Jayes / Gees introduction

ARE THE GEE FAMILY OF BELGRAVE ONE OF THE JAYES FAMILIES OF ENDERBY?

The Family Tree of one of the Jayes families who are recorded on the 1851 Census for Enderby seems to show that Joseph and James Jayes, who were living in the village in 1851, and who both gave their place of birth as Belgrave were, in fact, the brothers who were baptised in Belgrave under the surname Gee.

The brothers appear to be two of the sons of Joseph Gee and Ann Dickings (see tree) who baptised their family of six children in Belgrave 1798-1814, although their eldest son, Thos., was baptised as 'Jee'.The family disappear from the Belgrave records after the baptism of their son James Gee in 1814, but it seems almost certain that this is the family who moved to Enderby and who appear in the Enderby records. A daughter, Ann, was baptised to Joseph Jayes and Ann in Enderby in 1816. When Ann senior died in the following year her burial was recorded in the Enderby Parish Register in October 1817; 'Ann, the wife of Joseph Gee' aged 39 years.

From that time the spelling 'Jayes' or 'Jay' is used in the Enderby Records. I think it very likely therefore that the widowed Joseph Jayes, a labourer, who married Mary Illston in Enderby in November 1818, was this same Joseph Gee of Belgrave, now Joseph Jayes of Enderby. According to the I.G.I. two children, Sarah (1819) and Henry (1822) were born to this couple (see tree).

I also think that James Gee, a labourer, was a son of the first marriage, and it is he who appears on the 1851 Census. He married firstly Ann Garner, and secondly Sarah Garner, both in Enderby. His surname is spelt 'Jayes' on both occasions, and the same spelling is used at the baptisms of his children.

Joseph Gee, also listed on the 1851 Census for Enderby, must be his brother. He also was a labourer, and was baptised in Belgrave in 1809. He too was married to an Ann, who had been born in Newtown Linford according to the Census. The surname used for the family on the Census was 'Jayes' and the same spelling was used at the baptism of Joseph's children. It is possible though, that it his son, William, who is listed as William Jee on the 1881 Census.

What is very interesting to me is that the 1881 Census also listed one James Gee (67), a Stone Quarryman, born in Belgrave, and living in Conery Lane with his wife, Sarah (60), born in Enderby. Confusingly, it would appear that by this date James Jayes who had married, firstly, Ann Garner in Enderby in 1836 and, secondly, Sarah Garner in Enderby in 1871, had by this date reverted back to the spelling of his surname that had been used at his baptism in Belgrave in 1814. It would be interesting to know what variation in the spelling of their surname his descendants use today.

(Another Joseph Jayes, a framework knitter, born in Enderby, married to Mary Burgess in 1809, was also living in the village with their family at this time. They were direct ancestors of mine (through their son Isaac) but the 'Jay/Gee' family above appear to have no relationship to him. If any of their descendants have any further information on the family, I would be pleased to hear from them.)

Mike Walton, Sylvia's husband, can be contacted by e-mail at roseblade@0001one-name.org (Paste the e-mail address into your e-mail program and remove the 0001).