Adopted son of Florence Edith Davis.

[louisa maud]

Unfortunately we don't know where this young girl gave birth to her son, there isn't many workhouse records listed, also Davies/Davis to put a spanner in the works, there is little information to go on so far

Louisa Maud

[jann]

Hi,

"Yes, she was taken in by a local family and remained with them until her death aged 86."

Have you checked out this family.  Perhaps they took Florence's son in as well.

Jann

[groom]

Hi,

"Yes, she was taken in by a local family and remained with them until her death aged 86."

Have you checked out this family.  Perhaps they took Florence's son in as well.

Jann

You may have something there, Jann.
Is that her with the Ecles family? If so, they have a 5 year old son, William, born in Battersea 8 years after the last child. There is no William Eccles showing as born that time in Wandsworth on  Freebmd. There are a couple of Wiiliam Davis though.

Births Mar 1906   
Davis    William Charles        Wandsworth    1d   593    

Births Dec 1907   
DAVIS    William Charles B        Wandsworth. 1d 700

[silvery]

It seems very young for that time to have reached puberty.  The average age was about 16 then.   Many girls of 14 or so went to live with families as servants. 

[avm228]

Births Mar 1906   
Davis    William Charles        Wandsworth    1d   593    

There is a baptism for William Charles Davis on 7 January 1906 at St Stephen's, Battersea.

Parents: Edmund Charles Knight [Davis], compositor, and Elizabeth.

[groom]

We can rule that one out then.

[lizzieliza]

Hi all.

Thank you for taking the time to respond. Louisa Maud, you certainly do have an amazing memory! I had completely forgotten that I had posted a request for help some time back! I can only apologise.

Florence was indeed 14 yrs old. She was taken in by my husbands family. The only possibility I have recently come up with is that Florence may have been helped by an aunt who she was very fond of. The aunt  worked as a governess for a school in West Norwood. She lived with her mother (Florence's gran) and another sister. These ladies were self sufficient & lived in an extremely large house. I can only imagine that the baby was informally adopted by someone the aunt knew through her role as governess, and that maybe the baby wasn't registered in Florence's name at all?

I'm beginning to think that we may never get to the bottom of this, and perhaps, sadly, it's time to put this one to bed.

But thank you once again to everyone who has had an input.
Liz

p.s I will make a note not to post again on this subject  unless of course some miraculous breakthrough falls into my lap, whereby I'll be happy to share the outcome with you.

[avm228]

Hi,

"Yes, she was taken in by a local family and remained with them until her death aged 86."

Have you checked out this family.  Perhaps they took Florence's son in as well.

Jann

You may have something there, Jann.
Is that her with the Ecles family? If so, they have a 5 year old son, William, born in Battersea 8 years after the last child. There is no William Eccles showing as born that time in Wandsworth on  Freebmd.

I think the "Ecles" are actually EELES.

First child: Edith Doris, born 14 July 1896 (reg Holborn), baptised as Edith Elizabeth Doris Charlotte.

Then Grace Louise (15.03.98) and William Leonard (21.06.05), baptised together on 10 Sep 1905 at St Stephen, Battersea.

Parents in each case: William EELES & Elizabeth Annie.  On the 1905 baptism he was a licensed victualler of 317 Battersea Park Road.

[lizzieliza]

Hi.

Just to confirm that William Eeles was most definitely born in Wandsworth.

Could you please post the link for the baptism of Edith born 1986 only I cannot find it?

Florence was taken in by the Eeles in order to care for the baby William, and never left.

My continued thanks for all your help.
Liz