West Glamorgan Service Archives/Union records/Orphanages - COMPLETED Thanks

[Fue]

Would anyone be so kind as to look up the  Swansea Cottage Home (Swansea Union) records  at  the West Glamorgan Archives Service?

I am looking for orphanage records for my grandmother Helena Jeanette Jenkins who was orphaned with her 2 sisters around 1891 - 1894. They were on the 1891 Census with their mother only,  as their father left them to go to America and was never heard of again.  Apparently she died soon after from a broken heart.

The girls details are:

Helena Jeannette born Aug  1886 Swansea
Evelyn H  born c1887
Fanny H  born c1890

I understand that Fanny was the only child to be adopted as she was still very young.

Hopefully someone can help?

[bevbee]

Data is long on Minutes and Valuations; short on  inmates with registrations identified under Swansea Workhouse and closed because of 100 years overlap under Data Protection Act.
 
Interesting that the 1901 Census has entries for Evelyn M Jenkins, age 13 and Fanny O Jenkins age 11 resident at the Industrial Home for Orphan Girls, Northampton Lane, Swansea. Names and ages fit except for O against Fanny. Nothing for Helena J. but she could well have been working and no longer resident.I will now see what I can find for that location - certainly cannot find under Swansea Union Poor Law data.
 
Also interesting to note is the death of a Fanny Marshall Jenkins registered Swansea Registration District Quarter September 1898 age 44. Again, the age fits but the date does not tie in with the 1891-1894 quoted. Of further interest is the record of the birth of a Fanny Marshelle Hortop born Cornwall 1853.Possibly all coincidence but worth a consideration! 

[Fue]

Hi bevbee

I have been away but when I came back to the information you have given, it was really good news! I had been unable to trace the sisters but you have obviously found them, so many thanks. 

The dates and info I had given you was obviously way out  and as it was information passed down by a member of the family, it goes to show that you have to be very careful with the accuracy  family stories.

I agree, Helena J Jenkins was probably  working by the time of the 1901 census.  She did go into service so I expect that she did not stay in the orphanage very long. Any info on the orphanage  however, would be very much appreciated.

Sue

[bevbee]

What was the name of the father, who went to America?

Other than info on the orphanage, what else are you looking for?

Bev. 

[Fue]

Hi Bev

That would be very kind of you to look for me because I have drawn a blank so far, he is quite a challenge!

The father's name was David Walter Jenkins born c1852   Swansea.  I have not found his birth certificate yet  so I would very much like to find his birth details and who his mother was. 

I do have his marriage certificate to Fanny Marshall Hortop in 1880, which shows his father was David Jenkins (Deceased) a coal merchant.

Info that may help:

The first census I found him on was 1861 (Swansea) as David Walter Jenkins  living with his grandparents  Walter and Mary Jenkins  (does  census page ref  RG 9/4107 help?)

On 1871 Census (ref RG10/5458)he is down as David W. Jenkins and  is still with his grandparents who have a pub I think - Muis(?) Arms,  10 Fabian St.

On 1881 Census  (RG11/5364) he is down as David N Jenkins married to Fanny.

- and of course missing on the 1891 Census.

As he (and his sister) were brought up by his grandparents, I am guessing  both  parents either died from cholera  (as yet have not been able to find a death cert for father ) or may have deserted the children but these are just guesses.

I spent quite a bit of time trying to find David W Jenkins on american censuses but I drew a blank and have not looked for a while. Also since I last looked there are now ship manifests that have come on line and I have not yet looked at those either.

Well if you can help, it would be much, appreciated

Sue

[bevbee]

I can now understand the difficulties having spent some time in the Archives this afternoon.  The biggest problem is the number of indexed David Jenkins names without being able to move on to the detail except by purchase of certificates.

However, I can say that Walter and Mary (both born in Neath) had children as follows, all born Swansea.

David born 1826-1830; Mary born 1826-1830; Margaret born 1826-1830; Elizabeth born c 1830; Walter born c 1832; Samuel born c1834; William born c 1836; Ann born c 1839; A.N.Other born 1841.

Walter does not appear in the 1871 Census and Mary is recorded as a Widow.The 1841 Census records year of birth of children to the nearest 5 years below if over age 15; those below 15 are recorded at actual years.They are not recorded in the International Genealogical Index which means a search of Anglican Parish Records covering Port Tennant and St Thomas. A job for next week perhaps.
 
There is an entry in the US Federal Census for Philadelphia for 1900 for a David Jenkins, a boarder, born Wales  1852, a widower who emigrated in 1888 and in employment as a Book-keeper. The Census for 1910 records a David W Jenkins also in Philadelphia, a lodger age 58, born Wales, an emigrant in 1888 and employed as a book-keeper. He is recorded as in his first marriage of 8 years standing but no sign of his wife! I have not been able to locate a ship passenger entry to suit for the Liverpool New York run but have not checked Liverpool to Philadelphia.
 
I hope to be able to add to this later.

 
 

[Fue]

Many thanks for all the time you must have spent, David Walter Jenkins is quite a mystery.

I have purchased two birth certs so far - which were both wrong, at which point I thought I would wait to see if I could find a bit more info before purchasing more:

David Jenkins Sept 1852 11a/381 Swansea 
David Jenkins  Sept 1853 11a/400 Swansea 
Unfortunately that still leaves quite a few options.

Even the birth details for his sister Mary Janette Jenkins born c1853 is as elusive, having checked Ancestry FreeBMD and  the LDS website. So I look forward to hearing what the Anglican Parish records turn up.

As to the US records well that is quite a find, those entries look very promising! Do you think his marriage details refer to his first wife? 

Sue

[bevbee]

Hi Sue,

The latest from my dad;

Another frustrating session in the County Archives with absolutely nothing to show for it. I will have one more look but not for the next couple of weeks. It may help to know where, ie., the church, chapel or register office in which David W and Fanny were married, assuming it was in Swansea. If church or chapel, the children may have been christened in the same place. That said, records for any non conformist church are sparse, to say the least!
 
Virtually nothing of value on the Orphanage aspect except to say that it probably transferred to the National Children's Home in Killay in 1912. That organisation has records going back to 1869 and provision exists for access to records by past inmates or dependants - have a look on the internet -National Children's homes-  a pro-forma request is available for downloading.
 
With regard to the US records, whilst the connection may be there, do the figures really tie up? The declared year of arrival is 1888, eight years after the 1880 marriage but 'your' David  was not a widower until 1898. Possibly a case of covering his tracks!! A daughter Fanny H was born in the Quarter September 1889 although that does not necessarily conflict.I think still worth further examination. I have copy of each of the 1900 and 1910 Census Returns - I can send them on if you wish.
 
I have yet to examine the ship passenger records for Philadelphia.
 
Bev. 

[Fue]

Hi Bev
Thanks to your dad for all his time.   
I looked on the wedding certificate  of David and Fanny and it just says 'Parish Church' in the parish of 'Swansea' in the county of Glamorgan, so not very helpful I am afraid.

One bit of good news; I looked again on the 1901 Census showing the Industrial home for Orphan Girls and Helena is there but her name is shown as Eleanor J Jenkins age 14 - I feel sure it is her!

With regard to the US census returns I now have a copy of them and agree it could be him but I do not yet have access to the Ship manifests.

Sue