ARCH family Llandudno

[KirstyG]

Hello all

I am researching the family of William Arch and Martha Roden who lived in Llandudno in the early part of the 20th Century. William was a window cleaner.

There was an Edward Arch (known as Teddy) who lived in Llandudno at the same time and according to family was related to William in some way, possibly a half/step brother but it is unclear. There was a suggestion that William or his father had been married twice. I have been trying to trace Edward's family but have not had much success. I am hoping that someone might be able to point me in the direction of more information that might help. A fresh set of eyes is always useful.

The Arch family are not very helpful when it comes to consistent ages on census records or any kind of documentation. I think William was born in 1854 (Christened 1864 Yardley, Worcestershire) as William Pelford Arch, son of William Arch and Mary Petford (this name has many different spellings/transcriptions)
I have found probable census records for William for most years apart from 1881. This is awkward as it is around the time of Edward's birth.

William and Martha (originally from the  Birmingham area, married Bordesley 1886) were living in Tipton, Dudley at the time of the 1891 census before moving to Wales.
They lived in Bryn Gwynt Terrace at the time of the 1901 census, in 1902 were living at 52 Alexandra Road Llandudno and later built a house called Bournville on what is now Trinity Avenue where they were living at the time of William's death in 1913 and Martha's in 1922.  An Edward Arch is named as one of the Executors in Martha Arch's Will.

There is an Edward Arch in the 1901 census as a Servant in the household of an Evans Family in Conway, aged 21 from Birmingham.

I believe Edward Arch married Caroline Mary Ann Smith in 1906 Conway. 
I think they are in the 1911 census in Llandudno with Caroline's sister but am aware we cannot post details due to copyright.

Edward Arch died in 1946, Caroline is named as his widow on probate records.
Caroline Arch died in 1961 at 49 Alexandra Road Llandudno according to probate records.
They are buried together on the Orme, there is no-one else named on the headstone.

Does anyone know of this family?

Otherwise can anyone suggest any ways of moving this research forward? All constructive suggestions welcomed 

Kirsty

[despair]

Given that in the 1891 census an Edward Pitford,born 1878 is with William and Martha,could he have been "adopted" by them appearing as Edward Arch subsequently?

Regards
Roger

[KirstyG]

Hi Roger

Thanks for the suggestion, I hadn't thought of that. I assumed that Edward Pitford would be William's cousin on his mother's side as she had 2 brothers and a sister that I know of.  Petford/Pelford/Pitford are all transcriptions I have seen for this family.

The question is how to go about proving/disproving the theory?

Kirsty

[despair]

Need to look for Edward Pitford in 1901 census,or failing that,his death.If neither are found it lends weight to the possibility.Going out shortly,will look again on return.

Regards
Roger

[Ellenmai]

There is a Edward Petford born 1879 Birmingham on the 1881 Census. He is living with his parents William Petford born 1856 Mosley, Worcestershire and Kezia Petford born 1855 Abberton, Worcestershire. The address is 6 Richmond Terrace, Birmingham.

[despair]

I can't find a 1901 census an for Edward P*tford,nor a death nor emigration record which strengthens the likelihood that Arch is his "adopted" name.There seems to be some family precedent for something similar.In the 1851 census William and Mary Arch(nee Petford presumably), have a Susan Petford as niece born 1849 with them in King's Norton.In 1861 and 1871 it looks as if she is given as their daughter Susan Arch,yet there is a record for Susan Petford(father George,same name as Mary's father),born 1849 christened at Yardley in 1864,presumably at the same time as William jnr!
Could be difficult to unravel with any degree of certainty.

Regards
Roger

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Bit of a detour, but William had a number of court appearances related to where he left his handcart and for how long - for example from 1904

http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3606642/3606648/74/

Edward had one issue regarding the control of his dog

[KirstyG]

Thank you all.

I had seen some of those entries, but didn't know about Edward and his Dog.

The Petford/ Arch family are proving somewhat elusive. I have had a lot of trouble finding the family of Mary Petford in the census records after 1841 (Family of Ann, Susan, Mary, George & James Petford, Mott Street Birmingham Jewellery Quarter), I was hoping to follow them forward and work out if the parents of Edward Pitford who is in Tipton in 1891 was indeed a family member of Mary.

As there are so few entries in the indexes I assume they have been transcribed as something I have not tried yet (and I've been trying most combinations of vowels with P*lford or P*tford and all variants those bring up on familysearch.)

Susan Petford aged 2 in 1851 Census with the Arch family in Kings Norton seems to be listed as  Petford again in 1881 (Pillarton Hersey) when the now widowed Mary Arch is living with her. The George listed as her father at baptism I had assumed to be Mary's brother George. I don't seem to have the 1861 and 1871 census records that include Susan but I do remember seeing a possible entry for Susan Arch.

[despair]

I am away from the data at the moment,but I have a feeling In found one entry possibly mistranscribed as Bedford -will check again this afternoon.

Regards
Roger