Barbara BEST nee ALLEN

[Selina Agnes]

Has anyone any information on Barbara Best nee Allen who gave her father as Alfred Charles Allen when she supplied information on the ALLEN family to Poole Local History Museum in 1923?

[nanny jan]

Hi,

Do you have any dates for Barbara, apart from her giving information to the museum in 1923, when I guess she was in her 30s/40s, possibly older?

Have you contacted the museum to see if they have any more details about her or perhaps the Dorset Family History Society (http://www.dorsetfhs.org.uk) ?


Nanny Jan

[Richard Knott]

The 1901 census has this entry:

RG13/94  Westminster
Alfred C Allen, 36, bricklayer, b Poole, Dorset
Annie Allen, 40, b Poole
Reginald Allen, 3 weeks, b Westminsetr
Agnes C R Allen, 22, sister, domestic cook, b Poole

This fits with:
Marriage Dec 1897  Poole
Alfred Charles Allen
Annie Meaby (one of two brides)

..although the likely birth is earlier:
Jun 1881 Poole
Alfred Charles Allen

By 1911 they appear to have moved back to Poole but there is no sign of a Barbara in the index.

Richard

[Richard Knott]

The freebmd index is good for marriages up to 1923 except for 1917 and 1920 and I have looked at those separately. There is no sign of a Barbara Allen marrying a Best. The only possibility (and it is a very long shot) is this:

Marriage  Mar 1918   Poole
Elsie L Allen
Owen E Best

...coupled with this:

Birth Jun 1901 Wimborne  (v close to Poole)
Elsie Laura E B Allen


It would require a) Barbara's parents to have moved back to Poole/Wimborne to register the birth having been in Westminster in 1901;  b) Elsie to have started calling herself Barbara later in life and c) the 'B' standing for Barbara.

I don't hold out much hope!

Richard

[Richard Knott]

Perhaps Dorset is a red herring:

1891   RG12/127
Charles Allen, 37, pianoforte (+ mus intr) maker
Annie Allen, 38
Charles A, 15, mus instr maker
Barbara A, 12
Fredk A, 9
Ewin A, 7
Annie A, 4              all b St Pancras

This fits with the marriage:
Dec 1873   Pancras
Charles Abraham Allen
Annie Wright

In 1881 (RG11/202) at home were Charley, Anne, A Charles, 5 and Barbara, 2.
In 1901 (RG13.148) Barbara, 22 was a laundry packer.

She was registered as Barbara Mary Allen in Mar 1879 but I can't see her marriage.

Presumably you have seen this reference to Barbara (Allen) Best and George Nickleson Allen (as in your other post).

Richard

[Selina Agnes]

I appreciate your help but it does look as though trying to track her down is a bit of a mine field.  Have you a particular interest in the Allens of Poole?
Selina Agnes

[Selina Agnes]

I have no other dates I'm afraid and neither can the Poole Local History Museum able to give any other info. I haven't yet tried your other link so thank you for that Nanny Jan.
Selina Agnes