Saunders

[lancsann]

I am looking for information please on the family of a Theadora / Dora / Theadia Alice Saunders believed to have been born in the Maidstone area around 1893. Sh e moved to Blackpool for a short while then emigrated to Toronto where she owned a photography studio and I think some beach huts.

the  photo was taken in 1977

[groom]

Hi

This looks like her birth:

Theodora Alice Saunders
Sept quarter 1893
Maidstone Kent
2a 754

The certificate would give you her parents; names

Jan

[CaroleW]

Births September qtr 1893 Theodora Alice Saunders Maidstone 2A 754

1901 census for 26 Brewery St Maidstone - children all b Maidstone

Charles Saunders 41 b Boxley - cabman/groom
Lydia A   43 b Yalding
Archibald 12
Arthur   9
Dora   7
Robert 5
John Rodden 30 boarder b Dumfries  
RG13 Piece 766 Folio 56 Page 12

[CaroleW]

Looks like she left for Canada in 1927 and again in 1939

http://www.ancestorsonboard.com/HomePageController.action

[CaroleW]

She returned to England from Montreal aboard the Aurania on 5.6.1939 age 46 occ photographer and address in England given as 164 Boundary Rd Chatham Kent

[lancsann]

Thank you for that info. I am fairly certain this is the person I am after. What I would really love to know is was she engaged to be married in 1918 and who to. I know the gentleman in question was killed sometime after March 1918 but I have no idea of his name. Family rumour has it that he was a registrar in Kent but this is the limit of my knowledge.

I have some details of her passage to Canada but the name is changed to Theaidia (various spellings). She always signed herself Dorrie when she wrote to my mother which seems to match the original Dora or Theodora. The occupation is correct as well but have been unable to find more than general details of her sponsor. I assume she went back before the war started as my father visited her whilst he was posted in Canada.

Is there any way I can find who was living at that address?

[CaroleW]

Re: engagement - you would be dependant on somebody who has an in-depth personal knowledge of the family

Re: address - there are no online resources available to check occupancy but there will probably be electoral rolls at the records office in Kent

[lancsann]

Thanks Carol. I suppose that is what I am hoping to find - someone who knows the family or who has access to newspapers of the time.

I will try the electoral roll route.