Author Topic: The mystery of Jane Wiltshire / Annie Down  (Read 8826 times)

Offline Familytreeme

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The mystery of Jane Wiltshire / Annie Down
« on: Saturday 27 June 15 00:12 BST (UK) »
Hello, I'm stumped, would love it if someone can help me with this one!

It's a bit of a convoluted story so I hope you can follow it!

I have a great, great, great grandmother Martha Wiltshire born in South Stoneham around 1839. Her parents were John Wiltshire (b 1814) and Harriet Wiltshire (b1815) . John and Harriet had the following children - Martha, James, Henry, Elizabeth, Charles and two further children Jane and Emma. I am interested in Jane in particular. She appears to have been born in 1856 according to the census of which she appears in the 1861 aged 5 and still at home with her father (Harriet died in 1861) but by the 1871 census she is 15 and in the workhouse. She then disappears completely.

This line of ancestry is on my grandmothers MOTHERS side of the family.

Fast forward to 1906 and my grandmothers FATHERS, father remarries very quickly as his wife has died and he is left with a lot of children. The lady he marries is an Annie Down. Her marriage cert States her father is a John Wiltshire and she is born in Southampton. (She has come to South Wales to marry my Great, great grandfather Herbert Clifford). Later on her neice May Bignell comes down to help, falls in love with one of the sons of Herbert, Reuben and my Nan is born. My nan can easily remember 'Nannie Annie' as she was known but interestingly her nieces would call her 'Aunt Jane'.

I'm sure that Jane Wiltshire and Annie Down are the same person despite the census showing Annie down living in Neath as having a birth date of 1861, not 1856 as Janes is. Coincidentally Harriet , Janes mother died age 46 in 1861, could she have died in childbirth and Annie given away?

It doesn't add up with the difference in birth dates though.

I'd love a bit of help if anyone is inclined please x

Offline Milliepede

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Re: The mystery of Jane Wiltshire / Annie Down
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 27 June 15 16:35 BST (UK) »
Thinking about the birth dates for a moment I notice Jane aged 5 in 1861 is the last child written down and she is written under a sibling who is aged 2 ie not in age order as you would expect.

Sooooooo could she actually be 5 months or 5 weeks giving her a birth date closer to the one you want.

Have you found her actual birth registration?
Hinchliffe - Huddersfield Wiltshire
Burroughs - Arlingham Glos
Pick - Frocester Glos

Offline Milliepede

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Re: The mystery of Jane Wiltshire / Annie Down
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 27 June 15 16:47 BST (UK) »
Can't find either birth Jane or Annie under South Stoneham nor can I find a marriage of a Jane or Annie Wiltshire to a Mr Down. 

Can't see any births that would coincide with death of Harriet either.  Not doing very well  :-\
Hinchliffe - Huddersfield Wiltshire
Burroughs - Arlingham Glos
Pick - Frocester Glos

Offline chempat

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Re: The mystery of Jane Wiltshire / Annie Down
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 27 June 15 17:51 BST (UK) »
Welcome to rootschat, familytreeme

Have you definitely found her age 15 in the workhouse in 1871, or does milliepede's 5months/5weeks in 1861 remain possible?

Added:
In 1871 Jane is 14 and Emma is 11, whilst in 1861 Jane was 5 and Emma 2, so 1856 birth stays, unfortunately.


Offline chempat

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Re: The mystery of Jane Wiltshire / Annie Down
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 27 June 15 17:58 BST (UK) »
This looks like Emma's birth:

Births September quarter  1855   Jane Willshire   S. Stoneham   2c  40

and Harriet's death:

Deaths March quarter  1861     Harriet Wiltshire      S Stoneham    2c   31

Offline chempat

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Re: The mystery of Jane Wiltshire / Annie Down
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 27 June 15 18:14 BST (UK) »
Have you found Annie Down/Wiltshire on any censuses other than 1911?

Online Mabel Bagshawe

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Re: The mystery of Jane Wiltshire / Annie Down
« Reply #6 on: Saturday 27 June 15 19:41 BST (UK) »
There's a Jane Willshire, 23 working as a cook in Shanklin, IoW on 1881 ( RG11, 1183, 115, 26)

her place of birth is given as Southampton West End - I note the workhouse where your Jane was in 1871 was in Westend

Online Mabel Bagshawe

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Re: The mystery of Jane Wiltshire / Annie Down
« Reply #7 on: Saturday 27 June 15 20:00 BST (UK) »
Think I;ve found Annie in 1901 in Abercarn. Ancestry have her has Doron, but image looks like Down. Aged 42, b Southampton, married to Thomas, b Plymouth c1865

RG13, 4968, 78, 41

Offline chempat

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Re: The mystery of Jane Wiltshire / Annie Down
« Reply #8 on: Saturday 27 June 15 20:43 BST (UK) »
In 1891 Thomas appears to be Thomas W.

Possible marriage?

Marriages September quarter 1891 Thomas William Down  Plymouth  5b 4_8