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A mysterious occurrence is always interesting  and I seem to have one in my family. As all things it is rather complicated,    but I will try and explain it as simply as I can. There was a Nancy Casson (1872-1945) who was a midwife and she married a William Miller in Lancaster, England in 1895. In the 1911 British census she and her husband say that along with their daughter called Annie Irene born 1904, they also have an adopted son call Richard Albert Casson born in 1911. I got the birth cert for this little boy and found he was born on the 5th January 1911, his mother was a Martha Casson, who if I am not mistaken, was Nancy's cousin...the chances are that I am correct in that assumption. The next we see, is that Nancy, her husband William who is a tin smith, daughter Annie Irene AND Albert Miller born 1911 were on the Irishman heading towards Adelaide in Australia. At that point there is nothing left of Richard Albert Casson or Albert Miller, who I think must be the same lad, as I know they had no other children of their own. It would rather suggest that little Albert popped his clogs during the journey, or soon after they arrived in Adelaide. I could do with someone keen enough to take a ganders at the deaths in Adelaide in 1912 or possibly the beginning of 1913...to see if he can be found. Annie Irene's family have lived in Australia ever since, but far from Adelaide...I have been in contact with my much treasured distant cousin  for many years, but they say that they have no memory in the family of this Albert Miller or Richard Albert Casson, which is why I think that he must have died whilst Annie Irene was too young (she would have only been about eight years old) to realise, or recall that she had an adopted brother.

Hi Rosie…can’t expect folks to be at hand every moment of the day, so quite understand. At times I also take a long time to respond and it isn’t that I’m not interested, but the fact I haven’t found a moment for myself…hence me burning the midnight oil this evening!

I laughed at your Mum hoping that we were related to the Cavendish family…don’t we all have that hope of grandeur in our hearts?  I’m certainly no different and I had a second cousin to my mother who always believed that we were related to some grand mayor of Lancaster. It took me years to prove she was wrong…she even had a photo of him from a book that someone had passed on to her…well it was the same name, but a totally different person. BUT she stayed firm with her beliefs….I even had regular photos taken of the correct chap over the same years as her incorrect one, but she still stuck to her guns…I’ll bet she still thinks I am making it all up!!!

Thanks for your help to get me started and any other info you can throw my way will be noted, saved and much appreciated. Alfred Algernon’s first wife had 4 children and a couple of them went up to the NE to live including my GGrandmother Ann Bloss…I will see if I can locate any of them still living around that area… they might also be gripped by Family History!!

I’m sorry that it has taken until now to catch up on things, but you know how life is…just as you think you will have some ‘me’ time, the whole family needs your attention. At last I have been able to draw out a tree and can see things so much more easily and clearly.

It is a great shame that we can’t find a Christening for Alfred Algernon, because without that the tree only becomes speculation, but I am inclined to think you are correct and that he must be the son of Robert and Ann in Epsom. It seems that Frederick naming a child George Algernon is rather suggestive to a connection and so too are the names of Alfred’s children. Whilst one or two could be a coincidence, especially if they are common or popular names, I doubt there would have been several coincidences. What I am asking is…in your opinion should I go ahead and presume the connection and if so have you any info that I can use, or do you think I should go on wallowing about for the proof on the off chance it might turn up?

By the way, I thought you would be interested to know that I have also been working on Lucy Thornton’s family (she who married Henry Bloss) and I was sent a photo of her very elderly parents taken in about 1876….Lucky or what…but treasured like fine gold. Lucy died aged 28 of TB….now that was sad. All children prior to Frederick Matthews were born to Lucy, but I really think that my G.Grandmother had a raw deal…a stepmother who shipped her out to school at 4yrs old in the Victorian days, must say it all!

Thank you for your help skylark.  It looks like I should hunt around Settle and those areas for any of their children then, or at least for their births, as folks move all over the place these days!!! I have made a note of the info and will take it forward when I get the chance. It seems they did a lot of marrying though.... Perhaps the Truelove's enjoyed rich fruit cake.