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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => London and Middlesex => Topic started by: Roy G on Thursday 20 October 16 14:07 BST (UK)
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In my researches into the life of Edward Dolly, brother of the Dolly sisters, I ascertained that at one stage he was married to the British actress Towyna Thomas. I am now trying to trace her birth that should have been registered but does not seem to be on FreeBMD.
Towyna Thomas, born 30 April 1908, appears to have been the daughter of performing artists, became an acrobatic dancer, then an actress, and died in Los Angeles USA on 25 July 1988. She has a very brief acting biography (which contains no photos of her) and states her birth occurred in London. I found confirmation of the birth at least in an edition of the theatrical publication The Era, London, England on 9 May 1908. That stated :
Thomas.— On April 30 the wife of Towyn (Royal Welsh Singers). professionally known as Miss Sylvia Staurenghi (gave birth to a) fine daughter (Towyna). Both doing well.
Two years later, the 1911 UK Census shows 2 year old Towyna boarded out in Northumberland and there looks to be her father Towyn boarded out in the same area, perhaps with her. But I am uncertain.
I am trying expand her history and that of her parents but have hit a stone wall on her father Towyn and mother Silvia. Can anyone help?
Roy G
Post script. I also have record of a Towyna Thomas who sung soprano in 1917. There is no indication that this was just a 9 year old, so I have deduced there were two ladies of that rather unusual name.
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Maybe have another look at the 1911 census. Her parents seem to be with her.
Maureen
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I was just going to say that too Maureen ;D
https://familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&query=%2Bgivenname%3Atowyna~%20%2Bsurname%3Athomas~%20%2Bbirth_year%3A1908-1909~
Sadly her dad seems to have been mistranscribed as Tonya!
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Thanks. I only have the 1911 census index so knowing the names listed, their occupations, ages and birthplaces would certainly help. Is there still a block on revealing 1911 info?
At the moment I am deducing they either married in 1904 or were yet to mary. Either way, there seems to be no record under the names they were working with.
Roy G
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AS the terms of the 1911 census prevent us from giving you the information,I suggest that you either pay per view or use your local library where you should get Ancestry or Find My Past free of charge.
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Sorry Carol18353. No library here in Budapest subscribes to those websites (Edward Dolly was a Hungarian) In an effort to keep expenditure to a minimum, I suppose I'll just have to wing it and find the info another way.
Thanks anyway Regards Roy G
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http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/KSsAAOSwc1FXZzd3/s-l225.jpg
Photo of her.....I hope it works.
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A little snippet on her..
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ipv/
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If you try FamilySearch for surname THOMAS and residence Newburn you should be able to pick them up. (minimal info,though).
I think her father may have died as William T THOMAS in Ramsgate in 1951.
A SAD PASSING Conductor of Ramsgalc Victory Male Voice Choir. Professor William Towyn Thomas has died, aged 81. He conducted his first choir in public at the Cardiff Empire, appear ing in the same bill as Harry..........
November 22, 1951 - The Stage - London, London, England
Just looking at a couple of Towyna's NY passenger arrivals-she lists her father as Mr T Thomas of Ramsgate on one and on the other she lists mother as S Thomas 29 Egerton Cres.. There's a Sylvia Agnes Thomas at that address on the electoral registers in 1930.
Tough bunch! :)
Maureen
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From 'The Era' 28 July 1906
Towyn Thomas married Miss Sylvia Staurenghi at Stapleford Parish Church, Notts, on 18th July 1905.
It doesn't seem to be in the marriage index.
David
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In 1905, Sylvia Staurenghi is on the Electoral Register at 24a St Ann's Terrace, Lonsdale Road, Surrey.
Although the marriage states 'Miss', I suspect she was married and the 1911 census suggests that she had a son.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWMG-795
David
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From 'The Era' 28 July 1906
Towyn Thomas married Miss Sylvia Staurenghi at Stapleford Parish Church, Notts, on 18th July 1905.
It doesn't seem to be in the marriage index.
David
Are those dates correct? I am surprised that the announcement was a year after the marriage?
The latest census suggests they had been marrried for 7 years.
I have sent Roy a PM,as he cannot access a lot of this info in Budapest :)
Carol
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Acknowledging all responses, although I have yet to look at my PMs.
Thanks for the photo and link Carol. I had seen both, but to me the photo did look as though someone had stuck a new face on an earlier set of shoulders.
The marrige is a great find, thanks David (I wonder why no record in the usual indexes?)
I see it being questioned later by Carol, and as I also found a similar record some 15 years after Towyna's birth, wonder whether it was just a fabrication to the newspaper?
And Yes David, the 1911 Northumberland census does have a John with the middle name Straurenghi which I presume to have been hers.
Well done Maureen, more info to add to the records. Thanks to you too.
Now feel that I have got somewhere. And still the PMs to look forward to.
Regards Roy G
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If you try FamilySearch for surname THOMAS and residence Newburn you should be able to pick them up. (minimal info,though).
I think her father may have died as William T THOMAS in Ramsgate in 1951.
A SAD PASSING Conductor of Ramsgalc Victory Male Voice Choir. Professor William Towyn Thomas has died, aged 81. He conducted his first choir in public at the Cardiff Empire, appear ing in the same bill as Harry..........
November 22, 1951 - The Stage - London, London, England
Just looking at a couple of Towyna's NY passenger arrivals-she lists her father as Mr T Thomas of Ramsgate on one and on the other she lists mother as S Thomas 29 Egerton Cres.. There's a Sylvia Agnes Thomas at that address on the electoral registers in 1930.
Tough bunch! :)
Maureen
Sounds like Maureen has cracked the death ;)
Name: William T Thomas
Birth Date: abt 1870
Date of Registration: Dec 1951
Age at Death: 81
Registration district: Thanet
Inferred County: Kent
Volume: 5b
Page: 766
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1901 census
Towyn Thomas married b 1870 Johnstown, Carmarthenshire, Vocalist
lodging in the house of Richard F Bishop , furnaceman , b 1866,
at 14 St Mary's Square , Gloucester
RG13 2425 63 2
William Towyn Thomas married Emma Randell or Augusta Louisa Stokes O - D 1898 West Ham 4a 576
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Although I give full credit to David, this is why I think the anouncement in the Stage is a fabrication by the parties concerned. Silvia uses her middle name and either she may have been awaiting a legal separation from the father of her first child, or he was awaiting the outcome of an earlier marriage.
Marriages Sep 1925
Staurenghi (Agnes) Thomas (William) St.Geo.H.Sq. 1a 1275
Regards Roy .
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Ahhh,maybe he wasn't free to marry Sylvia (Agnes) until wife number 1 had died.
Marriage of Agnes Staurenghi
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1925
Registration district: St George Hanover Square
Inferred County: London
Spouse: William Thomas
Volume Number: 1a
Page Number: 1275
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Sorry for not giving the full extract to avoid confusion.
THOMAS-STAURENGHI. - First anniversary of the marriage of Towyn Thomas to Miss Sylvia Staurenghi at Stapleford Parish Church, Notts. July 18, 1905. Thanks for the numerous congratulations.
Either the marriage was not registered, is missing from the index, or, as Roy suggests, it may have been a fabrication to make their relationship respectable.
The only way to be certain might be to look at the parish register. Perhaps a posting on the Nottinghamshire board might help.
Alternatively, contact the church - http://www.staplefordparish.org.uk
Regards,
David
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Sorry for not giving the full extract to avoid confusion.
THOMAS-STAURENGHI. - First anniversary of the marriage of Towyn Thomas to Miss Sylvia Staurenghi at Stapleford Parish Church, Notts. July 18, 1905. Thanks for the numerous congratulations.
Either the marriage was not registered, is missing from the index, or, as Roy suggests, it may have been a fabrication to make their relationship respectable.
The only way to be certain might be to look at the parish register. Perhaps a posting on the Nottinghamshire board might help.
Alternatively, contact the church - http://www.staplefordparish.org.uk
Regards,
David
Ahaha first anniversary- that makes more sense with the dates ;D
I think the whole of their announcements were a load of fibs and that they didn't marry till 1925 as Roy and I both found yesterday.Maybe one had been married before?
The son John was born c 1900 in South Africa,but given the surname Thomas.
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Another notice:-
Marriage
THOMAS-SADLER - At Hanover Square London, August 27th, 1927, Jack, son of Towyn and Sylvia Thomas to Ivy Ethel Sadler of Dorking.
Note that the index gives his name as John C L Staurenghi.
David
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And another:-
From - The Stage 22 November 1951
A SAD PASSING
Conductor of Ramsgate Victory Male Voice Choir, Proffessor William Towyn Thomas has died, age 81...took up residnce in Ramsgate 19 years ago...
In 1939 he is the keeper of a second hand book shop in Ramsgate, born 3 Sep 1870.
Sylvis B (A?) was born 30 Oct 1884.
Sylvia A Thomas death recorded Q1 1952 Thanet District age 67
David
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In 1901 there is this family in Fulham:-
John H Staurenghi - Married 44 b 1857 Agent For South Africa General b Wales
Agnes Mundy - Married 21 b 1880 Living On Own Means b Birmingham, Warwickshire,
John Mundy - Single Male 1 b 1900 b South Africa
D'Arcy Stanfield Visitor Single Male 9 1892 - Australia
Ernest Stanfield Visitor Single Male 7 1894 - Australia
Agnes and John seem to match the deatils of Towyn's family but why the surname?
John Henry Staurenghi died in Fulham District Q1 1902
David
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Well found- What a confusing family !!!
Carol
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Just found another:-
J H Staurenghi left Southampton on 24th September 1898 on the 'Scott'. The next entry is a Miss Munday.
I can't find such a person born in Birmingham.
David
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From that we deduce that Agnes (aka Silvia) had a husband and a son before she entered into a relationship with Towyn Thomas. In order to find Towyna's birth in 1908, perhaps she was registered in her mother's maiden name of Munday!
Roy G
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From 'The Era' 9 May 1908
Birth:-
Thomas: - On April 30. the wife of Towyn Thomas (Royal Welsh Singers), professinoally known as Miss Sylvia Staurenghi, of a fine daughter (Towyna). Both doing well.
Unfortunately, it doesn't say where and I can't find any details in the birth index.
Images for her immigration, naturalization and death in the USA are on Familysearch. They all have the same birth date.
It sounds as though Agnes/Sylvia may not have been married to John Stuarenghi and may just have used his surname as a stage name.
The only Agnes Munday of about the right age, who I can find, was the wife of a Thomas John Munday. There are newspaper articles about the break up of her marriage in 1896 in which she was descibed as a young girl of nearly 18.
She was actualy Agnes Daives who married Munday in 1895.
This was in South Wales but the censuses state that she was born in Birmingham. There is a possible match:
- https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27N-JNZJ
- https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7VV-NLZ
It may not be the right person but John Staurenghi was also from South Wales.
David
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Thanks David
Yes, I also found .... Thomas: - On April 30. the wife of Towyn Thomas (Royal Welsh Singers), professinoally known as Miss Sylvia Staurenghi, etc.
And like you, cant find any supporting details in the birth index, so feel it to be a fabrication.
I have also seen details of her immigration, naturalization and death in the USA, but am told there are also a few under her married surname of Dolly or Daly which I have yet to find.
Having a son who was born in South Africa, makes it difficult to check whether Agnes/Sylvia may have been married to John Stuarenghi or not for it may have been a marriage in South Africa.
The Agnes Munday of about the right age, who broke up from Thomas John Munday, would be worth following up. It will complicate things further if she subsequently turns out to be the Agnes Davies who married Munday in 1895.
Here is another poser.
There is a newspaper report from 1917, saying a Towyna Thomas was singing soprano at a concert. It does not say that it was a 9 year old Towyna, so were there 2 of them in the field of entertainment, (one being at least a decade older than the other)?
Re the photo of Towyna,
Every time I look at it I still get the gut feeling that someone has stuck a face on another set of shoulders. Furthermore, I have reports from 1927 and 1929 that 18 year old Towyna received head (facial?) injuries after a car crash, so I also wonder if the photo had been doctored to conceal any scaring. I feel it is most unusual that no other images have survived, for someone involved in the theatre usually circulates hundreds of images of themselves, for those images often gain them future employment.
Regards Roy G.
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I have found Towyna on a ships list in June 1930 on her way to New York.
I suppose her passport would have said Towyna so she travelled as such.
Her home address is given as 29 Egerton Cres Kensington and her profession is given as an actress.
In the electoral rolls at that address in 1930 is a Sylvia Agnes Thomas.
Also there are a William Garrett and a Reginald Arthur Hignett (who may or may not prove useful!)
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John Staurenghi seems to have gone to Australia and married in Melbourne 1 Jan 1874 Adelaide Emma Goodhind
John Henry Stavrenghi and Adelaide Emma Bridgemont Goodhind
His parents are given as Stivin Stauvrenghi and Anne Mathews ( They can be found in Glamorgan )
There are several children and he can be found in numerous newspaper reports as wanted for fraud . Search trove here : http://trove.nla.gov.au/
I doubt he married Agnes , but I suppose they may have married in South Afirca ?
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Re the other Towyna Thomas of 1917, she is usually shown as Towena. Her full name was Catherine (Kate) Towena Thomas. She was born in Tywyn, Merionethshire, on 21st November 1982 and was living in Widnes, Lancashire, in 1901. She was still a music teacher there in 1939.
It might be worth buying a copy of the marriage certificate of Towyn and Agnes in 1925, which should give her father's name, although no guarantee that it will be correct.
Only guessing, but did they go through a second ceremony because the first one, like Towyna's birth, was not registered? Still might be worth checking the parish register.
David
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Thanks everybody for your extensive input on this. To be honest, all I really wanted was a bit more confirming info about one of Edward Dolly's wives, and I seem to have got back far a more complex picture than I ever expected. She and her family all appear to be interesting individuals with convoluted lives but I now feel it's best to jump ship, rather than dig any deeper. I do hope you all understand.
Thanks again.
Regards Roy G
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I was wondering about Towyna just this morning and was happy to see that she's remembered here. I met her first by chance in Hollywood in 1981 at her home in the Ravenswood apartment building. The Ravenswood was bought by Mae West in 1932 and she lived there until her death in 1980. The two knew each other. Towyna told me about Mae's seances, the Dolly Sisters, her acquaintance with the Talmadge sisters, and a variety of other stories from her own golden age. In fact, she won a local "Glamorous Grannies" competition (I think that's what it was called) and she gave me an autographed picture of her with her sash. I think I still have it somewhere. Wonder where she's buried. The posts I've read here tie in with the history she told me some 37 years ago. Anyway, glad someone is thinking of her from time to time. You're alive when someone thinks of you.
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I have been looking into the surname Stavringhi and found that a great-great aunt Adelaide Emma Goodhind was married to J.H. Stavringhi. She seems to have been the widow of someone called Bridgmont. She was the sister of my great great grandfather Richard Goodhind. I have wondered about this J.H. and I heard that he had been charged with fraud at one time and the person he defrauded was his brother-in-law, who was A.S. Robertson of Geelong, a wealthy grazier who was married to my gr.gr.aunt Alice Maud Goodhind. My family has been perhaps understandably very tight lipped and I only started to look up this J.H. Stavringhi as I was puzzled by his surname and at first I thought it was an Italian name. There was an even greater family scandal at this time involving another sister and so all this meant that I was kept very much in the dark. Trove finds everything or most it seems.