861 census, Martha was living with her mother, Eiizabeth Draycott, Edward, and two other grandsons of Elizabeth, George Dexter Draycott and John Draycott, in Bridge Street, Barrow Upon Soar.  She is listed as wife of private soldier, (17 of foot on Edward's birth certificate). Another son, Francis (Frank) was born in the June quarter 1862.  Martha died in 1866.  In the 1871 census Edward and Francis are in the Barrow Upon Soar Union Workhouse.  I would really like to find out why they were in the workhouse and what happened to Edward senior. If anyone can help I would be most grateful.
 
Jan Aldridgejanaldridge912@hotmail.com

JAMES ESSEX

My 4th Grt grandfather was James Essex b1769 Rothwell, Northamptonshire. I have a sunday school record that states he was baptized by William  Carey at Harvey Lane Chapel, Leicester and was afterwards appointed deacon. But I can only find baptisms in Methodist churches in Leicester. Does anyone know if records survive from Harvey Lane Baptist Church ?

Central Baptist Church, is the result of a fusion of several city Baptist Churches including Harvey Lane (1760), Belvoir Street (1845) Charles Street (1831), United Baptist (1940), and Victoria Road (1866).

I am interested in whether any records survived from Harvey Lane of the baptisms performed by William Carey between 1789 to 1782.

Peter Essex, pe001h5473_2@blueyonder.co.uk

THOMAS AND LOUISA COX (NEE TAYLOR)

My grandparents Thomas and Louisa COX (nee TAYLOR) b. c. 1848 were living in Barrowden, Rutland in the 1871 census. Both recorded as Ag.Labs

Louisa was the third of 12 children of Elizabeth and Samuel TAYLOR, a blacksmith. She was born in  Empingham, Rutland in c.1848-9.

In the 1880 USA census they appear in Rockwood, Roane, Tennessee, where Thomas was a coal miner and Luisa (sic) was keeping house.  They did not stay in USA but returned to Rutland and "adopted" two children.  Mary Elizabeth FOX (b.c. 1880), Louisa's niece and Ernest Arthur COX. They sailed to Townsville, Queensland on the ship Wooronga where they stayed for several years before coming to Christchurch, New Zealand in 1888.

Thomas and Louisa never had any children of their own but they took in several foster children while living at Templeton, Christchurch.  Their niece Mary Elizabeth married a DRAYTON and had a large family.

My question is : Was there a recruitment drive encouraging local people to leave to go the USA in the 1870's.  Also there must have been drives to get immigrants to go to Australia?

Any help would be appreciated or contact with family members.  There was contact with family until approx 1950s.

Jenny Mayne  pmayne@xtra.co.nz