My husband's great-grandmother was married as Laura Radford but for 3 out of 4 of her children gave the maiden name Gell on birth certificates.
She used the surname Gell in 1901 and 1911 when living as a servant. In 1891 she used the surname Radford when she was living with her aunt and uncle Hannah and John Gell. She was born 1887 Wirksworth. There is a baptism for Laura Radford to Miriam Radford single woman in Wirksworth 1887. Miriam and Hannah were sisters. Miriam marries in 1890 in Derby and stays in Derby the rest of her life so I surmised that John and Hannah took Laura in but Laura often used the surname Gell as she was brought up in the Gell household . So far so good but then an Ernest kept reappearing in the Gell household.
In John and Hannah Gell's household in 1891 they have nephew Ernest Steeples born Mickleover 1884 (the Radfords were a Mickleover family - Miriam and Hannah were born there). Ernest Steeples disappears from records except for a baptism in 1885 in Wirksworth to a John and Miriam Steeples of Ashover. In 1901 living with the Gells is Ernest Radford (same birth details as Steeples - there is a birth reg right year right place for him) but no other records for him. In 1911 Ernest Gell son of John now appears born in Mickleover. There is a possible marriage for Ernest Radford.
I can’t see a John Steeples/Miriam marriage. Could Miriam Radford have lived with John, given birth to Ernest in Mickleover as Radford as she was unmarried, christened him in Wirksworth as Steeples with John had Laura with John but the time it came to Laura's baptism John had disappeared. Or am I just trying make the facts fit? Can anyone help explain Ernest Steeples/Radford/Gell?
John and Hannah claim to have had 9 children in 1911 and lost 1. I have 8 children for them and I account for 7 in 1911. I can’t see a marriage or death or census entry for Elizabeth born 1891 Wirksworth (the one I can't account for). I can’t find a ninth child for them. Did they count Ernest as the ninth? (Mind you they didn’t fill the sheet in too well as the added a daughter who was elsewhere from home and crossed her out and added 11 years to their marriage).
If you've have got to the bottom of this and are not confused well done
and I would appreciate any thoughts or help on this.
