It is also my understanding that the term Gentleman also used to include those who were without a current occupation Michael Allbrook On Thu 01/10/09 23:56 , "hilary" hilaryblanford@btinternet.com sent: Hallo Mary The trade and street directories, such as Kellys and Pigots usually had a section for 'people of quality' and if your ancestor was regarded locally as a gentleman then he may be listed as such. You can find some of these directories on line at The London Gazette also has an online archive and periodically published lists of people of quality. Both sites are free and fully searchable Hilary > I think I've read all the responses to the above query, but I didn't see anything about proof of identity. > I have no doubt about the bride and groom's name on my great grandparents' marriage certificate. William Alexander DOWNING, solicitor, married Ann JAGGS, daughter of William Jaggs, Master Mariner on 10 Sep 1860 at St Giles, Camberwell. My problem is the groom's father, George Downing, gentleman. As far as I can tell, the groom's father is Alexander Downing, servant, and his mother is Harriet (birth date 18 August 1823; baptism 17 January 1827, All Souls Church, Marylebone, Middlesex). On every census, W.A Downing's age and birthplace agree with the baptismal record. > Would a person be asked for proof of his father's name? Or was William free to give any name he liked? > My father told me his grandfather, the above W.A. Downing, was illegitimate, father unknown. It's my guess Alexander Downing was not W.A.'s father, explaining the gap between birth and baptism. Nor was his father George Downing, Gentleman as stated on the marriage cert. > Since I haven't been able to find a marriage for Alexander Downing and Harriet, I do not know Harriet's surname. I found a William Downing living with Harriet Downing, widow, on the 1841 census, but cannot find him on the 1851 census. From 1861, he appears on every census, right age, right birthplace. > Does anyone have any ideas? > Mary in Maryland _________________________________________________________________ Get the best of MSN on your mobile ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 20:05:08 +1300 From: kotuku media Subject: [SRY] Southwark streets To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes Hi: I have a birth certificate for 1840 with person born at 72 Castle St, St Saviour. I can't find that. Has the road been renamed???? Regards Ross in New Zealand ------------------------------ To contact the ENG-SURREY list administrator, send an email to . To post a message to the ENG-SURREY mailing list, send an email to . __________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to with the word "unsubscribe" without the quotes in the subject and the body of the email with no additional text. End of ENG-SURREY Digest, Vol 4, Issue 265 ****************************************** *************************************** Send your List messages using **PLAIN TEXT** and always **TRIM AWAY** superfluous old messages in replies. List Admin can be contacted at: . ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message