Genealogy Chat

I have developed a terrible headache. Not sure if it is census squint or tearing my hair out. I have five children living with their aunt on the 1861Cornwall census. Mary Murley and her daughter and five Ruby children. The chidren were all born overseas but were British subjects. Can't find anything on any other census orBMD. How can I find out who parents are or if they belong to me. Any ideas.

Just for reference - presume this is 1861 census Mary Murley abt 1811 Gwennap, Cornwall, England Head Gwennap Cornwall Phillis Murley abt 1840 Fowey, Cornwall, England Daughter Gwennap Cornwall Catherine Ruby abt 1851 British Subject, Chile Niece Gwennap Cornwall Eliza Ruby abt 1849 British Subject, Chile Niece Gwennap Cornwall Gregory Ruby abt 1854 British Subject, Chile Nephew Gwennap Cornwall Jane Ruby abt 1852 British Subject, Chile Niece Gwennap Cornwall Josiah Ruby abt 1855 British Subject, Chile Nephew Gwennap Cornwall

Thanks Elain, I think you helped me before on this one. Or maybe I have gone mad. You have Chile on your copy where I read Chili. I wonder if they were born in Chile, South America. No idea.

Have you checked the overseas section on 1837 online, If they were born overseas to british parents then their births should have been registered at the British Embassy & these would have been transferred back to to the UK

This is from 1851 Nanny Raby could be another Ruby?? 1851 England Census View Record Elizabeth Murley abt 1846 Tywardreath, Cornwall, England Daughter Tywardreath Cornwall View Record Jane Murley abt 1850 Tywardreath, Cornwall, England Daughter Tywardreath Cornwall View Record John Murley abt 1806 Gringar, Cornwall, England Head Tywardreath Cornwall View Record John Murley abt 1835 Fowey, Cornwall, England Son Tywardreath Cornwall View Record Mary Murley abt 1811 Gwennap, Cornwall, England Wife Tywardreath Cornwall View Record Mary Murley abt 1833 Gwennap, Cornwall, England Daughter Tywardreath Cornwall View Record Phillis Murley abt 1840 Fowey, Cornwall, England Daughter Tywardreath Cornwall View Record William Murley abt 1831 Gwennap, Cornwall, England Son Tywardreath Cornwall >>> View Record Nanny Raby abt 1825 Gwennap, Cornwall, England Visitor Tywardreath Cornwall

cant seem to find them anywhere - sorry

1871 Phillis Murley abt 1840 Fowey, Cornwall, England Head Gwennap Cornwall John Murley abt 1866 Gwennap, Cornwall, England Son Gwennap Cornwall Catherine Raby abt 1851 Chile Cousin Gwennap Cornwall Jane Raby abt 1852 Chile Cousin Gwennap Cornwall Also this one which seems to have a South American birthplace, could Caroline be the mother of the others? Caroline Rabey abt 1826 St Day, Cornwall, England Head Gwennap Cornwall Esther A Rabey abt 1855 Brazil Daughter Gwennap Cornwall Caroline J Thomas abt 1869 St Day, Cornwall, England Granddaughter Gwennap Cornwall Charlotte Thomas abt 1851 St Day, Cornwall, England Daughter Gwennap Cornwall

Thanks Helen, Maybe they just used Ruby because it was common in Cornwall. Maybe they are not mine. Can I swap some Rubys for someone's Smiths. I'm sure thay would be easier. I'm going to bed now. I'm tired of this family.

Maybe if you found out the maiden name of Mary Murley (b 1811) - if she was nee Ruby then it would be likely these nieces and nephews are the children of her brother. You could try the birth cert for Jane Murley, aged 3mths on the 1851 census: 1851 Q1 St Austell Jane Murley Vol 9 Page 17 Merry

Thanks but tried that. I want some Smiths.

Rabey is a common name in Cornwall - Ruby is not. I noticed they were at Gwennap and wonder if they were in Chile because the father was a Tin miner? Loads of Cornishmen went abroad to mine, and then came back again when they had made their fortune. Cornwall has some fantastic family history resources - google Cornish Family History and/or Mining in Chile. Olde Crone

http://www.projects.ex.ac.uk/cornishlatin/usefulsourcesandlinks.htm

Thanks everyone. I've decided they are not mine. Mine are definitely Ruby. Olde Crone, I'm a bit worried about what you said about Ruby not being common in Cornwall. Does that mean they could all be the one tree? I don't want that many. I'll still swap for Smith.

Thanks Ozibird, but my lot are Rubywith a 'u'. Mind you I'm still trying to find out if they were originally Rowby or Roeby. But that was before census existed. I'm still going mad.

Elizabeth How do you know that your lot were Ruby and not Rabey/robey? Even if they WERE RUBY, its very likely that this is a variation of Rabey, and that is what you will have to look for if you want to take the family further back. Olde Crone

Thanks Olde Crone (gee I hate calling you that). I have the family as Ruby back to Edward Ruby born 1748 Menhenoit, Cornwall, then his father was John ROWBY. I think I'll leave this lot to rest in peace. Just not sure yet if I can.

Ozibird, Sorry I'm confusing you. I don't think the Chilean Ruby/Raby kids are mine. I was just looking at all the Rubys I could find and they popped up.

Elizabeth Now this is completely unscientific, but here you are> From the 2006 phone directory of Cornwall (where I live) Rabey - 63 listings, randomly spread. Raby - 10 listings, west cornwall mostly. Robey - 30 listings, randomly spread Roby - none AND RUBY - 15 listings, all except one are in a small area round Looe, so probably related to each other.(Looe is North Cornwall, north eastish, coast) Sorry to keep banging on about the spelling, but Rowby or Roeby is just a Vicar's attempt at Roby. There was absolutely no consistency in the spelling of surnames in those days. Olde Crone

I know where you are coming from with the spelling Olde Crone, but those first Ruby kids that started all this are Raby or Rabey, and I'm definitely looking for Ruby. I've been told the Rubys go back to Rowby but that is before 1760. They were all in Cornwall till early 1800s then went to Devon. How this all started is someone gave me a whole stack of info and I'm trying to check it out. I know my gg grandmother was Emma Ruby who married John Huband and came to Australia in 1855. I'm right after that but checking everything before. AND I'm going mad.

It has been some time since this thread was last updated, but, for what it's worth, here is my two bobs worth.

My father completed an extensive family tree prior to his death and, during his enquiries came to the same conclusion as Olde Crone that there were many and varied spellings of the family name.

I am a direct descendent of Paul Raby of Scorrier Cornwall (M. Cordelia Warne)
The had two children; William (M. Eliza Roberts) and Nanny

William and Eliza left for Chile in 1845 and had seven children: Henry, Elizabeth, Eliza, Katherine, Jennifer (originally Jane), Gregory and Josiah. Six surviving children were brought up by their aunt Nanny…all are buried in Chile.

I hope this sheds some light on your original inquiry.