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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: suzyblue on Saturday 22 May 21 12:33 BST (UK)

Title: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: suzyblue on Saturday 22 May 21 12:33 BST (UK)
All the records for this workhouse were destroyed in the war and I am trying to trace details of Walter John Denner Wester who was born there  19 Sep 1868 to Mary Ann Western (who I believe was born in Halberton Devon in 1846).  The father's name on the birth certificate was left blank but I would like to find out more about Mary's time in the workhouse.  Any suggestions??
Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: rosie99 on Saturday 22 May 21 13:30 BST (UK)
It is possible that Mary Ann was just admitted to the workhouse hospital for the birth. 

Does the name Denner appear in the family prior to his birth or could that be a clue to the father.
Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: osprey on Saturday 22 May 21 14:48 BST (UK)
no father named on baptism 10 July 1870 in Tiverton, Walter John Denner Western son of Mary Anne, domestic servant.

The 1881 census he is with the same family as on the 1871 census but there is another Western, Albert born Taunton, as well. How is he related?

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27X-C8KQ
Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: spendlove on Saturday 22 May 21 15:35 BST (UK)

Various census Walter and Albert are living in house of James Langabeer and his wife Jane nee Western.

What relation was Mary Ann Western to Jane?

It would appear that Walter may have been born in Workhouse, but not resident.

Have you purchased birth certificates for the 2 children?

Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: suzyblue on Sunday 23 May 21 12:20 BST (UK)
Walter was born Tiverton Workhouse and Albert in Taunton, Somerset and they had the same mother. James' wife Jane was a Western and the aunt of Mary.  I do have both boys birth certificates.  Apparently there used to be such a thing as Bastardy Orders and I have seen some from the 1700's which list the father's name and the fact he has to pay money to the mother (also named).  I am now trying to find the ones for the period for Walter in Devon and Albert in Somerset.
•   Bastardy order adjudging William Marks of Woodbury to be the father of a male child born in Ottery St. Mary on August 13th last past to Mary Russell of Ottery St. Mary, single woman, and setting out terms for maintenance payments.
I will post below what I have discovered so far as I cannot work out how to include an attachment.
Many thanks for all your comments
Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: suzyblue on Sunday 23 May 21 12:27 BST (UK)
I have now worked out how to add attachment and here is what I have so far discovered - but I am no further on finding fathers of Walter and Albert (who is my husband's grandfather).   We have done DNA and that is how we have managed to get Mary's ancestry.


Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: rosie99 on Sunday 23 May 21 12:30 BST (UK)
I think that if the family are bringing the child up without claiming help from the parish you will not generally find a Bastardy order. 
Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: suzyblue on Sunday 23 May 21 15:43 BST (UK)
That's a good point Rosie - I was not too sure how long exactly she had kept the babies but I know its only a short time.  Such a shame as this would have been an excellent way to get the name of the fathers!!
Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: suzyblue on Sunday 23 May 21 16:38 BST (UK)
Another thought does anyone know how to search for an address in the census - rather than a name - in Ancestry or Find my Past.  I would like to find out the inmates at the Tiverton Union Workhouse in the 1871 census
Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: rosie99 on Sunday 23 May 21 16:46 BST (UK)
Findmypast has the option to do an address search on their census.  Possibly another way of locating a workhouse is to select the census year and the place then just put Inmate into the 'relationship' box
Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: suzyblue on Sunday 23 May 21 16:56 BST (UK)
Many thanks Rosie, I will give that a try.  Have to wait till Wednesday when I go to the Devon Research place so I can log onto Find My Past there.  Currently they allow Ancestry from home but not FindMyPast.  Many thanks for all your help   Sue
Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: osprey on Sunday 23 May 21 17:08 BST (UK)
last page of workhouse is RG10/5170 folio 53 pg 6 or look for George Calloway age 11
first page is RG10/5170 folio 52 pg 3 or look for John Clegg age 2.

Albert's birth was registered june qtr 1871 in Taunton, so would it not be more likely Mary Ann was in Taunton for the census on 2 April? What is the address on his birth cert?

Walter in 1871
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5RC-2YQ
Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: osprey on Sunday 23 May 21 17:16 BST (UK)
this could be Mary Ann in 1871 as a servant in the Stone household

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VFJF-DPV
Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: suzyblue on Sunday 23 May 21 21:43 BST (UK)
Hi Osprey, many thanks for your comments.  According to the 1871 census taken on 2 April 1871 Mary then went to work as a domestic for the Stone family at Preston Farm in Somerset - and stayed with the Chapman family at 11 North Street, Taunton, Somerset for the confinement and birth of her second illigitimate child Albert born in May.  Albert was also handed over to James Langabeer and both children are listed as nephews on the Census form for 1881

Yes I was aware of her residence in 1871 but I cant find her in 1861 so she might have been in the workhouse at that time, unlikely but you never know.

And thanks for the Workhouse tips, will try that.
Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: osprey on Monday 24 May 21 19:19 BST (UK)
1861 as Mary A Western in Halberton

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M71H-ZK6

& 1851

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGJZ-CLW
Title: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon - Mary Ann Western
Post by: suzyblue on Monday 24 May 21 21:48 BST (UK)
This is why it is so confusing because there were two Mary  Ann Westerns born in Halberton in 1846 – one to William & Mary and the other to Abraham and Elizabeth (born Connibeer).  Our Mary is linked to Abraham – as per the 1851 census  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGJZ-CLV

I have searched far and wide but cannot find her in the 1861 census.  She was not at home, her mother had died and father remarried and he was living with his new wife and baby.  Mary was only 15 - she did have a brother William 9 years older and I have discovered a Mary Ann and William living in Honiton in 1861 census with Jane Holway who lists them as niece and nephew so I do wonder if this is her.

Thank you so much for your efforts.
Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: suzyblue on Tuesday 25 May 21 16:51 BST (UK)
Here is Mary Ann Western in 1861.
More research is now needed on this tip I have had:
I wondered how Mary Ann turned up on 1871 census at Piston, Stogumber, Somerset in 1871 census home of Joseph Stone.
 
I found that one of Joseph’s sons, Joel, at Quirkwells Farm in Westexe Tiverton in 1871. Where was Mary between birth of Walter 1868 and Albert's birth 1871 but guessing she was a servant. Could Joel be the Father and sent Mary to his Father to save embarrassment?   
Title: Re: Tiverton Union Workhouse Devon
Post by: rosie99 on Tuesday 25 May 21 17:05 BST (UK)
We are not supposed to post images from online sites (copyright, I believe).  It would be better if you remove the images from both posts and type out the relevant information