The disappearing Thomas Gray optician not on 1841 census?...

[Do]

Thomas Gray, optician, residing in Bell's Close, Old Church parish, Edinburgh, married Catherine Bell, residing same place on 7th August 1843. I have spent a small fortune searching for Thomas Gray on the 1841 census and can't find him! Catherine had 1 daughter with Thomas Gray (also Catherine, born 1844) and in the late 1850's had 2 sons with a David Bell. I can't find a record of the death of Thomas Gray so I assume he died pre 1855, but now I can't find him on the 1841 census. I can't find Catherine or her daughter on the 1851 census - this would at least tell me if Thomas was still with them in 1851, but there are so many brick walls here!
Can any one help to save me from going completely crazy over this?

Do

[nelmit]

Thomas Gray, optician, residing in Bell's Close, Old Church parish, Edinburgh, married Catherine Bell, residing same place on 7th August 1843. I have spent a small fortune searching for Thomas Gray on the 1841 census and can't find him! Catherine had 1 daughter with Thomas Gray (also Catherine, born 1844) and in the late 1850's had 2 sons with a David Bell. I can't find a record of the death of Thomas Gray so I assume he died pre 1855, but now I can't find him on the 1841 census. I can't find Catherine or her daughter on the 1851 census - this would at least tell me if Thomas was still with them in 1851, but there are so many brick walls here!
Can any one help to save me from going completely crazy over this?

Do

Hello,

Have you tried searching for Catherine BELL rather than Gray in 1851 just in case?

Regards,
Annette M

[Do]

Yes thanks I have tried that, but with no luck - and as Catherine Gray nee Bell used the name Catherine Gray when she registered the death of her mother Janet Bell nee Stevenson in 1855, I think she would still be known as Catherine Gray in 1851. This really puzzles me as I can't find Janet Bell (aged 60) on the 1851 census either so perhaps Catherine had been living with her mother and they were missed from the census. But this part of the family seem determined to hide from me!

Any suggestions welcome!

Do

[kaethren1785]

Thomas Gray was my grt ,grt grandfather . I have also spent a fortune searchig for him , have wondered if he could be irish , his daughter married name Johnstone visited ireland several times and one of her sons was born there . I have however found his death certifacate , he died of fever on the 5/11/1843 aged 21 occupation given as Phisosophical (scientific) instrument maker which i think includes the making of spectacles I would to know where came from. His wife ( a wife,widow and mother) remarried a David Bell and had two sons .
hope this helps

[johnniegarve]

Have you tried the National Archives online catalogue ans see if the name pops up! . http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/

[Russell]

Hi Kaethren

and Welcome to .

What a great way to make your first post offering vital information
I have not seen 'Do' on site for some time but if they still use the same e-mail address an alert will be sent saying that an addition has been made to her thread.

Russell