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I wonder if anyone can help me resolve this brick wall?

In 1889 my great grandfather William John DYER married Elizabeth Ann BROKENSHA in Truro. He was 25 (so born c1863), he worked as a mason. His father was called John, also a mason.

I had found what I thought was his baptism in 1863 in Truro. But for this entry the father is James and worked as a miner.

I am trying to find more information about John DYER. I have searched in the 1881 and 1871 census but cannot find a John DYER living in Cornwall, working as a mason that I can be certain is the father of William John DYER.

Any pointers would be most appreciated.

Have you tried www.cornwall-opc-database.org? It is an excellant resource.

Have you found William on any census?

Lots of Cornich miners moved to Wales for work. His father could have been a mason in a mine or changed occupation.

Just as comes up
1911 census
Name: William John Dyer
Age in 1911: 48
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1863
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Truro, Cornwall
Civil Parish: Truro St Mary
Search Photos: Search for 'Truro St Mary' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
Country: England
Street Address: 86 Pydar St, Truro, Cornwall
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Mason
Registration District Number: 296
Sub-registration District: St Clement
ED, institution, or vessel: 08
Piece: 13847
Household Members:
Name Age
William John Dyer 48
Elizabeth Ann Dyer 46
Reginald Charles Dyer 21
Mary Leah Dyer 19
William John Dyer 17
Sidney Dyer 15
Melville Dyer 14
May Dyer 12
Amelia Dyer 10
Rachel Dyer 8

There is this one:-

1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Holmbush, St Austell, Cornwall, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place

Female
Ann Dyer
Head
- Female 40 1831 - Cornwall, England
Female

Maria Dyer
Daughter
- Female 18 1853 - Cornwall, England

Male
Alfred Dyer
Son
- Male 15 1856 - Cornwall, England

Male
Abraham Dyer
Son
- Male 13 1858 - Cornwall, England

Male
William John Dyer
Son
- Male 8 1863 - Cornwall, England<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Kath. x

?

DYER, WILLIAM JOHN STAPLE
GRO Reference: 1861 M Quarter in TRURO Volume 05C Page 191

Marriages Jun 1860
Dyer James Truro 5c 299
Staple Catherine Truro 5c 299

James & Catherine - James is a Tin miner who is said to have died in 1894 Redruth. (Ancestry trees)

Ann dyer, a widow, was married to Abraham Dyer a carpenter.

There seem to be three William John’s born around that time, fathe rs James & John, both miners at the time and Abraham the carpenter.

as per marriage shirley found
1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census
The Vicarage, Kenwyn, Truro, Cornwall, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Male
James Dyer ---- miner
Head
- Male 52 1819 - Cornwall, England
Female
Catherine Dyer
Wife
- Female 39 1832 - Cornwall, England
Male
William J Dyer
Son
- Male 10 1861 - Cornwall, England
Female
Mary A Dyer
Daughter
- Female 8 1863 - Cornwall, England
Male
George Dyer
Son
- Male 5 1866 - Cornwall, England
Female
Bessie Dyer
Daughter
- Female 0 1871 - Cornwall, England

????

Census County District Civil Parish Ecclesiastical Parish Piece Enumeration District Folio Page Schedule House Number House or Street Name
1861 Cornwall (CON) St Columb St. Columb Major - 1542 1 26 45 218 Back Way

New Search Revise Search Back to Results Previous Search Result Next Search Result Generate Citation

Details of each person in the dwelling
Surname Forenames Relationship Marital Status Sex Age Occupation Birth County Birth Place Disability Notes
the person found in your search DYER John Head M M 37 Mason CON St Columb Major xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
DYER Mary Ann Wife M F 26 CON St Columb Major
BULLOCK Mary Niece - F 6 CON St Columb Major
BULLOCK Joseph Nephew - M 4 CON St Columb Major
DYER Charles Son - M 3m CON St Columb Major
BULLOCK Edmund Lodger W M 73 Miner CON St Stephens Blind

1939 for dob ???
26 Moresk Road, Truro, Truro M.B., Cornwall, England
William J Dyer 03 Apr 1859 Male Retired Mason Married 88 1
Elizabeth A Dyer 15 Aug 1863 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 88 2

Elizabeth A
Last name
Dyer
Gender
Female
Birth day -
Birth month -
Birth year
1864
Age
84
Death quarter
1
Death year
1948
District
Truro

William J
Last name
Dyer
Gender
Male
Birth day -
Birth month -
Birth year
1863
Age
81
Death quarter
4
Death year
1944
District
Truro

charles from 1861 above
DYER, CHARLES COLLINS
GRO Reference: 1859 D Quarter in TRURO Volume 05C Page 196

no william j with them in 1871

Marriage entry While we have made all efforts to correctly record the information in the original document there may be different interpretations of the written words. If you have access to the original document and believe we have made a mistake you are encouraged to report this to us. Report an Error in this Data Field
(only fields with a value are shown) Value
County Cornwall
Place (Links to more information) St Columb Major
Church name (Links to more information) Parish Church of St Columba
Register type (Links to more information) Parish Register
Register entry number 384
Marriage date 25 Nov 1860
Groom forename John
Groom surname DYER
Groom age full age
Groom condition bachelor
Groom occupation Mason
Groom abode Back Way
Bride forename Mary Ann
Bride surname BULLOCK
Bride age full age
Bride condition spinster
Bride abode Back Way
Groom father surname NOT ENTERED
Bride father forename Edmund
Bride father surname BULLOCK
Bride father occupation Miner
Witness1 Frederick DAVIS
Witness2 James COAD
Notes Banns
Transcribed by Harold Reece Pinchin
File line number 911

DYER, CHARLES EDWIN BULLOCK
GRO Reference: 1861 M Quarter in SAINT COLUMB MAJOR Volume 05C Page 115

DYER, JOHN FRANCIS BULLOCK
GRO Reference: 1865 J Quarter in SAINT COLUMB MAJOR Volume 05C Page

Not finding a William John born 1863ish.


Family in 1871 so perhaps not the correct one.

1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Back Lane, West, St Columb Major, St Columb, Cornwall, England

Household members (7 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place

John Dyer Head - Male 54 1817 general labourer Cornwall, England

Mary Ann Dyer Wife - Female 40 1831 - Cornwall, England

Charles Dyer Son - Male 11 1860 - Cornwall, England

Maria Dyer Daughter - Female 7 1864 - Cornwall, England

John Dyer Son - Male 5 1866 - Cornwall, England

Janney Dyer Daughter - Female 3 1868 - Cornwall, England

William Dyer Son - Male 0 1871 - Cornwall, England

Day Month 18-May
Year 1889
Parish Circuit Or Chapel Truro, St. John
Groom Fn William John
Groom Sn DYER
Groom Age 25
Groom Residence Tabernacle St
Groom Condition Bachelor
Groom Rank Profession Mason
Groom Signed / Marked (S/M) S
Groom Father Name John
Groom Father Rank Profession Mason
Bride Fn Elizabeth Ann
Bride Sn BROKENSHA
Bride Age 25
Bride Residence Tabernacle St
Bride Condition Spinster
Bride Rank Profession
Bride Signed / Marked (S/M) S
Bride Father Name Edward
Bride Father Rank Profession Mariner
Banns / Licence (B/L) B
Witness Fn1 Richard James
Witness Sn1 Behenna
Witness Fn2 Richard Henry
Witness Sn2 Brokensha
Other Information
Transcriber Notes
Transcriber M Hancock/J Mitchell

1881 for Elizabeth's family but William John is harder to pin down.

1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census
3, Tabernacle Street, Kenwyn, Truro, Cornwall, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place

Edward Brokenshire Head Married Male 55 1826 Costermonger St Clement, Cornwall, England

Mary J Brokenshire Wife Married Female 47 1834 Costermonger wife Kenwyn, Cornwall, England

Edward J Brokenshire Son Single Male 21 1860 Shoemaker Kenwyn, Cornwall, England

Elizabeth A Brokenshire Daughter Single Female 17 1864 Tailoress Kenwyn, Cornwall, England

Richard H Brokenshire Son Single Male 13 1868 Scholar Kenwyn, Cornwall, England

Elizabeth Williams Wifes sister Married Female 45 1836 - Gwennap, Cornwall, England


Just brother Richard left at that address in 1891.


1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Tabernacle Street, Kenwyn, Truro, Cornwall, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place

Mary Hyme Head Married Female 50 1841 Charwoman Truro, Cornwall, England

Alfred Hyme Son Single Male 16 1875 General labourer Truro, Cornwall, England

Richard Brokenshire Lodger Single Male 23 1868 Mason Truro, Cornwall, England

or 1861
Name: William John Dyer
Age: 2
Estimated Birth Year: 1859
Relation: Son
Father's Name: John Dyer
Mother's Name: Elizabeth Dyer
Gender: Male
Where born: Roche, Cornwall, England
Civil Parish: Roche
County/Island: Cornwall
Country: England
Street Address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
View image
Registration District: St Austell
Sub-registration District: St Austell
ED, institution, or vessel: 20c
Neighbors:
Household Schedule Number: 61
Piece: 1549
Folio: 45
Page Number: 14
Household Members:
Name Age
John Dyer 33 --- miner
Elizabeth Dyer 28
Tom Dyer 6
Richard Dyer 3
William John Dyer 2


1939

Name: William J Dyer
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Birth Date: 3 Apr 1859 -------------------
Residence Year: 1939
Address: 26
Residence Place: Truro, Cornwall, England
Occupation: Retired Mason
Line Number: 21
Schedule Number: 88
Sub Schedule Number: 1
Enumeration District: WAXF
Borough: Truro
Inferred Spouse:
Elizabeth A Dyer
Household Members Age
William J Dyer 80
Elizabeth A Dyer
76

DYER, WILLIAM JOHN HANCOCK
GRO Reference: 1859 J Quarter in ST AUSTELL Volume 05C Page 157

Day Month 02-May
Year 1859
Parish Circuit Or Chapel Roche
Forename William John
Surname DYER
Sex son
Age Or Date Of Birth
Father Forename John
Mother Forename Elizabeth
Residence Colevreath
Parish
Status Or Occupation miner
Where Baptised
Notes
Transcriber Notes
Transcriber John Evans

Name: Elizabeth A Dyer
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Married
Birth Date: 15 Aug 1863 -------------------
Residence Year: 1939
Address: 26
Residence Place: Truro, Cornwall, England
Occupation: Unpaid Domestic Duties
Line Number: 22
Schedule Number: 88
Sub Schedule Number: 2
Enumeration District: WAXF
Borough: Truro
Inferred Spouse:
William J Dyer

BROKENSHIRE, ELIZABETH ANN KEAST
GRO Reference: 1863 S Quarter in TRURO Volume 05C Page 186

father

Name: John Dyer
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 10 Jul 1852
Marriage Place: Roche, Cornwall, England
Father:
John Dyer
Spouse:
Elizabeth Hancock
FHL Film Number: 1596179
Reference ID: p 90



Name: John Dyer
Birth Date: 1828
Death Date: 16 Feb 1904
Cemetery: Roche Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place: Roche, Cornwall Unitary Authority, Cornwall, England
Has Bio?: N

Name: Elizabeth Dyer
Birth Date: 1833
Death Date: 16 Feb 1909
Cemetery: Roche Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place: Roche, Cornwall Unitary Authority, Cornwall, England
Has Bio?: N
URL:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191559888/elizabeth-dyer

Name: John Dyer
Age: 13
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1828
Gender: Male
Where born: Cornwall, England
Civil Parish: Roche
Hundred: Powder (East Division)
County/Island: Cornwall
Country: England
Street Address:
Occupation:
View image
Registration District: St Austell
Sub-registration District: St Austell
Neighbors:
Piece: 145
Book: 9
Folio: 20
Page Number: 7
Household Members:
Name Age
John Dyer 38
Sarah Dyer 37
John Dyer 13
Jane Dyer 3

1891
Name: John Dyer
Gender: Male
Age: 62
Relationship: Head
Birth Year: 1829
Spouse: Elizabeth Dyer
Child: Mary T Dyer
Susan Dyer
Bessie Dyer
Henry E Dyer
Joseph Dyer
Birth Place: Roche, Cornwall, England
Civil Parish: Roche
Residence Place: Roche, Cornwall, England
Registration District: St Austell
Sub registration district: St Austell
ED, Institution or Vessel: 21
Neighbors:
Piece: 1823
Folio: 90
Household Members:
Name Age
John Dyer 62
Elizabeth Dyer 57
Mary T Dyer 27
Susan Dyer 24
Bessie Dyer 22
Henry E Dyer 20
Joseph Dyer 15
Henry S Cock 7
Mildred F Cock 3
Winfred E Cock 2

no william john as married by then



John
Last name
Dyer
Gender
Male
Birth year
1827
Baptism year
1827
Baptism date
11 Nov 1827
Parish
Roche
Father's first name(s)
John
Father's last name
Dyer
Mother's first name(s)
Sarah
Mother's last name
-
Relationship Son

Name: John Dyer
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 07 Oct 1823
Marriage Place: Roche, Cornwall, England
Spouse:
Sarah Snell
FHL Film Number: 1596179
Reference ID: 40

Thank you to everyone for taking the trouble to respond, much appreciated.

From 1859 to 1863 inclusive, 10 “William John DYER”s were born, so it can be difficult to distinguish between them.

For “my” William John DYER, his marriage in 1889 to Elizabeth in Truro, the 1901 (87 Pydar St, Truro) census, the 1911 census (86 Pydar St, Truro) all point to a birth year of 1863. But I know that people can be consistently inaccurate for whatever reason about their actual date of birth.

For the 1891 census I cannot find William, but his wife Elizabeth and his two children Reginald and Mary are living at 27 Moresk Rd, Truro.

For the 1939 register, I think that the William (retired mason) and Elizabeth DYER living at 26 Moresk Road, Truro are probably the right couple, although the 1859 birth date for William is perplexing, given that all the other definite events point to 1863.

I have tried to find a newspaper announcement about his death in 1944 in Truro. Hoping that would name his wife and children, so as to confirm it is the right person.

I will continue looking, but if I am still stuck I will see what a DNA test may yield.

Bear in mind that until 1875 there were no penalties for not registering births

Who registered the death in 1944?

1939 william

of 26 moresk road truro died 25 12 1944 probate bodmin 17th june to william george davies shoe foreman
effects £450

same address as in 1939

William John
Last name
Dyer
Death year
1954
Death date
25 Dec 1954 mistranscribeed ?
Probate year
1963
Probate date
09 Jun 1963
Residence town
Truro
Registry -
County
Cornwall
Linked persons
William George Davies
Country
England
Record set
England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019

Name: William John Dyer
Birth Year: abt 1863
Age: 27
Charge Date: 1890
Charge Place: Truro, Cornwall, England
Residence Place: Moresk Road, Truro
Charge: Disorderly conduct by fighting etc. In Lemon Street last evening. Pleaded guilty. Fined 5s. & 3s.6d. costs. In default 7 days' Hard Labour. Paid. "Description of prisoner" height 5ft.6in., hair brown, eyes blue, complexion fresh.
Offender or Witness: Charged
Description: A mason

Name: William Dyer
Birth Year: abt 1863
Age: 20
Charge Date: 1883
Charge Place: Truro, Cornwall, England
Residence Place: Moresk Road, Truro
Charge: Fighting & making an affray in King Street. Pleaded guilty. "Found on person" 8s.10d., knife. Received [signature] "William Dyer". Fined 5s. & 3s. costs. Paid.
Offender or Witness: Charged
Description: Mason