Is this 19th-century architect from London my relation?
QA Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600–1840 lists a James Clephan of London. The entry suggests he was related to a William Clephan (1810–1868) of Stockton – my 3x great uncle. James Cleapon, born 1775 in East Lothian, William’s uncle, seems like a good candidate for the architect James. How do I prove it? Jeremy Clephan
A The third edition of Howard Colvin’s Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600–1840 has an entry for James Clephan(e). He is described as an early-19th-century architect active in the 1830s, particularly in London, England.
I searched the 1841 census on findmy past.co.uk for a James Clephan in London, who was an architect or similar, but found no relevant results. However, when I searched for James I found an entry for an architect, aged 35, living at 18 Cockspur Street, St Martin-in-the-Fields, London & Middlesex, England, not born in the county.
This suggests this James was born around 1806. If he had been born in East Lothian in Scotland, there would be an “S” in the box on the right. That is not the case here. If this entry is correct, then James Clepane was born outside London in England or Wales.
On ancestry.co.uk I found an 1873 marriage entry (Surrey History Centre; Woking, Surrey, England; Reference Number: P6/1/11) for James’ daughter, Catharine Nicholson Clephan, who was 23 at the time, suggesting a birth year of 1850.
Searching back for Catharine via the census helped identify her mother as Harriet Elizabeth. A check of the General Register Office’s marriage index suggests that James Clephan married Catharine’s mother, Harriet Elizabeth Lake (married name), in Wandsworth district in September quarter 1850 (volume 4, page 629).
Order a copy of the certificate via https:// www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content and check the name of James’ father. You can then use this to ascertain whether this James is indeed your relative.
Emma Jolly