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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Staffordshire => Topic started by: Warkz on Thursday 13 August 09 15:24 BST (UK)
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Hi, I'm trying to find what happened to my Great-Great Grandmother Lilian Sharman (nee Griffiths).
She was born in 1869 in Hanley, Staffordshire daughter of Thomas Griffiths and Mary Ann (nee Heath). She had three sisters and a brother: Eveline (b. 1868), Laura (b. 1871), Mary (b. 1875) and Thomas (b. 1880). In 1890 she married Robert Edward Sharman and they had two children: George Edgar Sharman (b. 1892, d. 1917) and my Great-Grandmother Violet (b. 1893).
In 1899 Robert Edward Sharman died, the family story is that he had typhoid fever. Within a week his father George Sharman died also of typhoid. After this time Lilian disappeared and as far as I know she never saw her children again. Violet and George (known as Edgar) were raised by their father's sister Hannah, or Anna Sharman, married surname Snow. They were loved and were called sister and brother by their Snow cousins, but I gather Violet was always hurt by her mother's actions.
I had wondered whether Lilian had a breakdown, but Violet's surviving children believe she remarried, they mentioned the surname Beck last time it was discussed. They also think she stayed in North Staffordshire, one of my Great-Aunts believes she was once followed around Newcastle by a servant of Lilian's. I have been unable to trace Lilian on the 1901 and 1911 censuses, I have tried using various spellings of her name and surname (Sharman was often spelled as Sherman eg), and also her maiden name, but no luck so far. Nor have I been able to find a marriage or death record for her.
Does anyone know anything about what became of Lilian? I find it hard to believe that a mother in her right mind could abandon her young children after their father has died, I know it obviously did happen occasionally but would like to find out whether it was the case here.
EDIT: after a few attempts I have attached a photo of Violet and Edgar Sharman.
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Hi
I am not saying this is your Lillian but in 1901 in Nottingham in the District County Asylum there is a resident patient with the initials L S born abt 1870, Longton, Staffordshire which is about 3 miles SSE of Hanley. She was down as a lunatic.
Ref RG13, 3180,146,13.
Evie
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Hi Evie,
Thank you so much for your reply. I've had a look at the image and it could be her. I suppose the next thing to do is to find out whether there are any surviving records for patients of that Asylum, so I can know for sure. Thank you again!
Zoe
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Hi Zoe
There was a Lillian Sharman married a Frederick Spencer at East Retford in 1909 but I cannot yet see them in 1911 to check if this Lillian comes from Staffordshire. I also haven't checked to see if this L S is still residing in Nottingham in 1911.
By the way, lovely photograph :)
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Thanks Evie! Both Edgar and Violet were lovely from all that I've heard, I know more about them than my other Great-Grandparents and their siblings. Edgar died in battle in WW1 but he must have been special, all of the generations who followed him have been told about him and all of us refer to him as Uncle Edgar. Violet was a very strong person, she had a few setbacks later in life but remained kind natured and a devoted mother to 8 children. I think she was very striking as a young lady, I like her sleepy looking eyes in all of the photographs I've seen of her.
I like your photograph of Barnaby by the way, he looks very sweet and innocent!
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Hi Zoe
I found this link on the Nottinghamshire resource board. It might be worth getting in touch with them about the 1901 census for L. S. I haven't been able to find anything more about her unfortunately.
http://www.nottscc.gov.uk/
Evie
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The Lillian married in Retford was born in Clarborough, Notts.
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Hi, not sure if I have the right violet sherman but by any chance do you know who her children were??
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I have just started looking at my Sharmans tonight.
Many of the names are the same as you mention.
My Robert Sharman born 1819 married Sarah.
Eldest child was called George Sharman, born 1842.
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H Hydes,
Violet married Samuel Smith and had 8 children. I won't name them as some are living, I am happy to say. But hopefully that helps answer your question.
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Hi LianneY,
I am glad to hear we have the same names. The Sharmans began in Leominster, Herefordshire, although I have found a burial of a Robert Sharman in Knighton, just over the border in Wales, so possibly there's a link further back to there. It's a rare surname in Herefordshire.
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Just following up on my original inquiry of several years ago.
Lilian Sharman died in 1952 in Upton-on-Severn in Worcestershire, her place of abode was given as Malvern Link. She was on the 1939 register in Malvern Link so lived there for a long time. I still don't know what happened to her in the years in between, but I was happy to see that her husband's name and occupation was written on her death certificate. I'd been told by family that she remarried and didn't want to know her children, but the fact that his details were on that certificate, even though he had died 50 years before, makes me believe she did love her family.
I also went to Etaples, in France 3 years ago and visited her son Edgar Sharman's grave, which was a wonderful experience.
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Thanks different violet sherman.I'm looking for a violet Sherman who had a daughter Elizabeth and also a son
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H Hydes,
Violet married Samuel Smith and had 8 children. I won't name them as some are living, I am happy to say. But hopefully that helps answer your question.
Violet Smith has shown up in some of my family records relating to Edgar Sharman.
I'd love to chat to see if there are any links. Lots of your info matches with mine.....