Townsend - West Ham - a missing child

[Sandykt]

I am trying to locate some information about my Grandfather b1892.  I have ascertained he was one of 6 children.  I have gleened this from the 1911 Census which asks the question "children born, children living, children died".

In the 1891 Census my Grandfather is yet to be born but his parents are here:

24 Alice Street, Canning Town

Charles Townsend b1863 b Hook (Fareham) age 29 Occ Ag Lab
Mary A Townsend abt 1866 b Wickham
William Townsend b1886
Charles Townsend b1889

William dies in 1891 followed by Mary A Townsend somewhere between 1897 and 1898.


When I find my Grandfather in the 1901 Census living at 36 Hoy Street, Canning Town with his Father and Step Mother (she is described as Sophia Townsend but I am very confident they did not marry), Charles Townsend b1889 is then joined by Frederick b1892 (my Grandfather), John Townsend b1895 and Alice b1897.  So thats five surviing Townsend children - how do I find out about the missing one?

[CaroleW]

In 1911 - the question really relates to the "wife" - in this case Sophia not Mary Ann.  I notice in 1901 that there was a child surname Fenton aged 8 - presumably Sophia's daughter so you would have to consider that the figure of 6 could include both Mary Ann & Sophia depending on how they interpreted the question when they completed the return

[CaroleW]

Sophia is on the 1891 census with husband George and 5 children

In 1891 - 2 of those children- Charles and John are shown as visitors

RG12 Piece 1319 Folio 52 Page 18

George is still very much alive in 1901 with the 2 youngest children and shown as married

RG13 Piece 1582 Folio 64 Page 50

[groom]

Hi

The only death of a Mary A Townsend of the right age between 1897 and 1901 is this one:

Mary Ann Townsend age 32
December 1897
Braintree

Possibly she died giving birth to Alice. Therefore if there was another child born to Charles and Mary it must have been before this. If you look at the dates of the other children they are pretty evenly spaced out. I think Carole's idea could be correct.

Jan

[Sandykt]

Sophia Fenton was my grandfather's Step Mum.  She never married Charles Townsend b1863 and I know that from the 1911 Census which asks about completed years of marriage.  They give completely different answers.  Also Sophia's husband is alive and well and living close by.

On the 1911 Census Sophia gave the names of all her children and then declared which ones had died which is why some are crossed out. 

Unfortunately, she answered her questions first and then the questions for Charles after that. 

[Sandykt]

I have had a closer look at the 1911 Census.  Sophia has stated all 9 of her own children.  She then has declared 2 of them dead.  So her column says 9 children born, 7 living, 2 died.

Charles Townsend b1863 Fareham has stated he has had 6 children, 4 living, 2 dead.

I know about the death of William in 1891.  This missing one is really eating away at me.

[groom]

What a mess that entry is. 

If Mary Ann's death was registered in Braintree, it's possible that the missing child's was as well.
Looking at Freebmd there are 3 Townsend children's deaths between 1892 and 1897:

Frederick age 13 June 1892  ( therefore born 1879)
Archibald age 3 June 1895 ( therfore born 1892)
Thomas age 2 Dec 1896 ( therefore born 1894)

You'd need to work out if any of these could be possible, then find their births and send for the certificate.

Jan

[CaroleW]

Can't be Frederick but the other 2 are possibilities.  It will cost you £18.50 to find out as you will have to buy both death certs

[Sandykt]

All the other children are stated to have been born in West Ham.  I am steering towards Mary Ann dying just after Alice was born possibly in Braintree.