It was with great interest that ‘Google’ led me to Wigtownshire Strays and the following extract from the Wigtownshire Strays website: 1871 Census – William Cummings, aged 66, head, born Stranraer, Scotland, recorded in Barnstaple, Devon.  RG10/2182, ed8, folio 96, page 11. This William Cummings was my great, great, great grandfather (my mother’s maiden name was Cummings).  I knew he was ‘born in Scotland’ from the census but could find nothing else.  Despite many avenues of investigation I have never been able to find any link.  He was a tea dealer and latterly a lodging house keeper in Boutport Street, Barnstaple.  I had assumed that the tea trade was a possible connection. If of interest, I would be very happy to share my ‘Cummings’ research with others, there may still be distant relatives in Dumfries and Galloway!  My immediate family all originated from Croydon, where I was born, but since 1990 I and my family have lived in Innellan, Argyll until 2007, when we moved to Gourock, Renfrewshire. Does anyone have any information about possible Cummings connections? I have a couple of general questions:  1. How do you make the link between a Wigtownshire born person and the census in another area? and 2. who should I approach next, is there a records office  where I could obtain more information – or a local family history society? Any information gratefully received and if anything exists in archives, I would be able to visit. Kind regards, Chris Shirley

Below is the death registration reference info for William & Ann CUMMINGS.  Using that you can obtain the death certificates from the GRO at https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/default.asp Those certificates should give you William's father's name and Ann's maiden name.  You could then find their marriage record which would confirm William's father's name. Checking the earlier census records shows in 1841 William CUMMINGS, grocer, in Barnstaple with wife Betsy and several children. Also included in the household are his mother-in-law and sister-in-law.  In 1851, William CUMMINGS is a retired grocer and now married to Ann.  His children are living with their aunt, Mary Bates, grocer.  Let me know if you need these. Cummings, William age 85 died Barnstaple June Quarter 1885 Vol 5b page 313 Cummings, Ann age 93 died Barnstaple June Quarter 1903 Vol 5b page 277 ----- Jo-Ann

On quick search I came across mention of the wife of a William Cummings, Captain of "The Scotia" who had a son, in birth announcemens (baby's Christian name not given) and also "William Cummings, late of Barnstaple, Devonshire, Tea Dealer and Draper" in the London Gazette Insolvency lists 1842/3" Could be reasons for William turning up in different areas? Good hunting Betty (Madley, Hereford) ----- Original Message ----- William Cummings, late of Barnstaple, Devonshire, Tea Dealer and Draper.From: "CHRISTOPHER SHIRLEY" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, November 27, 2010 7:45 PM Subject: [WIG LIST] Wigtownshire Stray - William Cummings > It was with great interest that ‘Google’ led me to Wigtownshire Strays and > the following extract from the Wigtownshire Strays website: > > 1871 Census – William Cummings, aged 66, head, born Stranraer, Scotland, > recorded in Barnstaple, Devon. RG10/2182, ed8, folio 96, page 11. > > This William Cummings was my great, great, great grandfather (my mother’s > maiden name was Cummings). I knew he was ‘born in Scotland’ from the > census > but could find nothing else. Despite many avenues of investigation I have > never been able to find any link. He was a tea dealer and latterly a > lodging house keeper in Boutport Street, Barnstaple. I had assumed that > the > tea trade was a possible connection. > > If of interest, I would be very happy to share my ‘Cummings’ research with > others, there may still be distant relatives in Dumfries and Galloway! My > immediate family all originated from Croydon, where I was born, but since > 1990 I and my family have lived in Innellan, Argyll until 2007, when we > moved to > Gourock, Renfrewshire. > > > Does anyone have any information about possible Cummings connections? > I have a couple of general questions: 1. How do you make the link > between a Wigtownshire born person and the census in another area? and 2. > who should I approach next, is there a records office where I could obtain > more information – or a local family history society? > > > Any information gratefully received and if anything exists in archives, I > would be able to visit. > > > Kind regards, > > Chris Shirley > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Sorry my previous one went off without some comments being added. Am re-sending. Betty On quick search I came across mention of the wife of a William Cummings, Captain of "The Scotia" who had a son, in birth announcements (baby's Christian name not given) and also "William Cummings, late of Barnstaple, Devonshire, Tea Dealer and Draper" in the London Gazette Insolvency lists 1842/3" Could be reasons for William turning up in different areas? The London Gazette is a most useful On Line search facility with links all over UK and world. Have found a number of our family names on there, including a couple of ancestors unexpectedly as business insolvents and servicemen "gazetted" with details of medals awarded, and reports of births, deaths and marriages. The Wig list will probably come up with more certain links but if not I can go back and look again for details. Good hunting Betty (Madley, Hereford) ----- Original Message ----- William Cummings, late of Barnstaple, Devonshire, Tea Dealer and Draper.From: "CHRISTOPHER SHIRLEY" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, November 27, 2010 7:45 PM Subject: [WIG LIST] Wigtownshire Stray - William Cummings > It was with great interest that ‘Google’ led me to Wigtownshire Strays and > the following extract from the Wigtownshire Strays website: > > 1871 Census – William Cummings, aged 66, head, born Stranraer, Scotland, > recorded in Barnstaple, Devon. RG10/2182, ed8, folio 96, page 11. > > This William Cummings was my great, great, great grandfather (my mother’s > maiden name was Cummings). I knew he was ‘born in Scotland’ from the > census > but could find nothing else. Despite many avenues of investigation I have > never been able to find any link. He was a tea dealer and latterly a > lodging house keeper in Boutport Street, Barnstaple. I had assumed that > the > tea trade was a possible connection. > > If of interest, I would be very happy to share my ‘Cummings’ research with > others, there may still be distant relatives in Dumfries and Galloway! My > immediate family all originated from Croydon, where I was born, but since > 1990 I and my family have lived in Innellan, Argyll until 2007, when we > moved to > Gourock, Renfrewshire. > > > Does anyone have any information about possible Cummings connections? > I have a couple of general questions: 1. How do you make the link > between a Wigtownshire born person and the census in another area? and 2. > who should I approach next, is there a records office where I could obtain > more information – or a local family history society? > > > Any information gratefully received and if anything exists in archives, I > would be able to visit. > > > Kind regards, > > Chris Shirley > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message