A further question about my BUTLERS - all getting very interesting!!

[echokilo]

Seems my Zebulon from 1799 had a son also called Zeb:

Zeb junior (born 1832) is ahowing with his parents in 1841 ..... but missing from the following 5 census .... and appears again in 1901 in Sedgley with wife Betsy (nee Wright, they married in 1861 in West Bromwich) In 1901 they have 3 daughters with them - all listed as being born in Cuba!!! So strange - could never have imaged my working class ancestors of this era popping over to the Windies for almost 40 years!!! He is a general dealer and cycle maker in 1901, and the older girl was born in 1864 in Cuba - so it seems Zeb and Bet left for the Indies after their wedding in 1861 and before Elizabeth Wright Butler is born in 1864, and returned after the 1891 census and before the 1901 census .............. can anyone take the time to check I have this right and shed any light at all on why he may have gone to the West Indies, and how I can find out what he was doing there ..... eldest daughter just shows Cuba and younger two show place of birth as Matanzas, Cuba (which is a province or country over there) Am SO curous about this!!!

[dotty.]

I think Betsy is on the 1881 with the children but her husband is missing. the son Richard Z, is 10 and born cuba but the 2 younger children are both born sedgeley, so that means that betsey and zeb must have been back in sedgley mid 70's

[dotty.]

1881 England Census 1881 England Census
Name: Elizabeth W. Butler
Age: 17
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1864
Relation: Daughter
Mother's name: Betsy Butler
Gender: Female
Where born: Cuba (B S), West Indies

Civil parish: Sedgley
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street Address: 1 Bull Ring
Education:

Employment status:

View image
Occupation: Drapers Assistant

Registration district: Dudley
Sub-registration district: Sedgley
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 2868
Folio: 31
Page Number: 25
Household Members:
Name Age
Betsy Butler 44
Elizabeth W. Butler 17
Annie L. Butler 15
Mary A. Butler 13
Richard Z. Butler 10
Sydney T. Butler 3
James S. Butler 2
Mary Butler 72
Harriett Whitehouse 18

Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 2868; Folio: 31; Page: 25; GSU roll: 1341688.

[echokilo]

Thanks Dotty - yes they appear to have been in Cuba from between 1861 and 1864 and until 1878 (or before) - really want to know what took them there - any ideas where to look to find out more? Do you know if anyone on here has international ancestry access?

[dotty.]

Checking out the place online historically it has a huge history of the slave trade, which seems to have generated wealth that then led to the building of stunning public and government buildings and lots of very European style biling and design, as a nail maker, it is possible John went over there to work at his trade on some of the projects. Just a guess,

[echokilo]

I think you may be right Dotty - any way you know of that I can find any records of him there, especially the childrens births in Cuba? Am a bit stumped!

[dotty.]

I'm checking that out at the minute, will be back shortly

[echokilo]

Still no further forward with the Cuba connection BUT this week I have found Zeb's grave and 4 lovely photos of his business premises - thanks to all who have helped - am very happy!