I have posted previously about my great grandmother Phoebe Hughes born 1868 in Chatham, Kent, but some considerable time has passed since then, and I am still seeking information about her later life, as I can find no record of her death. Plus I also keen to trace another boy related to her born in around 1893, that Phoebe claimed was her sisters son(?), that she was looking after as her sister had died a week after his birth, but again I can find no evidence of this being the case. I am also seeking more information on her daughter Charlotte Hughes born 1908 at the Dartford workhouse, who later married a Frederick Scales.
Over the years I have found a lot of information regarding Phoebe's life but am keen to complete some of the gaps. This is what I already know;
Phoebe was born in 1868, Chatham, Kent. In 1871 Phoebe and her family were living at 24, South Street, Queensborough, Sheppy, Kent and in 1881 the family were living in a travelling van at Canal Field, Milton in Gravesend, Kent.
Phoebe arrived at Wandsworth Union workhouse, Swaffield Road, off Garratt Lane, Wandsworth, London, on the 7th April 1899, pregnant with her son John (my grandfather) and had with her another young child (name unknown?). It was recorded that she had been living in several boarding houses; McKies Lodging House, Surrey Lane, Battersea for about a month, White's Lodging House, Rope Yard Rails, Woolwich for a week or two, and then Burkes Lodging House off and on for about 6 months prior to her arrival at the workhouse. Phoebe stated that her parents were gypsies and had lived in caravans, never having a fixed home that she can remember.
Six years earlier Phoebe had given birth to a child (male) in an area which she described as Hastings Heath, the boy sadly died at the age of three weeks. Researching Hastings Heath it is thought that Phoebe must have been making her way to the Hastings workhouse which was located on Frederick Road in Ore. There is what could be described as heath land on the East Hill, usually referred to as Firehills, to the east of Hastings Old Town, going towards Fairlight. After this she ran away from home to be with her eldest sister Sarah Ann (b.1860). From the workhouse records it was understood that her sister had given birth to a child five years earlier but she had died a week after the child was born, this child (believed to be male, name currently unknown) had arrived with Phoebe at the workhouse. Although through further research Phoebe's eldest sister Sarah Ann went on to marry Aaron Goldsmith in Canterbury in 1879, so could not have possibly died after child birth in around 1893, therefore the mother of this unknown child still remains a mystery.
On the 6th May 1899 Phoebe gave birth to her son John Hughes Davis (my grandfather) at the workhouse in Wandsworth and he was baptised on the 18th May 1899. On John's birth certificate Phoebe stated that she was a flower hawker and gave her address as 11, Point Pleasant, Wandsworth, London. Phoebe left the workhouse on the 20th May 1899, and I unable to confirm from the records whether she left with her new son and her sister's (?) young child.
In the 1901 census Phoebe is recorded as Phoebe Davis living with her son, John, and his father John Davis. I have been unable to find any evidence that Phoebe and John Davis ever married, and Phoebe used both the surnames Hughes and Davis throughout her life depending on what was being recorded.
On the 28th February 1908, Phoebe gave birth to her daughter Charlotte Hughes in the Dartford workhouse, at 37 West Hill, Dartford, Kent. On Charlotte’s birth certificate Phoebe gave her address as The Old Gaol, Lowfield Street, Dartford and her occupation was a Flower Hawker.
The 1911 census found Phoebe and her daughter Charlotte living as lodgers at 27 West Street, Gravesend, Kent. Phoebe's occupation was stated as a charwoman.
Phoebes parents were Samuel Hughes (born 17th January 1827) and Diana Hughes, I have some information on them and the census returns - but no earlier information e.g. their parents.
If anyone is able to shed some more light on the life/death of Phoebe Hughes or are linked to this family in some way, it would be lovely to hear from you.
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