Where did Caroline go?

[groom]

It is strange that we can't find a death for Benjamin or Caroline, or any trace of William and May.

[Greensleeves]

That's what I find strange Jan, that so many of them seem to have disappeared.

[jan57]

 A bit far from Bermondsey     but   a possible?

Deaths Dec 1867   

Groutage  Caroline  46  Birmingham  6d 75

[groom]

I've been looking at that one, but I don't think it is her as there is a Caroline Groutage in Birmingham in the censuses. She was born in Warwick in 1823 and married to Edward.

[Greensleeves]

Thank you all so much for your help; I've certainly found out a lot about the family even if I haven't found Caroline!  I don't suppose I should be too surprised, as some of my ancestors do an excellent job of hiding. Indeed not long ago thanks to people on these boards we found Walter Sedgwick, who had scuttled off to another town and was living as Sidney Rainbow!   

[groom]

Just been double checking and I'm puzzled about Emma and Sarah - on the transcription it gives parents as Benjamin and Catherine. However, as they died at Jacob Street, which is where your family was in 1850, when Joseph was baptised, it seems a strange coincidence if there were two Benjamin Groutages in the same road, especially as we are having trouble finding one.

I'm wondering whether Caroline also called herself, Catherine?

[Greensleeves]

Thanks for that, Jan - I'll try to follow that lead and see if it takes me anywhere!

One thing I found today was a Benjamin Groutage in the Prison Hulks Register.  He was on the Fortitude at Chatham.  There was no date on the record, unfortunately, but I checked and Fortitude was used between 1833 and 1844.  I wonder if it is the same Benjamin Groutage who was paying for a mis-spent youth.

[groom]

Or it may have been his father, he was also a Benjamin wasn't he?

[dawnsh]

I think this is the father's burial

Benjamin Groutage, Blacksmith, aged 55, buried 19 Dec 1834, Rotherhithe St Mary, died in the workhouse