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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => London & Middlesex Lookup Requests => London and Middlesex => England => London & Middlesex Completed Lookup Requests => Topic started by: millerina on Thursday 14 August 08 11:31 BST (UK)
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Please could somebody have a look for:
Frances Blake b.1850 in the Bethnal Green area
On her marriage cert from 1877 it says her father was called George Blake, a Mariner - and her mother may have been called Jane (from an IGI entry).
They should hopefully be found somewhere in the Bethnal Green area?
Many thanks,
millerina :)
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Hello,, Millerina,
Found this in the 1851 census
HO107/1545 folio 378 page 24
Whitechapel Union Workhouse.
Jane Blake age 38 Unm Servant b Christchurch
Frances Blake age 10 months b Workhouse.
1861 census
RG9/255 folio 135 page 26
11, Cross St Bethnal Green
William Blake head age 58 House Painter B Bethanl Green
Jane Blake sister age 47 Laundress b ditto
No sign of Frances in the 1861 census, perhaps she was in a school or orphanage somewhere.
Meliora
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Hi Meliora,
Thanks for the lookup, that is really interesting, definitely worth some more research!
Many thanks again,
millerina :)
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Just a passing thought.
If, according to the 1851 census, Jane Blake, unmarried, is the mother of Frances, why does Frances state her father's name is Blake on her marriage cert. ??? ???
Was this a question of "saving face", not wishing her husband to know she was illegitimate ? Perhaps Jane had told he at some time that her father's name was George without saying it wasn't Blake & that he was a "mariner" to explain his absence.
There is a Civil Reg. birth entry that fits.
Frances Blake
June ¼ 1850 St George in the East 2 97.
I wonder, too, whether the WHitechapel Workhouse records would have any info on this birth. The records would be at the LMA.
Meliora
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Who were the witnesses at the marriage?
(It's very common for a 'father' to magically appear on the marriage certificates of illegitimate children - sometimes it's the name of an uncle or their grandfather, sometimes the right first name for the father but the wrong surname, sometimes appears to have been pulled out of thin air!)
I can see this interesting entry in 1861:
RG9/46 folio 75 page 34
116 Mount St, St. Georges Westminster
??gan Green, 26, butcher employing 4 men, b. London
M. A. Green, 25, wife, b. ???
F. K. Green, 5, dau, b. London
F. Blake, 9, step-daughter, b. London
F. Allen, governess, 23, b. London
Probably this family is Edgar Green (it could be Edgar in the census, if you squint hard enough) and Mary Ann Blake, who married in Reigate in 1853 (freebmd). In 1871, they appear as Edgar Green, wife Mary Ann, and daughter Florence (stepdaughter F. Blake not with them).
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Hi Meliora and Jorose,
Thanks for your thoughts on this - I am having a lot of trouble with this Blake family! ::) ;D
I guess it is possible that her father may not really have been George Blake, but I'm not really sure how I can prove that that Frances is "my" Frances.. :-\ Unless my Frances has her age recorded wrongly on the census, that does seem to be the most likely match for her birth..
One of the witnesses on the wedding cert is the grooms brother, Henry Miller, but the other is a lady called Catherine Wensley, so I have no idea who she may be!? The marriage was on Christmas Day in 1877 at St James the Less, Bethnal Green.
Also, I noticed that whereas her husband James Miller signed the register with a "x" to represent his mark, Frances seems to have signed her own name, so presumably she has had some basic education?
millerina :)
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Just had a look at my tree and realised that Catherine Wensley married the other witness, Henry Miller a year later... ::) :-[ My memory is getting terrible these days! I thought the name was slightly familiar! :o Sorry if I have confused anyone!
millerina
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There are also a couple of births for 'Fanny Blake' on freebmd.
In later censuses, does Frances always give her birthplace as Bethnal Green? And what were her and her husband's addresses when they married?
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Heya!
I too am having terrible problems tracing my Blake's in London. I have a George Walter Blake...but geeze...his age changes on every record!!! I hope you have more luck than me!
Hollie x
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Thanks for all the help! I hadn't even thought of looking for births for Fanny Blakes! :)
Frances gives her birthplace as Bethnal Green in the 1881 and 1901 census', but in 1891 her place of birth is Whitechapel. Her address on the marriage cert is 31 Palm Street, but I know that address was the home of the Miller family - they are still there in the 1881 census. In the 1881 census Frances and family were living at 30 Wennington Road.
Hollie - perhaps our elusive Blakes are related...they seem to share a love of hiding in the census'! Best of luck in finding your Blakes! ;D
millerina