Westgate St. IPSWICH - 1891.

[Suffolk Mawther]

David, I think that any old records for All Hallows will be at the NRO, might be worth emailing them to see what they hold (if anything).

Hardly anyone holds records now, they are usually deposited with the local RO.

http://www.archives.norfolk.gov.uk/nroindex.htm

Sorry, ironing had to take priority this evening or John would not have had a shirt to wear to the office tomorrow 

Pat ...

[Greensleeves]

There wouldn't be an ASTILL living in Appletongate, would there ?

Haven't found one yet, David, but still looking....!
Incidentally, there is also a railway station, a theatre and a number of pubs in the street as well,  so ample oppoportunity to go off the rails!!!

Greensleeves

[onefortheroad]

Morning All.

I've used the link to the NRO, Pat, thanks. Received an automated reply ;  I should have an answer in three to ten working days. So I think that idea can simmer on the back ring till then. But there are still the good sisters to reply.

I must say, the help and encouragement that you two have given is very much appreciated.  I'd most likely have given up on Annie by now - and that would have been a shame because I don't think she's all that far away now !

Thanks. David.

[onefortheroad]

Hi Everyone.

I think pursuing the Barnardos lead is out of the question at the moment, considering it's a long shot that she was there at all.
The reply from them was briefly ; £35 non-refundable initial fee.
                                                     £50 admission package
                                                     £65 full history package
With a 300+ case backlog, they are talking about over 6 months wait.
Out of my league on all four counts, I'm afraid.

However the reply from the NRO was a little more encouraging :    Surprisingly the records for the refuge and orphanage are still held (if they exist) by the All Hallows convent.
The records for Franks birth in Earsham (if they exist) are apparently held by the 'local superintendent registrar'. Am awaiting contact details.

So, as they say, 'onward and upward'.....

David.

[Suffolk Mawther]

WOW 

I am sure that the fees were a great deal less than that just a couple, well possibly five years ago.

I have found the following, do you think this is Frank?


Frances Wentworth Auston
Birth registered Jul-Aug-Sept Quarter of 1897
In the registration districtof Depwade, Norfolk
The volume no. is 4b

Earsham was entirely in Norfolk from 1885, and is in the Depwade Registration Distrcit.

I forget that dear husband not knowing what to buy for my significant birthday a while ago, gave me a subscription to a very useful web site.  He renewed it this year, so I just took a look around.

Pat ...

[onefortheroad]

Hi Pat.

That's brilliant. I have Ancestry and have not been able to find that record.Is that the site you used?
The spelling of the Christian name - would that be the spelling for a male or female, as I believe there is a difference. Mind you, the spelling can be suspect in any name back then can't it.

If we can get the full GRO index it's worth a £7 punt just to rule it in or out.

Just one thing ; there's only one middle name - no ASTHILL.
Could that be another family myth?

Thanks, Pat.

ps;  don't forget to iron John a shirt for the morning !!!

[Suffolk Mawther]

I have found the births for both children and should have added the 'A'

I wondered if the 'A' was added in later to Frank's name, although Constance is listed as Constance Evelyn A Auston

On A......y there are Francis and Frances listed for both sexes, as far as I can remember my cousin Frank is Francis and my friend Fran is Frances 

By the way, Robert Chambers age 23 was a Draper's Assistant with Annie in Ipswich, and he was born in Newark Nottingham.

Yes, I have set a pile of ironing ready to start on in the next half hour - urgh!

Pat ...
still busy with the trowel 

[onefortheroad]

Well what a day.

I've eventually found Frances Wentworth Auston. I don't know how he didn't come to light before, thanks Pat. I've also found his marriage to my GtAunt Annie ( yes, I know, another Annie to confuse things), in 1921. I can still remember the sight of her in one of those wrap-around aprons, skinning live eels in the kitchen before frying them. Aaah, life was so simple.......

Anyway, I've sent for the birth cert. and I may send for the marriage cert. aswell if it is our Frank.

NRO came back in double quick time with a phone number for the local superintendent registrar's office but they were engaged allthe time and now not open until Friday.  I may leave that lead until I see F.W.A.'s birth cert.

All Hallows  convent secretary emailed me :  They do have records for that period and could I let her have details of Annie and tribe.
That done, we now simply wait for their archivist to turn up and investigate.
The bad news is that the archivist seems to come and go on a whim and it may be some time before he/she is there again. Not to worry !

Robert Chambers aged 23 from Newark. You know, there must have been something that led Annie to Newark. Was it a soldier (G.ASTILL is still in with a chance) or someone she met at work, ie Westgate St.

How's your day at work been, Greensleeves ? Only another two to the weekend !

Thanks Ladies. Will converse again later.

Regards, David.

ps... the thing with the eels really happened when I was about six or seven.

[Greensleeves]

Well, Annie's story is certainly gaining legs now; the only trouble is, it is getting too many! Is she the grieving relict of a Boer War  hero, or is young Robert Chambers a wolf in sheep's clothing? Or is there another shadowy figure lurking in the wings?  Who did she work for as housekeeper in Newark?  Were there any Ast(h)ills, Chambers or Wentworths,for that matter, living in Appletongate...?

I have been doing a bit of delving and can't find Annie's death anywhere, or not at any rate under the name of AUSTON.  There are a few Austins, one being at Wolstanton at age 38 which fits, but nothing else a precise match for dates, as far as I can see.  As far as Robert is concerned, there are a number of marriages on FBMD for that name in Nottingham (1878,1886,1908) Leeds in 1898 and Tendring (!) in 1890.  Also in Retford in 1897.

I can't match the eels story, David, but I do remember standing on a chair when I was about four or five to watch my Suffolk granny gutting chickens.... ah, those were the days!

And brilliant digging, Pat - respect!
Regards to you both,
Greensleeves