Trahair

[myghaelangof]

James Trahair was born in Redruth 1717, the son of James and Elizabeth (Michel). He married Juliana Champion at St Just in Penwith in 1738 (James 'of Redruth'), and looks like his brother Stephen and sister Mary followed down to St Just soon after.
I believe I can take Elizabeth Michel back to Stephen, bapt 1588 Redruth, but have had no luck with James senior. Does anyone have information on this family/
Thanks Mike

[londoner]

Do you have details of the descendants of James & Julian? I am trying to link Richard (1833) son of Richard & Constance(Oats) whp married My gt,gt aunt Elizabeth Humphrys and Benjamin (1818) Son of James and Jenifer(Uren) who married her sister Martha Wallis Humphrys. I think I have worked it out but cant rely on IGI and dont have access to St Just records at the moment

[Cornish Terrier]

Hi Mike and 'londoner' - this is just a quick note to acknowledge your messages.
Keep talking and I will do my best to look at this problem in the next few days (I hope).

Keep up the work and I will certainly get there and help as best I can.

Ian

[cornishmaid]

Hi Mike and Londoner

I'll get myself over to the Cornwall Centre in Redruth tomorrow and see if they have anything which may help. They have a lot of transcriptions, but I will check whether they are for the appropriate location and timescales. Have printed your queries off, so will let you know one way or the other tomorrow.

And a big hi to Ian. Glad to see you back ;D. Missed you here!

[white]

Richard Trahair who married Elizabeth Humphrys, 21st.mar.1860 at Sennen was the son of Michael Trahair. Both were Lighthouse keepers.
The detaisl can be found at,
West Penwith Resources, then go to the Sennen page.
Roy

[londoner]

I am convinced that the name Michael is an error - I have spent ages searching for him and he does not seem to exist - Richard son of Richard has to be the answer, unless anyone has found Michael somewhere I haven't looked!

[Cornish Terrier]

Hmmm - seems we have a little dilemma here, don't we.

I am, for the moment, siding with 'londoner' on this one. (No offence Roy)

Have just looked at the Transcribed Marriage Record on the OPC site and it does definitely show that Richard's father was 'Michael Trahair'.

However, this is a transcription only and it is 'possible' that it may be incorrect.

Depending on the handwriting and quality of the materials used from which to transcribe - I can envisage the possibility of 'Michael' and 'Richard' being misenterpreted.

I have not personally seen the original so can only guess at this so I will be keeping an open mind.

However - Richard Trahair was, according to the 1861 Census, born at St Just in Penwith about 1832/3 and he was a light-house keeper based in the Trinity Buildings at Sennen but working on the Longships Lighthouse off Land's End.

As 'londoner' says - we cannot rely on IGI.
However, the only possible Richard who matches the above is baptised at St Just 24th June 1832 as son of Richard and Constance Trahair.

And, without trying all the permutations, I cannot find a Michael Trahair in the Census Records of 1841, 1851 or 1861.

The 1861 Census record is a little confusing.
Richard Trahair is listed as head of house age 28.
Elizabeth is his wife and also 28.

But then we have Matilda Cock, age 23, as his daughter followed by Louisa Cock, age 11, daughter.

Best of all - Charlotte R.V. Cock, age 1, grandaughter.



This is obviously not correct and will be something to do with other men working 'on shift' at the Longships Light.

And now for the 'coup de gras' - (sorry Roy)

1851 Census - St Just in Penwith - Fore Street

Richard Trahair, head, mar., 53, light-keeper at Longships, St Just
Constance do., wife, mar, 56, St Just
Richard do., son, 18, cordwainer, St Just
Constance do., daur, 16, dress maker, St Just

No Michael in sight but we do have Richard senior as a Light-keeper at the Longships with, it seems, his son following on sometime later.

I think we need to have someone take a very close look at that 1860 marriage entry as it certainly appears to be where the problem lies. (No blame at all on the Transcriber.)

Suggest you do a 'Google Search' using the search-term "longships light trahair" and I think you may find some interesting stuff.

It would appear that your Richard Trahair (bn 1832/3) was at the Godrevy Lighthouse (off Gwithian) in 1881 but appears to have been living in retirement at St Just in 1901.

www.genuki.org.uk/big/Lighthouses/LighthousesKeepers.html

'londoner' - go with Richard son of Richard and I think you have your answer.

Once again - sorry Roy but I think that there has been an error in transcription here. (Been there and done that.)

Ian

[myghaelangof]

I'm pleased we seem to have resolved the Richard son of Richard scenario, as I'm still hunting for my Trahair notes. I was puzzled by a Michael, never having come across him before.
My line is through Nicholas Trahair (1748-1827) and his daughter Margaret (1783-1814). Margaret married Thomas Bennetts at St Just in 1800.
Margaret's youngest brother, Richard, was the lighthouse keeper.

[londoner]

as a slight aside - Richard and Elizabeth had a son, also Richard, who died age 15 and is buried at Barnoon, St Ives. from the grave, before the xisting terrace was built on the hill between, it would have been possible to see Godrevy, where his father was stationed.

[Cornish Terrier]

More to fit into the puzzle and build up this family group.

Cannot do it now as I am trying to catch up before 'finally' starting my moving process.

Have seen Godrevy Light and also been for a 'bit of a wander' around Barnoon Cemetery.

Will try and get back to this thread later and update things but must try and finish checking the rest of the Board before I get to bed.

Been offline for 8 days - online for about 3 days- offline for two days - and now just back online this evening.

Frustrating tonight as I had to work while all the thunder and lightning show was happening. (Really thought that would knock the server out again without me getting to log in.).

Until my next foray.