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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Suffolk => Topic started by: AndrewMartin on Monday 17 August 09 17:23 BST (UK)
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Hello,
I've been rummaging through records for a while now for the death (to lead me ultimately to the birth and parents) of Mary Bailey, (née Clarke).
My first acquaintance with her was on 20th July 1835 when she appeared as the mother to the illegitimately born Caroline Clarke (my Gt Gt Gt Grandmother) at Wattisfield, Suffolk.
22nd October 1837 is the next date that i've found her on, when she's once again at Wattisfield's parish church at the baptism of her illegitimate son Edward Jarman Clarke.
On the 8th November 1838 she married widower William Bailey, and that's it.
By the time of the 1841 census, she's gone, leaving behind William Bailey, some children from his first marriage, with Mary's two illegitimate children - Caroline and Edward - and also an Ellis Bailey aged 2.
With such a narrow time frame to examine (8th Nov 1838-6th June 1841) i decided to look through the parish records for Wattisfield and Redgrave with Botesdale for a baptism of Ellis (i'm assuming he is a 'he') and also a burial for Mary Bailey... but there was nothing.
Unfortunately, the Suffolk Records Office at Bury St Edmunds, doesn't hold the original records, just fiche and I couldn't find an index for burials and baptisms... so I'm a bit puzzled.
I *did* find a potential death in the neighbouring district of Thingoe (courtesy of freeBMD):
Deaths Dec 1840
BAILEY Mary Thingoe 13 541
but I'm wondering whether I should bite the bullet and just order it?
Perhaps someone reading this has a note of Mary Bailey's death inbetween Nov 1838 and June 1841... or even Ellis' birth around 1839.
I've tried familysearch.org too... but nothing is catching my eye.
What do you reckon?
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I wondered if I could find Mary on the 1851 Census and she was still alive. I found a Mary Bailey age 39 born Wattisfield and living in Eye Workhouse ,she is given as Married and a Pauper
This could be a possibility!
Maybe her and her husband had a disagreement and she left home.or he turned her out.
I have a vivid imagination !!!
Regards Amber39.
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Amber, thank you for this. I'll investigate this!
That's a great idea. I wonder what would have led her to the workhouse? The disagreement or a health problem?
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right, thanks to Amber, i think i've got her aged 68 on the 1881 census as an inmate and housekeeper at the Hartismere Union Workhouse.
That's a long term at the workhouse : /
Her step daughter and her son also had spells in the workhouse but I wonder what happened to William Bailey as he struggled (presumably) with the young children?
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Hartismere/Hartismere1881.shtml
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I don't know if this is of any use, but FreeBMD has a death of Ellis Bailey at Hartismere in September Quarter 1870. Also, in the 1861 census there is an Ellis Bailey, aged 21, an Ag Lab, at Botesdale (which is also in the Hartismere district). Next-door to him is the family of William Bailey (56) with wife Mary and various younger children. Probably not the same family, but might be worth a check: RG9 Piece 1149, Folio 5, Page 3.
Greensleeves
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Thanks Greensleeves, I'll check this out :)
I've just found Edward Jarman Clark (the illegitimate brother to my illegitimate ancestor) in 1881 at Semer, Suffolk, with his wife and four children. He (or the writer) added an 'e' to the surname.
Sounds like Mary Bailey (Clark) was having trouble as it seems that she's in, out, and back in the workhouse. Perhaps she was doing a Jeffery Archer and I'm just a few clues away from a literary career. ;)
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Hmmm.... I have ancestors in Semer, and I also have Clark(e)s in my tree. Am going to have to rummage in some old notebooks to see if I have gleaned anything which might be of use to you, but which has not been included in my tree.
Will get back to you once I've had a chance to check. If your tree is anything like mine, I wouldn't hold out any hopes of exciting occupations: on the Suffolk side I come from a long line of Ag Labs, enlivened occasionally by a Wheelwright or Boy At Post Office!
Regards,
Greensleeves
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I've found the missing Mary Bailey (nee Clarke) in 1841.
She's not with her husband, children and step-children in cosy Botesdale, Suffolk... instead, she's in Ipswich with her 6mth old daughter Emily Bailey.
In fact, she's serving a 6 month sentence at Ipswich County Gaol for "ill-using children".
What do we reckon "ill-using children" mean? At first I thought it meant physically abusing them... but then I wondered whether it meant that she was making them go to work - as it's only a 6mth sentence.
It's definitely her though - Ipswich Records Office told me (from the Gaol Book), the name of her father (William Clarke), her abode (Botesdale) and her age (29) - which are all correct.
Oh dear!
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What do we reckon "ill-using children" mean? At first I thought it meant physically abusing them... but then I wondered whether it meant that she was making them go to work - as it's only a 6mth sentence.
Plus, if she WAS abusing children, then why would they stick her in gaol with her 6mth old daughter - surely if she was guilty, then it would have been counterproductive? So i reckon it's something like child labour.
I will of course be getting copies of the documents that refer to her.. so it will probably go into proper details that the archivist wasn't allowed to summarise for me in the few minutes he spent emailing me back.
Interesting stuff!
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According to the Ipswich Journal William and Mary were indicted for cruelty against Baileys children by a former marriage. Apparently he never gave sufficient maintenance to the children and they also assaulted them.
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According to the Ipswich Journal William and Mary were indicted for cruelty against Baileys children by a former marriage. Apparently he never gave sufficient maintenance to the children and they also assaulted them.
OH. MY. GOD.
Sue, thanks for that shocker! Where did you find that piece?
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I can use my library card to access the Suffolk Library Gale newspaper collection.
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I can use my library card to access the Suffolk Library Gale newspaper collection.
thanks :)
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I have found quite a big report about the case, quite harrowing. If you message me an email address I can send you the relevant page.
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thanks Sue.
That report was indeed harrowing, but packed with information and even quotes that would usually slip through other records.
6mths hard labour at Ipswich Gaol sounds like a fitting punishment - i believe they were using the dreaded treadmill.