Mystery In Law *Completed* thank you

[Shaztoni]

I have posted this already in the relivent Welsh page but I thought it was such a puzzle that it would be no harm to get others to have a go:

OBER SHEFFERS was with my ancestor Joseph Beer's family in Swansea

On the 1891 census RG12/4474 118 25

Ober Sheffers, brother-in-law, widower, 48, furnaceman, born France.

He had children with him Laura (1879), Joseph (1881), Daniel J (1883) all born Swansea

I can't find him or his family on any of the other census (except Daniel on the 1901 living with his sister Amelia E 1874 family)

I don't know how he tied into the Beer family, I can't find a marriage or death cert for him.

Joseph Beer had one sister that I know of Mary Ann Beer (1861 Devon) but she would have been to young to have married Ober.

Joseph Beer's wife was Bessie Hodge, I don't know the names of any of her siblings, if he was married to one of them.
 
So far Ober is a censuswhack:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,29743.510.html

And on the  Glamorganshire board

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=127446.msg566180#msg566180

Please help solve the mystery.

Sharon

[Shaztoni]

Ok the plot thickens......

The only other Sheffers on the 1891 census was for a MARY SHEFFERS married 40 birth place unknown lunatic

In the District Glamorgan County Asylum RG12/4456 126 45

And Mary E Sheffers, 19, a servant, RG12/4483 142 57 (who I think may be a daughter)


Would it be possible that Mary Sheffers 40 was Ober's wife and that he said he was widowed because she was in an asylum.

[Valda]

Daniel J(ohn) Sheffers born circa 1883 Swansea, on the 1901 census is a brother-in-law to George Miers and his wife Amelia born 1874 Swansea. Amelia Ellen Sheffers married George Miers in Swansea in 1892. Her birth was registered in Swansea as Amelia Ellen Scheffers.

Also on the 1901 census in Swansea is Robert Sheffers born circa 1844 (right age) Belgium. He is boarding as was a spelterman.

The other children on the 1891 census with father Ober Sheffers, a furnaceman, (Amelia was not present) were

Laura born circa 1879
Joseph born circa 1880 (Joseph Sheffes birth registered Swansea 1880)

On the 1881 census
RG11 5352 folio 147
Barracks Houses No Numbers, Clase, Glamorgan, Wales  
Herbert Scheffers 38 Belgium Head Married Spelterman
Mary Scheffers 29  Cornwall, Wife  
Mary Elizabeth Scheffers 9  Morriston, Glamorgan, Wales Daughter
Ellen Scheffers 7  Morriston, Glamorgan, Wales Daughter  
Jane Scheffers 5  Morriston, Glamorgan, Wales Daughter  
Sarah Scheffers 3 Plasmarl, Glamorgan, Wales Daughter (possibly Laura Sarah or Sarah Laura)
Joseph Scheffers 8 mths  Plasmarl, Glamorgan, Wales Son  

An Emma Jane Scheffers' birth was registered in Swansea in 1876
and
Mary Elizabeth Sheffears birth was registered in Swansea in 1872

The marriage of Robert to Mary is this one

June 1871 Swansea volume 11a page 749
Robert Sheffry
Mary Hodge

Regards

Valda



 

[Valda]

From FreeBMD

Deaths Jun 1909
SCHEFFERS  Hobert  65  Swansea  11a 526

Regards

Valda

[Shaztoni]

Thank you very much Valda, I never thought of putting a C in.

Sharon

[Chris_9]

I noticed you and Ober have delved into SCHEFFERS.
I'm doing the same and getting the same results you did.
I can't match them to the  family history I know.
Mary Elizabeth SCHEFFERS was my great grandmother -- although I don't remember actually meeting her -- who lived in Swansea and Knighton -- that I know of.
She married Chrieste AMUNDSEN (also known as Christopher AMUNDSON).
Mary had a sister, Laura SCHEFFERS.   Laura married a Sgt. James WOOLLARD in 1899.   The only Census reference is 1901 = Laura WOOLLARD with her AMUNDSEN relatives in Knighton, aged 22.   I am awaiting a Marriage Certificate.   They were married in Devonport.   WOOLLARD seems to have been in the Royal Army Medical Corps and reached the Temporay Rank of Major & Quatermaster;  serving in the 15th General Hospital, Alexandria, for most of WWI.
The Census provides NO link between Mary Elizabeth and Laura.   The knowledge I have is family history, including photographs.   Their father was Belgian -- I believe Robert SCHEFFERS, a Spelterman who worked in Swansea.
SCHEFFERS is a Dutch name -- as far as I know -- which means he would have been Flemish Belgian.

Can any one help unravell the confusion of the Census information, etc.?

[Shaztoni]

I think I can help you, I'll send a pm.

[Chris_9]

CORRECTION:
The surname was spelt many ways in the Census.
Documentation shows it was latterly SHEFFERS.   Census information reveals he spoke French and therefore probably Walloon Belgian.
No further information has come to light.
Can anyone please help with the Belgian connection?

[danny94]

Sorry to 'necro-bump' this thread.

I think I can solve the link between the Sheffers and the Beers, and that's the Hodge family, from which I'm descended. Sheffer married Mary Hodge, and Joseph Beer married her sister, Elizabeth "Bessie" Hodge. I assume Mary died leaving Ober with the children and he moves in with the Beers. Bessie Beer is buried with my great-great grandparents in Swansea, for reasons as yet unknown.