I thought I would refresh this thread, by summarising the current state of play with my research.
David BIRCH was born in 1831 in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire to Thomas and Martha. In the 1841C he was living with his parents aged 10 in Rickmansworth.
Louisa JEWELL was born in 1835 in Siddington, Gloucestershire to John and Caroline. In the 1841C she was living with her parents aged 5 in Siddington. By the 1851C she was working as a Servant in Cirencester.
By the 1861C, the couple have married and are living in Star Street, Paddington. He is a carman aged 29, claiming to have been born in Newbury, Berks. She is 26, having been born in Siddington.
They spend the rest of their lives in the Paddington and Marylebone area. In 1871C they are at Cirencester Street with two of their children Alice (5) and Frederick (1). They next appear in 1891C at Hereford Street under the assumed names of Harry (37) and Eliza (34), with the same two children, Alice (22) and Fred (17).
Several immediate questions: (1) where was David in 1851, (2) when and where did the couple marry, (3) where were they in the 1881C, and (4) why the assumed names?
The answer to (4) might be a court case in 1870 when David lost his job of 18 years at the GWR, essentially for being drunk in charge of a cart and dangerous driving.
As far as I can ascertain the couple had 6 children: Thomas William (1861-1863), Caroline Martha (1864-1955), Alice Emma Agnes (1865-?), William (1868-1868), Frederick David (1869-?), Annie Florence (1871-1961) and Thomas William (1873-1929). I should add that as Christine 53 pointed out above there was possibly a seventh child, namely William Birch b 5/11/76 son of David Birch of 32 Lisson Street. I can't, however, find his birth on the GRO.
By 1901, David (68) and Louisa (62) are living alone at Church Street, Paddington. David died in 1902 in Paddington, aged 72 according to his death certificate. Louisa died 18 years later aged 75 in 1920 in Marylebone.
Caroline Martha was brough up by her aunt Rhoda in the Cirencester area, She married George GARDNER in 1885. She died as a widow in 1955 in Swansea. The only real mystery is (5) where was she in 1891?
Alice Emma Agnes was living in Paddington with her parents in the 1871C and again in the 1891C. She married Robert MILLS and together they had a child Elizabeth born in 1897. In the 1901C, Robert (58) and Alice (34) were living in Hammersmith with their child. Robert must have died, for in 1912 Alice married Charles IZZARD. There are several questions about Alice: (6) where was she in 1881, (7) when and where did she marry Robert MILLS, (
where was she in 1911, and (9) when and where did she die?
Frederick David was living in Paddington with his parents in the 1871C and again in the 1891C. He appears to have enlisted in 15th Hussars in 1885, being discharged in 1889. I’m fairly sure that this is indeed him, as he gives David BIRCH of Hereford Street as his NOK. This leaves several unanswered questions: (10) where was he in 1881, (11) why is his aged given as 17 in 1891, and (12) what happened to him after 1891? There is a Frederick MILLS in the 1911C, a licensed victualler living in Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith, which might be him, but I can find no proof.
Annie Florence and her younger brother Thomas William are both missing for the 1881C and 1891C. Annie marries Andrew RUMSEY in 1894 in Marylebone, whilst Thomas marries Martha Rebecca STAIR in 1898 in Paddington. Thomas dies in 1929 in Paddington. Following his death, the 1939 Register shows the three widows, Caroline Martha, Annie Florence and Martha Rebecca, living together in Swansea. Annie Florence dies in Harlesden in 1961. This once again leaves two questions: (13) where were Annie in 1881 and 1891, and (14) where was Thomas in 1881 and 1891?
