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WALTER JAMES DURHAM (1867 – 1932)
12 JUL 1867 BIRTH, GREENWICH		son of William Jacob Smith Durham, victualler, and Henrietta, née Martin
1871 CENSUS		missing: neither at home with his father and 2nd wife (whom he hadn't actually married yet!), who presumably lived over the pub, nor with his elder brother, c/o their maternal aunt
1881 CENSUS		missing: his father had presumably disappeared off to S. Africa, having married AND buried his 2nd wife, nor with his elder brother, c/o their maternal aunt
1888 MARRIAGE, SHOREDITCH		age 21 (so born 1866-7), porter, to ALICE MARY DOREY, father WILLIAM DURHAM, senior? warehouseman
the witnesses' names are unknown, so perhaps none of the family were present, and what was he doing living in Hoxton? His father was actually a licensed victualler UNTIL he was found in bed with a waitress and disappeared off to South Africa, probably BEFORE the 1881 census, so this is a) perhaps a mistake - perhaps he never/hardly knew his father, or b) his father's actual occupation in S. Africa (he died a pauper there in 1894) In 1891 his elder brother put, in his marriage certificate, "William Jacob Durham, licensed victualler" - funny, he got it correct
1891 CENSUS POOLE, DORSET		age 23 (so born 1867-8), brewer's drayman, born Greenwich, Kent, wife Alice Mary, born Poole, son Walter Samuel William
1901 CENSUS POOLE, DORSET		age 33 (so born 1867-8), brewery carter, born GRAVESEND, Kent, wife Alice Mary, born Poole, children Walter Samuel William, Henrietta Rosalie Gladys, Florence Dorothy, Madeline Gertrude, Lottie Mabel Jessie daughter Alice Mary dead other Doreys on the same page, so this was obviously her home territory, so they'd moved there
this is	a) perhaps a mistransciption for Greenwich, or b) for some reason he thought/put Gravesend, where his elder brother was brought up (did he ever stay there?)
1911 CENSUS POOLE, DORSET		age 42, (so born 1868-9!), brewery horse feeder, born GRAVESEND, Kent (again), wife Alice Mary, born Poole, children Florence Dorothy, Madeline Gertrude, Lottie Mabel Jessie, Violet Lena, son-in-law James Huntley, general labourer, daughter Henrietta Rosalie Gladys, grandson James W. W. Huntley Walter Samuel William, Henrietta Rosalie Gladys married, Doris May, Pomeroy dead
1917 WILL OF MARY ANN LYGO		his maternal aunt, Gravesend, Kent, who brought up his elder brother, mentions latter and Walter James as nephews, Mrs Walter Durham (no relationship shown), and various of their children as "nieces" (actually great-nieces) - she doesn't mention Poole though, which would have been useful, just to be completely sure we've got the right family
Q4 1919 DEATH POOLE, DORSET REG. DISTRICT		Alice M. Durham, age 55
Q4 1932 DEATH POOLE, DORSET REG. DISTRICT		Walter J. Durham, age 65
TO SUM UP		So where was he 1871-81? It seems unlikely that his father took him with him to South Africa - he wouldn't have come back, would he? his aunt, who brought up his elder brother, obviously knew the family well, and was fond enough of them to mention them in their will
PAGE UPDATED 21 JANUARY 2010
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