John Henry Barsby, according to family oral tradition was a Captain in the Merchant Navy. His daughter was Emma Amelia Barsby who was apparently born on 23 January 1863. She had two older brothers - John and Henry. According to the tradition John married a girl called Rebecca Abrahams but after a few years they were divorced and John emmigrated to India.
John Henry would return home to his wife once or twice a year, leaving his wages with her. The tradition was that he was lost at sea when Emma was about seven years of age. The above information was supplied by Elsie Amelia Robertson daughter of Emma and grand daughter of John Henry.
Documentary evidence:- Birth certificate for Emma showed her as having been born 21 January 1863 at Mile End Old Town Workhouse with no father and her mother as Martha Barsby. When the actual workhouse records were checked two of her brothers were admitted as destitute after her mother had been taken in in labour.
Rebecca Abrahams did marry into the Barsby family but she married Allan not John. Allan was born on 19 August 1850 at 4 Suffolk Street Bethnal Green the son of John Henry Barsby, Mariner and Martha Caroline (formerly Burgess) and from this information I was able to find the marriage certificate of John Henry and Martha.
At the Public Record Office Kew I was able to find some information about John Henry's career- His registration record as found in BT113/198 is as follows:-
Register Ticket No:-394079 Age when Ticketed:- 28 John Henry BarsLey Can write:- Yes Born at Paddington in the County of Middlesex 12 day of June 1820 Capacity:- Mate Height:- 5'10'' Hair:- D. Brown Complexion:-Fresh Eyes:- Hazel Marks:- None
First went to sea as: Boy in the year 1833 Has served in the Royal Navy:- No* Has served in the Foreign Service:- Yes 5 months US When unemployed resides at:- Shadwell Issued at London 13 day of July 1848
*Although JHB did not admit to having served in the Royal Nay he did serve on the Frigate 'Inconstant' but he deserted after 6 months!!
More About John Henry Barsby: Date born 2: 1818, Paddington, Middlesex. Fact 1: 1851, census.126 Fact 2: 1843, Valparaiso Chile-discharged from the ship 'Caroline'.126
More About John Henry Barsby and Martha Burgess: Marriage: May 15, 1843, St Botolph Aldgate, UK.126
Children of John Henry Barsby are:
+Emma Amelia Barsby, b. January 23, 1863, Mile End Old Town Workhouse, UK126, d. November 4, 1937, Manor Park Cemetery No 642 Sq 98, UK126.
Children of John Henry Barsby and Martha Burgess are:
John Henry Barsby (b. June 12, 1820, d. Abt. 1870)
Notes for John Henry Barsby: