JENNINGS in swindon?

[B17_Fan]

I couldn't imagine why, if she was illegitimate, she would be put in a home for penitents.

Her guardian was called Meriel Talbot. My nan met her years later when she was with her mum (annie).

Mrs Talbot said to annie (are you behaving yourself now?). Or something along those lines was said.

[CaroleW]

I've just been looking at Jennings deaths in Wiltshire up to 1900 and there are no entries that would fit with the story of both parents being killed together in an accident

If Annie was 10 when her parents died - she would have known her fathers name when she married.

The 1891 has a Jennings family in the Workhouse in Berkshire including an Annie aged 7 b Berks

Did she have any siblings that you know of as I'm just wondering why she was sent to Wantage in Berkshire if she was from Wiltshire

[CaroleW]

I have found Meriel Lucy Talbot on the 1901 census who is shown as a guest at St Mary's Home in Wantage.  Meriel was b 1867 in London and was single in 1901

It's a mixed entry - some people are shown as guests and others as penitents.  A large number of the "penitents" are teenage girls

A lot of entries for nuns as well - it seems as though it was quite a big place

[B17_Fan]

possibly a thomas jennings who was supposedly killed in ww1.

[CaroleW]

The only 2 Annie Jennings b Wiltshire around 1885 are still with their parents in 1901

If your Annie was sent to the convent when she was about 10 - that would be between censuses.  She would be 16 by 1901 so is not listed in the convent entry although many of the teenage girls are older than Annie so age doesn't seem to be an issue

[LizzieW]

If she was part of the family that CaroleW has found, it looks to me as if g.g.Jennings, made up the story about being sent to an orphanage after the death of her parents, as she was ashamed of being in a workhouse.

When you say she had a guardian, Meriel Talbot, do you mean she went to live with her?  How does that fit in with her being in an orphanage.

On the 1901 census, (ref RG13/Piece 1135/Folio 80/Page/4) there is a Meriel Lucy Talbot, a spinster aged 34, listed as a "Guest" at St Mary's Convent, Wantage.  There are no children listed at all, and the youngest penitent is 15 years old and there is no-one called Jennings.

Lizzie

CaroleW - My post got held up by yours and B17_Fan.

[krisesjoint]

Hi,

There are a couple of slim possibilities in 1901 perhaps enumerated wrongly. Alas both are servants so no help I am afraid

Annie CANNINGS 17 b Swindon

Anne JANNENERY 15 b Swindon

No luck with finding them in 1891. Hopefully someone will be able to find a baptism in Swindon.

This looks like the most likely birth

JENKINS Annie Elizabeth Dec 1/4 1884 Highworth 5a 8

Just a thought that perhaps mum a single mum later married and Annie is using her stepfathers name in 1891 and even the possibility crossed my mind, that if something like that was the case, her mother and stepfather may have died in a accident at which time she was again known as Jennings 

Cheers Kris 

[B17_Fan]

Meriel Lucy Talbot was her guardian. I guess this means she looked after her at the convent. Annie must have been associated with the convent because she definitely knew mrs Talbot.

Annie's birthday was the 13th of January. I don't know if she had a middle name.

My gt grandad apparently used to call her "nancy". I don't know if this was just a sort of pet name kind of thing.

Just a thought that perhaps mum a single mum later married and Annie is using her stepfathers name in 1891 and even the possibility crossed my mind, that if something like that was the case, her mother and stepfather may have died in a accident at which time she was again known as Jennings 

That is a strong possibility. I wonder if there are any Jenkins who died in an accident then??

There is a story that annie was fostered in a place called "weston" near lambourn in berkshire, after being at the convent I believe.
I think the woman who fostered her was called Mrs Eacott.

I've already made contact with mrs eacotts descendants but I don't think they know anything about annie.

I don't know if there are any fostering records that I could look up anywhere??

[B17_Fan]

Oh there was a mrs eacott living in wiltshire in 1901. I don't know if that would be a connection or not.