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Author Topic: Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl  (Read 783 times)
Terryjc
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Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl
« on: Thursday 28 May 09 05:29 UTC (UK) »

This quest started in North Yorkshire with the birth of Henry Sturdy in Asenby but now  moves north with he and his family living in Stockton-on-Tees.

Henry appears in the 1881 census in Norton, Durham after his marriage in 1878 to Catherine Thompson Downing ( born Middlesborough) with one child Edward born in Stockton and then aged 1yr.

Again in 1891 the same family appears in Stockton-on-Tees with, amongst other children, an elder daughter named Jessie D Sturdy then aged 15.  At first I thought that Jessie had probably been with relatives for the previous census, but there was no sign of her anywhere in 1881.

A search of FreeBDM failed to produce a birth. My thought then was that as she was born before Henry’s marriage she might be Catherine’s daughter and sure enough a search under Jessie Downing produced a result -
Jessie Downing    Birth 1876 DecQ    Stockton district, Folio 10a, Page 67.

My present problem with this mystery girl is that I cannot find her anywhere in 1881, under Downing or Sturdy, and I cannot find her after 1891.  Neither can I find a marriage or a death.

So to the question – where did Jessie come from, and where did she go?

Terry
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jimmijam
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Re: Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 28 May 09 07:35 UTC (UK) »

Hi Terryjc,
I've had this problem a couple of times, especially with the name Jessie. I've had the same person recorded in OPR's, IGI and census's as Jessie, Jean, Jeanie, Janet. If her birth date hadn't been consistent, and she hadn't been with the same family, I'd have had serious doubts. Have you tried for any variations?
Best wishes, Jimmijam
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Terryjc
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Re: Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 28 May 09 11:37 UTC (UK) »

Hi jimmijam

I have tried just using the surname and variations of it (though some no doubt escape my imagination), with a birth year +- 2 years and birth counties of both Durham and Yorkshire and a country wide search with no definitive result.

I have ploughed through so many records that now I am wondering if I have missed something very obvious.  I thought perhaps a fresh set of eyes might turn up something that I have missed.

Terry
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lizdb
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Re: Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 28 May 09 14:27 UTC (UK) »

Do you know her mum's parents?
I have been trying to find 12 yr old Catherine in 1871 to find her family, but no success.
Maybe her story is similar, with the Thompson middle name.
My plan was then to find them in 1881 - and see if Jess is with them (under some obscure name that hasnt come up on searches)
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JenB
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Great-great-grandfather Thomas Reed


Re: Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 28 May 09 15:02 UTC (UK) »

Catherine Thompson Downing was born 1858 - I think she is to be found aged 13 at RG10/ 4891/ 91/ 30 with parents Edward and Eliza.

Jennifer
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JenB
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Great-great-grandfather Thomas Reed


Re: Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 28 May 09 15:05 UTC (UK) »

If I have the right family above, then Catherine's parents are living in Newcastle on Tyne in 1881.
RG 11 / 5053/ 137/ 5
No Jessie with them I'm afraid.

Jennifer
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Elsdon - Durham & Northumberland
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lizdb
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Re: Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 28 May 09 15:11 UTC (UK) »

Grrrrr
This STUPID new set up on Anc doesnt seem to let you put in a ref number on the census search!
Not coming up under Downing.

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Edmonds/Edmunds - mainly Sussex
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JenB
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Great-great-grandfather Thomas Reed


Re: Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 28 May 09 15:20 UTC (UK) »

Try Denning in 1871.
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Elsdon - Durham & Northumberland
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lizdb
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Re: Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 28 May 09 15:29 UTC (UK) »

Thanks - seen it now! But that isnt the idea - to find it when someone has told you!!!

This is th eonly marriage I can see as a 'possible' for Edward/Eliza. I was hoping to see a bride as Eliza Thompson

Ap/MAy/Jun 1858
Stockton
10a 149
Edward Downing - one of brides Elizabeth Ross
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lizdb
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Re: Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl
« Reply #9 on: Thursday 28 May 09 15:40 UTC (UK) »

Lets try paternal grandparents.

1871 Henry is a servant

1861
RG9 3200 53 7
Asonby
James Sturdy 55 Ag lab bn Sth Otterington
Jane 53 wife bn Suttonmaunder?? ? ?
Elizabeth dtr unm 29 bn Asonby
Henry 8 grandson bn A
Tom 1 grandson bn A
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lizdb
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Re: Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl
« Reply #10 on: Thursday 28 May 09 15:46 UTC (UK) »

1871
Rg10 4836 52 6

Thornton le moor

James 67 Ag lab bn Otterington
Jane 68 bn Sutton
Elizabeth dtr unm 28 bn Asenby
Thomas 11 grandson bn Asenby

(wonder what Eliz's secret is - hasnt aged at all!!)


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lizdb
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Re: Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl
« Reply #11 on: Thursday 28 May 09 15:51 UTC (UK) »

Getting to the point now - 1881

James and Jane still going strong
RG11 4900 112 5
Brunswick Passage, Stockton

JAmes 74 labourer bn Otterington
Jane 75 bn Sutton

Interestingly, a Thompson family next door.

No Jessie around though.
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Edmonds/Edmunds - mainly Sussex
DeBoo - London
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census information is Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
JenB
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Great-great-grandfather Thomas Reed


Re: Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl
« Reply #12 on: Thursday 28 May 09 15:54 UTC (UK) »

She seems very well hidden. I'm going cross-eyed.
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Michael Dixon
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Re: Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl
« Reply #13 on: Thursday 28 May 09 21:06 UTC (UK) »

 I wish I could make a good contibution to the search for Jessie Downing/Sturdy on 1881 census.. but can only ask more questions....

 The birth of Jessie's mother, Catherine Thompson Sturdy, nee Downing was registered Sept Qtr 1858 with Stockton Reg District ( On censuses Catherine is recorded as Middlesbrough... Middlesbrough lay within Stockton Reg territory until 1875)  . I can see Catherine on censuses aged 13 ( 1871) 22
(1891) 32 (1891) and 42 (1901) and 52(1911).

Where was she on 1861... as a 3 yr old .. with parents Edward and Fife-born Elizabeth Ross.  ( Scottish influence in the names of some of her children.. i.e. Jessie and Wallace! )

There was a birth registration @ Middlesbrough Reg District in Sept Qtr 1918 for a Jessie Downing ( with mother's maiden name of Thompson) ??

What happened to Jessie Downing/Sturdy after her appearance on 1891 ?


(lizdb- I can still insert piece/folio/page numbers in the Ancestry census search page ! )

Michael
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Names.

GALLAGHER ( + variations).
Areas. Co Sligo, Co Leitrim, Co Mayo. IRELAND.
Ontario, CANADA
Lowell, Ma, USA
Counties of Northumberland & Durham, ENGLAND
-------------------------------------------------------------------
MALEY/MELIA/MALLEY  - with or without " O "
Westport Co Mayo. Northumberland
-------------------------------------------------------------------
DIXON
Cumberland.. Brampton, Carlisle, ENGLAND
Terryjc
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Re: Jessie Sturdy the mystery girl
« Reply #14 on: Friday 29 May 09 02:05 UTC (UK) »

Hi All

You have been very active while I slept and I thank you for your interest and assistance.  I don’t know how I can contribute any further information that might help.

I have followed the Sturdy family back from New Zealand, through South Africa and into Durham and Yorkshire through Henry and his unmarried mother Elizabeth to her parents James Sturdy and Jane Parne(a)by.  Having got the direct line I have only now started to fill out Henry’s family and immediately Jessie proved to be a problem.

Like you,
I was hoping to see a bride as Eliza Thompson
I was hoping for a Thompson involvement in Catherine’s parentage so my initial pick was the 1858 SepQ marriage of Downing John (Stockton, Folio10a, Page 115) and probably Thompson Eliza.
It would have been a close run thing with Catherine’s birth 1858 SepQ (Stockton  Folio 10a, Page 32).  However the only likely John and Eliza I could find in 1881 was the one below and again, no Jessie.

Ref RG11 Piece / Folio 4853 / 84 Page 3, 103 Newport Road, Middlesbrough, York, England
John DOWNING , Head, M, Male, 45, Stella, Northumberland, England, Bookseller & Stationer    
Eliza DOWNING, Wife, M, Female,  45, Middlesbrough, York, England    
John A.J. DOWNING, Son, U, Male, 19 , Middlesbrough, York, England    
Ann E. MARKWELL, Servant, U, Female, 16, Et Hartlepool, Durham, England, General Servant

I don’t want to divert the quest from Jessie but
(wonder what Eliz's secret is - hasnt aged at all!!)
sugests that I might take a possible death of an Elizabeth Sturdy in 1890 DecQ, a49,  Stockton 10a 28 as one worth checking out if she maintained the 10yr age loss throughout her life.

Any other thoughts on Jessie would be most welcome, particularly prior to 1891.  After 1891 she may have emigrated – not a possibility that I really want, but one that must be considered.  Maybe to South Africa and perhaps that is what drew her step sister Elsie to migrate there in 1913.

Regards, Terry
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