New Marford, Wheathampstead resident

[jenn270]

According to a probate record and will, Eliza Maria Walker, known as Marie or E.M. Walker, died in New Marford, Wheathampstead in 1932. Finding out info about the middle and later years of her life has been SO difficult. Her meagre assets were left to her chauffeur despite the fact that she had 5 adult children and 3 grandchildren. The only surviving grandchild is still hoping she can learn about her grandmother. Now knowing the date and place of her death, can anyone suggest ways we can work backwards to trace her life for the previous few decades? Her husband died 42 years earlier and she is not buried with him. Help very greatly appreciated!!

[keyboard86]

Hi Jenn270, so that I can search for you, what was the name of Eliza's husband?

Keyboard86

[jenn270]

His name was George Walker and he died in London in 1890.

Hi Jenn270, so that I can search for you, what was the name of Eliza's husband?

Keyboard86

[Jeuel]

Having a chauffeur implies she had some social standing in the area, so she might well be listed in a residential directory.  I'd guess these are likely to be at HALS - Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies, in Hertford.  You might be able to trace how long she was at the address as well as finding her on 1911 census.

[jenn270]

Thank you for your reply. As I am in eastern Canada, I am unable to go to any of these sites. I did find her in the 1911 census but she wasn't in Wheathampstead then or even in Hertfordshire. Despite searching from every angle I can think of, I can't find her in either the 1891 OR 1901 census and her widowed mother seems to have taken over care of the 5 children. She appears in the 1881 census and then not again until 1911. I have even wondered if she might have been institutionalized after the death of her husband which left her with the 5 children between 9 years and under 1 year. It seems a very odd time to have left the country, especially when her only sibling had died a few years before. The granddaughter of this mysterious woman is now 90 years old and would so love to learn about her grandmother.

Having a chauffeur implies she had some social standing in the area, so she might well be listed in a residential directory.  I'd guess these are likely to be at HALS - Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies, in Hertford.  You might be able to trace how long she was at the address as well as finding her on 1911 census.

[[Ray]]

Hi

We are obviously keen and eager to help, so to save some duplication of effort, how about a summary of what you do know about her. You say you'd like info regarding the middle and later years implying you know something about her early life.

So...............

Date and place of birth?
ditto Mr W?
ditto children?
Marriage date/place?
Where was she in 1911?
What census refs for where you've found her
What census refs for where you've found her children/mother
What did Mr W do for a living?

Sounds like a good project to get into......

Cheers
Ray


 

[carol8353]

The probate doesn't say he was her chaffeur.

It just names him as a chaffeur- he may have been hers,but conversley may not have been too. He might just have been a friend who worked as a chaffeur.

It grants him probate- saying Probate London 15th November to James Attwood Chauffeur.
Effects £166 5s 5d ,Resworn £285 1s 2d.

Her address was The Cottage,New Marford,Wheathampstead.

Does that mean they found some more money at a later date?

Carol

[carol8353]

For anybody wishing to get 'stuck into' this topic before Jenn comes back online ,additional info about the family is also on this thread.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,482189.msg3435829.html#msg3435829

Carol

[[Ray]]

Hi All

To complete the loop, there is also this thread started ............

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,500100.0.html

Ray