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Topics - littleem1906

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 ... 17
1
Herefordshire / Adopted son - Is this Margaret his mother?
« on: Wednesday 27 March 24 09:42 GMT (UK)  »
I'm looking into a Percy Walter Jones, born 11th June 1896. He lived, married and died in Birmingham.

In 1901 he was living in Aston, Birmingham, as the adopted son of William Thomas Platford and his wife Harriet. He again appeared with this family in 1911.

Percy Walter Jones's place of birth is recorded as Hereford in both the 1901 and 1911 census records. There is a birth on GRO for him and his parental details are as follows:
Born - 11th June 1896, Hampton Bishop
Mother - Margaret Jones (domestic servant)
Father - Thomas Jay (this is then crossed out)

I'd like to know who Margaret was. I wonder if she had died and this is why her son was adopted. Or whether she gave her son away.

There is a Margaret Jones in the 1891 census working as a servant in Hampton Bishop. She is a servant to Lionel Corbett and family, and she is listed as being 24 years old. Could this be my Margaret?

I looked for deaths of anyone named Margaret Jones in Hereford from the time of Percy's birth to 1901 when he appears to have been adopted. There is only one possible (going by age) in 1899. Margaret Jones aged 18. If this Margaret is the right person then the 1891 census above wouldn't match. The Margaret who died in 1899 was the second daughter of a John Jones according to newspaper records. He was living in Cantilope Street, Hereford.

 I'm not sure yet if there is a connection between the Platford family (originally from Norfolk, but moved to Birmingham after 1891) and a Jones family to determine if they knew each other or not.

Who was Margaret? Could it be the Margaret who was a servant in 1891 in the same place listed on Percy's birth record? Will I ever know? Is the father (who was crossed out on the birth record) also traceable?

2
Warwickshire / Pardon - Help determining mother
« on: Saturday 23 March 24 13:16 GMT (UK)  »
I'm trying to discover who the parents are of an Ellen Pardon (born abt 1875).

Ellen married Charles Harbidge in 1893, and then married Frank Higgs in 1898.

On Charles Harbidge's death record, the person present at his death was a Selina Mutlow (mother-in-law). Charles died at 35 court 1 house, Great Russell Street, Birmingham.

I can't find Ellen in census pre-marriage to her second husband to determine if her mother's name was indeed Selina. There is also no registration on GRO that I can find.

I'd like to determine if this is the case so I can be certain I have the right death details for Charles.

3
Warwickshire / Help with Broadfield
« on: Saturday 02 March 24 11:03 GMT (UK)  »
Hi all

I'm looking to find information about a Sarah Broadfield (abt 1796-1860) who lived in Birmingham.

Sarah married Joseph Underwood, a guilt toy maker, in Birmingham in 1815. She only appears in the 1841 and 1851 census records. In 1841 she was living with a Samuel Worrallo & family and her occupation was listed as 'nanny'. Her son Enoch was living with her. In 1851, she appears to be living as a lodger with a Joseph Foster and family. She is listed as unmarried on that census and her occupation is 'assistant'. I'm still unsure as to whether this is my Sarah or not.

I know that Sarah died in 1860. Her death record states she was 65 and she was the wife of Joseph Underwood (guilt toy maker journeyman). Samuel Worrallo was present at her death. This is the man whose family she was living with in 1841.

Sarah never appeared in census with her husband most likely because he was always travelling. I've not found Joseph at all in any census, but I know he died a widow in Dudley Road Workhouse in 1864.

Sarah and Joseph had four children that I am aware of:
William - 1816
Hannah - 1818
Joseph Enoch - 1820 (died in 1895)
Caroline - 1821 (died in 1823)

I have plenty of information about Joseph Enoch but nothing about William and Hannah. I found a burial record for Caroline but no baptism. I'd love to find out more about what became of William and Hannah.

Sarah Broadfield could possibly be the daughter of a Thomas Broadfield and her mother's name may have been Sarah. I found a baptism in Birmingham that may fit for her (14th Sept 1797) but can find no further information about her parents.

If anyone can help to find information about Sarah's children Hannah and William, and who her parents were, I would be most grateful.



4
Warwickshire / Underwood/Reader - A couple of loose ends
« on: Sunday 11 February 24 12:53 GMT (UK)  »
I'm tying up some loose ends with the following couple - hopefully.

I'm looking into the parents of Mary Ann Underwood (nee Reader) (1837-1877) and the later life of her husband Joseph Enoch Underwood (1820-1895).

I know the couple married in Birmingham in 1857. Mary Ann is incorrectly listed with the surname Ready (I know this because all her children were registered with mmn Reader). No father's name is listed on her marriage record. Joseph had been married before, to a Hepzibah Hawkins, who had died in 1857.

They appear in the 1861 and 1871 census together with their children (and some of Joseph's previous children), living in Birmingham. Here are the details for reference:
1861
Enoch Underwood   38 - gun implement maker
Mary A Underwood   26
Thomas Underwood   17
George Underwood   15
Hepzibah Underwood   12
Henry Underwood   10
Mary A Underwood   2
Joseph Underwood   3/12

1871
Joseph Underwood   49 - gunsmith
Mary Underwood   33
Mary Underwood   12
Albert Underwood   8
Walter Underwood   4

Mary Ann died in 1877 in Birmingham. Her death was recorded as accidental due to injury to her placenta during a fall. There was an inquest that I need to look into at some point.

Joseph is then missing in 1881 and 1891. I know Joseph died in 1895 in the workhouse infirmary, Western Road. His niece, a Charlotte Bradley, was in attendance at his death. Where was he between 1871 and his death? At the time of his wife's death in 1877 his occupation is listed as 'screw manufacturer'.

In regards to Mary Ann's parentage, in the two census records I have for her - 1861 & 1871 - she first lists her place of birth as Brierley Hill, Staffordshire, but in 1871 it's Birmingham.

There is a Mary Ann Reader registered in 1838 in Wolverhampton. Mother's maiden name is Wassell.

I looked into this and there is a William Reader who married Amelia Wassell in Wolverhampton in Birmingham in 1926. It would appear this couple had a few more children - William Marshall Reader, (1828), Elizabeth Reader & Matilda Reader. Only William's birth date is recorded on his baptism record. All of the children were baptised on 5th Feb 1837.

However, I can't seem to find Mary Ann in the 1841 census. Where was she? I also can't find her father in that census. Amelia, her mother, died in 1838 from a cold after her confinement with Mary Ann. What became of her father and where are Mary Ann and her siblings in 1841?

5
Warwickshire / Why register some children and not others?
« on: Thursday 08 February 24 15:57 GMT (UK)  »
I'm looking into Adelaide Pearce (born 1843, Birmingham). She appears in the 1861 census with her parents Henry (a steel pen maker) and Emma Pearce. She also has a brother, Henry, born in 1850/51.

Neither Adelaide or Henry had their birth's registered. I found the family in 1851 (mis-transcribed as Peake) but neither Adelaide or Henry appear on this census. There are other children and all but two of them have birth's registered. Details as follows:
Mary Ann Pearce - 1839 - mmn Silvester
Ann - 1841 - not registered
Adelaide - 1843 - not registered
Sarah Jane - 1849 (died 1850) - mmn Silvester
Thomas - 1851 - mmn Silvester
Henry - 1851 - not registered
Sarah - 1854 (died 1855) - mmn Silvester
Alfred - 1857 (died 1857) - mmn Silvester

I did wonder whether Thomas and Henry are the same child. Is that possible? Adelaide's absence in the 1851 census is odd so I did wonder whether she and Ann are perhaps the same child. Is that a long shot?

Why would a family register the births of most of their children and not others?

6
Warwickshire / Lawton - Missing in census - How is this possible?
« on: Saturday 03 February 24 15:23 GMT (UK)  »
I'm looking into an Isaac Lawton who was baptised on 13 Aug 1843 in Longton Staffordshire. He lived all his life (at least according to census) in Birmingham. In 1851 and 1861 he is living with his parents Isaac Lawton and Mary.

He married Adelaide Pearce in 1865 in Birmingham and appears in the 1871 census with her and two sons - Joseph and Henry. They are living in Steward Street.

In 1881, he appears again with his wife and the same two sons. This time there are also two daughters - Emma and Mary Ann. However, he appears as William Lawton in this census, not as Isaac. The address in Steward Street is the same.

In 1888 their youngest son William was born. His baptism shows them living in Steward Street.

This is where he then goes missing completely. The only death that fits for Isaac is in 1913. Yet he does not appear in any census I can find post-1881.

His wife Adelaide appears in 1891 with their children, living in Steward Street. She is listed as 'mother' and as married. Yet Isaac is not with them.

Adelaide again appears in 1901 but this time she is called Sarah. I don't have access to that census but someone on Rootschat found it for me. She was still living in Steward Street with a couple of her children. She is this time listed as the head of the house.  I can't see the census to determine if she is listed as married or not.

In 1902, Adelaide died. Her death was reported in the newspaper because there was an inquest. Her address given was 86 Steward Street and the report lists her as 'wife of Isaac Lawton, iron moulder'.

Where did Isaac go from 1881 onwards?

7
Warwickshire / Is this a long shot?
« on: Monday 01 January 24 19:08 GMT (UK)  »
In my previous post I mentioned a Priscilla Hughes, born in 1820/21 in Birmingham. I can't find her parents as there is no baptism for her that I can find. All I have to go off is what she submitted as information for her marriage certificate.

She married as Priscilla Onions (taking the name of her former common-law partner Samuel Onions). Her father is listed as Samuel Onions, and the occupation is 'ivory turner'.

She would have listed her father as 'Onions' to make it appear that she was a spinster with the same surname as her two children. However, could the name Samuel for her father be correct?

I ask this because before I've come across a woman who had used the real first name of her father but changed the surname to match her own. With this in mind, I wondered if her father was actually Samuel Hughes.

Now this is a long shot, admittedly. But, I found a Samuel Hughes in a newspaper article from the Birmingham Journal (Saturday 08 March 1828) which reads as follows:

Birmingham Police Office. Samuel Hughes was committed for stealing several pieces of ivory and ivory turnings, the property of Mr Moushall, of Alcester Street, in whose employ the prisoner had been some several months since. The property was found in the prisoner's house, where he said it had been bought by a boy who lodged with him, and who worked for the prosecutor: but it appeared that this boy was the person who informed Mr Moushall that these things were in the prisoner's possession.

Is this worth looking into as a possible connection to Priscilla Hughes? Or am I leading myself down a rabbit hole?

I should also add that I found a record of this crime in the criminal register. His crime is listed as 'Larceny (by servant)' and he received 4 months imprisonment.

8
Warwickshire / Hughes - Still can't locate parents!
« on: Saturday 30 December 23 14:54 GMT (UK)  »
I have a huge puzzle that I'd love to try and solve. I posted a few years ago about an Elizabeth Onions (1847) born in Birmingham. With the help of people on Rootschat I was able to determine her mother was Priscilla Hughes and discovered she had a sibling (Samuel 1850-1850). However, I am yet to find out the parentage of Priscilla Hughes so would appreciate some help.

Here is what I know of her:

Priscilla Hughes was born in 1820/21 in Birmingham (according to census records). She seemed to have been in a common-law relationship with Samuel Onions (1814-1850) because I could find no marriage between them. They had two children - Elizabeth (1847) and Samuel (1850). Both births registered on GRO and mmn is Hughes.

Priscilla and Samuel don't appear in census together because Samuel died in 1850 (Queen's Hospital, Birmingham), the same year their son Samuel also died (aged 7 weeks). I cannot find Priscilla in 1841, but I believe I found Samuel, living as a groom in Shifnal.

Priscilla in 1851 census:
James Richards   54
Ann Richards   45
Priscilla Onions   30   Widow   Lodger  Factory woman
Elizabeth Onions 3  Lodger's daughter

In 1852, Priscilla married a John Richards, who is likely the son of the James Richards above. What is interesting is that she is listed as 'spinster', not 'widow'. This would corroborate my thinking that she never married Samuel Onions. Yet, why call herself Priscilla Onions if she was never married? In addition, she lists her father as Samuel Onions (an ivory twiner). Why did she do this? I know her maiden name was Hughes because of the GRO birth records for her two children.

In 1861, 1871 and 1881 Priscilla is living with John Richards and they went on to have the following children - Priscilla (1853-1866), John James (1855-1857), Seneca (1861-1879) and Albert (1865-?).

Priscilla died in 1881.

I would love to find Priscilla pre-1851. Why did she not marry Samuel Onions but assume his name? Then list him as her father on her marriage certificate when marrying John Richards? Who were her parents?

I can find no baptism for her. There is a Priscilla Hughes baptised in Northfield in 1827. But I believe this person is accounted for in census, married to William Hancox.

Any help would be much appreciated.


9
Warwickshire / Swain - Hit a wall!
« on: Wednesday 27 December 23 17:53 GMT (UK)  »
I'm looking into the parentage of Esther Swain (1824, Karsley, Warwickshire). This is all I know of her:

From 1851 onwards she was living with her common-law partner Benjamin Mullis. I can't find a marriage for her so they likely never married. (Unless someone else can find a marriage that I've missed!)

She had 8 children that I know of. The first one is not Benjamin Mullis's child, as I found a newspaper article about Esther taking a man called William Hope to court over the parentage of her illegitimate eldest son (William Swain - 1846). Her other children include: Alfred Swain (1848-1848), Harriet Christina Mullis (1849), Elizabeth Mullis (1852), Fanny Mullis (1854), James Mullis (1856), Eliza Mullis (1858), and Ann Mullis (1863).

In 1891 she appears in census as 'mother-in-law', living with her daughter Ann's family. (Ann became Ann Newman). It would appear to me that perhaps Esther and Benjamin separated some time between 1881 and 1891, as he was still alive in 1891 and living with Elizabeth Eaglestone (who is listed as his sister). There is also a Lilly Mullis living there who is listed as a niece, but it's unclear who she belonged to.

Esther Mullis died in 1894, and Benjamin went on to marry an Anna Lisserman (nee Gardner) that same year.

I looked for Esther in 1841 and could only find the following Esther, living in Allesley:
Elizabeth Swain - 45
Charles Swain - 25
Esther Swain - 15

I found a baptism for an Esther Swain on 18 Aug 1824 in Allesley. Parents were John and Elizabeth Swain. There are also potential siblings: Joseph (1822), William (1827), Thomas (1828), Eliza (1833).

Having seen the 1941 census, I wondered if perhaps Charles and Esther were siblings but the baptisms above don't support this. There are three other baptisms of Swain children, whose parents are John and Elizabeth, but these are in Coventry, St John the Baptist. These are as follows and include a Charles who would be around the same age as the Charles in the 1841 census: Eliza Swain (1815), Charles Swain (1816) and Eliza Swain (1817). Is it possible this is the same family?

This is where I've hit a wall! I'd love to know who Elizabeth and John were and if it's possible they could also be the parents of the three earlier Swain children. Can anyone help me trace who John Swain and his wife Elizabeth may have been?

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