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Hi etonjim,

My own view (without seeing a death certificate) is that the Edward Simonds who died in Uttoxeter is the same Edward (I read the 1891 Census entry as 'Edward', not 'Edmund') who was recorded as an 'uncle' on that Census whilst residing with the Mary Olivia Simonds family at Railway Terrace, Atherstone.

Although that Edward Simonds was recorded as being 70 at death, this age must not be taken as 'gospel'.  It is my experience that many incorrect ages are given at death, particularly so where such deaths occur in a workhouse.  Three or four years discrepancy is not unusual.

The mystery remains - when and where did the person we are seeking, namely, Mary Olivia's husband Edward Simonds, die?

I don't know whether or not I'm on the right thread, but here goes anyway.

There are three things currently puzzling me about the 1911 census site:-

1.  When I look at My Records' for the entries already downloaded, there are 3 boxes - one of which says 'Update' but this does not appear currently to do anything when activated.  What does this box do?  Is this how we will get to see the extra pages (such as enumerators summaries) in due course?

2.  When I looked at the site's blog over the weekend there was an item dated, I think, 31 January.  That no longer appears.  This morning when I looked again the last entry was for 29 January, but under the archive list of months on the right of the page there was the month of February listed so I clicked on it and an entry for this month appeared - something to do with the slow running of the site due to codes used in activating some unspecified feature(s).  Now that entry, along with the month of February in the archive list, has also disappeared.  Does anyone know what is happening both with the blog and the main site?

3.  Not a puzzle, but does anyone know when the additional pages (including the enumerators summaries) are to be activated?

Thanks for reading this.

Hi Sandra,

Thanks for your reply and for having a look at this problem for me.

The fate of Edward Simonds (Symonds) has mystified me - he just seemed to disappear.

In the 1901 Census, Mary Olivia describes herself as 'married', just as she does on the passenger list when sailing to New York in 1904.  However, by the time of the 1910 US Census she states that she is a 'widow'.

A direct descendant of Edward and Mary Olivia, whose mother remembers having Sunday lunch at home with Mary Olivia in attendance in the early 1940s, is strongly of the opinion that Edward never made it out to the States.  She has also told me that the mention of Edward's name was frowned upon in the family.  This belief is supported by the fact that I haven't been able to find Edward on any passenger list.

It is believed that he stayed in England and died there in suspicious circumstances - but, even so, his death should show up somewhere.  Had he perhaps formed a new relationship and decided to 'opt out' of having his whereabouts recorded in the 1901 Census?

It is beginning to look as though we'll never know.

Richard

Hi shellyesq,

Thanks a lot for that information.

The Mary Symonds who was mentioned on William Wilfred's draft card is the right person. 

I wasn't aware that the World War 2 draft cards are online until you mentioned that you had seen the one for William Wilfred, so I have now had a look myself and found the cards for two of Mary's other sons as well.  The cards are fascinating as they give such a good description of the person - weight, height, complexion, hair colour etc.  I only wish such records were available here for residents of the UK.

Since the original posting I have been advised by one of her descendants in the States that Mary Olivia Symonds died around 1944, aged in her 90s, and is buried at the Old St. James Episcopal Church in Delaware.  I have not yet been able to ascertain her exact date of death or burial (I might try writing to the Church, if it is still consecrated and practising - if that is the right term).  I have had a look at the Social Security Death Index online but not been able to find her there - maybe it only records deaths from some date after Mary Olivia's death.

I was interested to see that William Wilfred gave his date of birth as 22 December 1896 to the authorities in the States, but I suspect that in reality it was two years earlier as I have found his Staffordshire birth registration index reference which would indicate an earlier date of late 1894/early 1895.

Thanks again for all your help.

Richard

Can anyone kindly help?

I'm trying to trace the death of Mary Olivia Symonds (formerly Simonds and nee Fox).  She was born c.1851 in Atherstone, England, and emigrated to the USA in 1903/05 (depending on which census you rely).

In 1930, Mary Olivia was living in Linwood borough, Atlantic county, New Jersey, as the head of the family, a widow, and with her were her son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.  She was then aged 79.

I would like to discover when and where she died if at all possible.

Thanks in anticipation.

Richard Fox (Lancashire)