Jacob (Jay) Wolfe

Name: Margaret Williamson

Registration district: Cork

Record type: MARRIAGES

Registration date - quarter and year: 1870

Estimated birth year:

Age:

Mother's surnames:

Film number: 101251

Volume: 20

Page: 67

Digital GS number: 4179384

Image number: 00340

Collection: Ireland, Civil Registration Indexes 1845-1958

Jacob (known as Jay) was born in Cork on August 14 1843 and died in South Africa on August 30 1937, having just turned 94 years of age. In 1870 he married Margaret Williamson. They had two children – Samuel Williamson Wolfe (born 1872) and Elizabeth Jane Wolfe (born 1873) Jay was a widower before 1881 when he had relocated to London with his two children and was working as a commercial clerk for an ironmongery firm. By 1891 he is a lodger with his two children (now 19 and 18 years) at 69 Wakehurst Road Battersea while working as a commercial clerk. Son Samuel is now working as an ironmonger’s assistant.

(The lodging house was owned by Mary Ann Haines – described on the census as a „letter of apartments’. Mary

Ann was the daughter of George and Mary Ann Goodman – both from Saltash Cornwall. George was a Coastguardsman and his daughter was born in Tilbury Essex while he was stationed there in 1851. He was later posted to Cheshire. In Cheshire, daughter Mary Ann married James Marle, a ship’s steward from Liverpool, before 1873. They had two sons, George Marle (born 1873 in New Brighton Cheshire) and James Marle (born 1874 in New Brighton). Father James Marle died before 1879. In that year, Mary Ann remarried. Her second husband was a man called Haines. They had one son – William Goodman Haines (born 1879 in New Brighton). For reasons that will become apparent. Haines senior died sometime before 1884.)

On June 19 1897 in Battersea, Jacob Wolfe married his erstwhile landlady Mary Ann Haines.(However, their banns had been read in St Mary’s Church Battersea over three consecutive Sundays in June 1884 yet they did not marry then). She likely had some means as she lists her occupation on the marriage certificate as,Independent’. (This was the same certificate that described Joseph Alleyn Wolfe’s profession as „accountant’).

Jacob and Mary Ann may have used some of these assets to set up in business. During the Boer War (1899-1903) Jacob and Mary Ann moved to South Africa. A passenger list has them returning to Plymouth from Cape Town aboard SS Runic in November 1903. Jacob is now described as a merchant. However, they obviously settled permanently in South Africa but with frequent trips back to England as later passenger lists will show. In May 1927 he arrives alone in London from Cape Town on the SS Barrabool with an intended address 36 Fitzroy Square London SC1. In December 1929, along with Mary Ann, he arrives in Southampton from Durban on the Kenilworth Castle. His destination is J. Marle of Liverpool House Heswall Cheshire – his step-son James – now a very successful jeweler and gold merchant with whom he may also have had some business dealings. Finally, in June 1936 he travels from Durban to Southampton on the Carnarvon Castle, again to visit step-son James. Jacob returned to South Africa, dying there on August 30 1937 in his 94th year.

(courtesy Gary Acheson)