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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Essex => Topic started by: Treelover on Saturday 06 March 10 14:26 GMT (UK)
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Hello
I have received a marriage certificate today dated 27th March 1868. The couple married in the Parish Church of St Botolph in Colchester. Their residence says Union House.
I have tried Googling it and have got nowhere. Does anyone know anything about this house. It sounds like some sort of insitute to me - but I could be wrong :-\
Thanks
Joan
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Hi
Its quite likely it was the workhouse, perhaps they worked there
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Colchester/Colchester.shtml
Rosie
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Hi Rosie
Yes, interesting link :)
I considered a workhouse, but odd if it was called Union House there seems to be no mention of it being called that on the site?
What's annoying is that I still haven't managed to find either the bride or groom before their marriage?
Alexander Smith born abt 1845 Colchester, father Joseph Smith - Tailor
Mary Ann Fee born abt 1850/1 Colchester, father unknown
So frustrating when you pin all your hopes on finding them on a certificate and then still nothing
Joan
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Hi
The workhouses were called the Union Workhouse. Did the marriage cert have occupations for them?
Rosie
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Alexander was a labourer. None for Mary Ann Fee
Not very helpful Im afraid :(
Joan
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Have just noticed
The signature of whoever conducted the marriage, it looks like its not a persons name
Barton Lodge Offs Minc
Realised I have never seen one without a persons signature.
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Ooops
Googled Barton Lodge, it IS a name
The Reverend Barton Lodge of Colchester.
Still not helping with my Union House though ?
Joan
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Found them in Colchester Union Workhouse on the 1861
Alexander Smith noted as AS
Mary Ann Fee noted as MAF
Sad, not known where they were born. Cannot find them on the 1851. But now I know things only got better for them once they married :)
Joan
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I am pleased you have found them but how sad ... as you said at least after their marriage things only got better. I presume there was no place of birth on the census. I see from the workhouse page that some records are available but probably nothing too helpful, it might be worth contacting Essex record office.
Rosie
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Hi
Thanks Rosie,
Don't think its worth contacting Essex. I doubt if they could really help. May look for a Joseph Smith on the 1841 who was a tailor and just see if I can find out if he and his wife died, it may just shed a little more light on Alexander.
Joan
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I found a reference in a 1836 newspaper that the Guardians of the Colchester Union were to buy a piece of land in Balkerne Hill, Colchester, and build “a new Union House”. The architect was John Brown of Norwich.
This matches the information on the workhouses website referred to above.
“new Colchester Union workhouse was built in 1836-37 to designs by John Brown.”
On the 1881 Ordanance Survey map it’s shown as Union Workhouse.
http://www.old-maps.co.uk
I would say Union House is the same as Colchester Union Workhouse.
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Found them in Colchester Union Workhouse on the 1861
Alexander Smith noted as AS
Mary Ann Fee noted as MAF
Sad, not known where they were born. Cannot find them on the 1851. But now I know things only got better for them once they married :)
Joan
Its a shame that workhouses only used initials - you could otherwise find possible siblings for them there.
Rosie
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I have an ancestor who died in Dunmow Union Workhouse in 1851. The death cert just said Union House. Unfortunately the 1851 census returns are missing for the entire district as he died weeks after the census.
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Hi Rosie and Keldon,
Thank you for all your help. Tried looking for a Joseph Smith occupation tailor but couldn't find one that would fit.
So sad Coombs, I though there were only Manchester and surrounding areas where the 1851 census returns were lost, but obviously not the case.
Joan
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Hi
Yes the entire Dunmow district is missing from the 1851 census. Half of my Essex ancestors were there in 1851. My ancestors came from Felstead which falls in the Dunmow district.
Ben
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Hi
have looked on my parish registers discs for colchester the only Fee I can find is Robert James Fee born 17/1/1819 also in the St botolphs Parish
parents were James Fee and Mary fee He is listed as a groom
My records only go to 1851 unfortunately
John Henry Fee died aged 35 in Lexden in 1876 (this is where the Stanway union house is) Could be a relative worth looking at
There is an Emily Agnes Fee born March 1845 on FREE BMD also several Joseph Smiths For your people some of our listings come under Colchester and some of them under Lexden for the Stanway area
I will look up your people this week when I go in to the Local studies at our library where the parish records are kept
Fingers crossed I will see what I can find
Ronnie :)
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Awwhh Ronnie, that is so kind of you to go to so much trouble for me. Personally I think Mary Ann is a non starter, but Alexander reckons he knows who his father was, just wish I could find him on the 1851. Mary Ann's age fluctuates 1850/1/2 so it is possible she wouldn't show on the 1851 anyway.
Thanks once again
Joan
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Hi Joan
Not much luck i'm afraid Only thing I could find for Alexander was they had aa son Alexander baptised 1870 they were living in Prior Street at the time
There were several other Smiths in the 1840/1850 but none had a Joseph for a father
Incidently there was another union House Not far from there in the 1800 it was in a yard off of Long Wyre Street
Could find nothing in the records for Mary Ann fee although on searching the
Census records there is a Mary Ann Fee b 1799 Colchester listed in St Georges Hanover Square London a widow with her family
There is also a George Fee born Colchester 1823 also listed in St Georges who has a 3year old daughter The Wedding cert for 1868 say both over 21 so worth a look eh?
If you want me to look anything else in colchester give me a shout
Happy Hunting
Ronnie
There is a record for a birth of Mary Ann Fee b 1848 St Georges but not too sure if there is any connection there
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Hi Ronnie
Hmmm, interesting, but no sure if any of the information you found would actually fit in. Think Mary Ann Fee lied about being 21 (was "full age" 21)???
Think Alexander may have made up a father. Maybe its just me, but if you were brought up in a workhouse but you knew your father, wouldn't you name one of your son's after him?
There are numerous Mary Ann Fee's knocking about, but the one you mentioned born 1799 would have been coming up to 50 when she gave birth ?? possible, but I would have expected Mary Ann's mother to be young and naive - that's me presuming again ;D
Thank you for the offer of look ups in Colchester but this was the only one I had.
Many thanks once again for your time and trouble
Joan ;)
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There is also a George Fee born Colchester 1823 also listed in St Georges who has a 3year old daughter The Wedding cert for 1868 say both over 21 so worth a look eh?
I had also looked at this family, there was a George Fee who died SGHS
March qtr 1854 Fee George St Geo H Sq 1a 158
who could have been father or son
But it looks as though Mary Ann could also have died there September qtr 1854
Fee Mary Anne St Geo. H. Sq. 1a 253
I think that probably eliminates that family ???
Rosie
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oh thats a shame nut I will keep the names in mind and will still keep looking for you .so I may get back to you some time
Take care
Ronnie ;)
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Hello I am new to this and found out that one of my ancesters was in the Union Workhouse and died there to.It was a place that they put poor people who had no work or money,so that they could get back to health and back into society.Reseach tells me it was later converted into St Mary's Hospital.
Alan :)