I am researching the family of a Fred or Frederick Steggles Banks and wondered whether anyone had any idea where else I could look for his family – it’s complicated! He was born 14 Nov 1895 as Frederick Steggles Banks at the Queen Charlotte Hospital and baptised a month later at St Marks, Marylebone Road. I have confirmation of this.
His birth certificate states that he was s/o Florence Banks, who gave her address as 4 Gardom Street, Bromehead Street, Commercial Road East. She gave her occupation as Asst Mistress, National School of Mile End Old Town.
Fred then appears, aged 5, on the 1901 having been adopted by Bessie nee Banks, aged 30 and her husband Henry Riggs, aged 29, living in Derby. (RG13/ 3217/ 71/ 35). I know about his life from 1901 and that he was adopted by them, legally or otherwise.
However, this is where it becomes complicated. Family legend has it that Fred was born to Florence, Bessie’s sister. If that were correct, then Florence would have to have been Bessie’s sister in law given the surname.
Bessie married in 1892 and I’ve checked out her family who lived in Somerset. Her parents were John and Ann Elizabeth nee Daubney. The family appear on all the census returns, but there’s no sign of a Florence. (1891 census - RG12/1918/ 131/ 11).
There was a Florence Banks born c1867 who lived at 21 Zion Square, Mile End Old Town, in 1881, working as a vellum sewer, with her mother, Mrs Martha Banks nee Martin, a widow. (RG11/ 473/ 56/ 43). On the 1871 census Martha and Florence were ‘visitors’ at Martha’s parents home. I have found Martha’s marriage in 1865, to James Joseph Banks, they were married at St Leonard, Shoreditch, Hackney.
I have a death certificate for Martha who died just after the 1881 census return whilst in the Mile End Workhouse, but it confirms her address as 21 Zion Square.
Obviously, I need to try to prove or disprove that the Florence I’ve found was Fred’s birth mother and ideally what became of her after the death of her mother and after the birth of Fred. She simply vanishes into thin air.
I have checked the 1891 and 1901 census return for the address she gave when Fred was born and there’s an Ellen and Florence Clark living there (RG12/ 302/ 24/ 44). I’m beginning to wonder whether Florence Banks was a lodger or whether for some reason she was actually Florence Clark but recorded as Banks in hospital and the other Florence Banks at Zion Square is a red herring.
When LMA reopen I’m planning to get a copy of Florence’s patient records for Queen Charlotte’s hospital, which might provide more useful information.
Can anyone offer any suggestions please, as to how to proceed please? I’ve hit the proverbial brick wall with this!
Many thanks BG
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