Great grandmother mystery

[Valda]

Hi


A widow for propriety's sake on the 1901 census

1901 census RG13 3 folio 50
106 Clarendon Street Paddington
Mary Ann Baker 42 Head Widow Laundry Marylebone London
Alfred G Baker 11 Son Marylebone London
Margaret Baker 2 Daughter Paddington London


Alfred George named his father as Alfred George Farnham deceased labourer on his marriage. It was common for illegitimate males to name a father with the same name as themselves and with the mists of time there may be have been some confusion over Alfred William's middle name. He doesn't seem to have used it as an adult.


29 Jun 1890 St Mary Bryanston Square born 19th June
Alfred George Farnham parents Alfred and Mary Ann, Workhouse, father's occupation labourer
The baptism is also given in the workhouse baptism register

It would be worth checking the workhouse records to see whether the whole family entered the workhouse. If Alfred William died in 1892 that might indicate his health was not robust. His death certificate will give his cause of death. There isn't a death registered for an Alfred William Farnham only an Alfred whose age is slightly younger than the age given on the 1891 census.

Deaths Jun 1892  Farnham  Alfred  38  Kensington  1a 119


If Alfred was the son of George and Isabella Farnham which seems the most likely parents for him. He may have married before, though by 1891 his wife was dead.

Births Jun 1853  
Farnham  Alfred William    St Pancras  1b 33


On earlier censuses with his family

1861 census in Great Yarmouth - Alfred W
1871 census in Marylebone


6th September 1885 St Marylebone
Alfred Farnham 33 Bachelor Plumber 5 Great Chesterfield Street George Farnham Labourer
Frances Gould 36 Spinster 27 East Street John Gould Miller
Both signed
Witnesses George Farnham made his mark and Eleanor Farnham.


Deaths Mar 1888   FARNHAM  Frances  38  Kensington  1a 70

Again a Kensington death registration.



1890 is perhaps just a little early for a workhouse infirmary to have the expertise to be performing a caesarean (apart from as a last resort) with the mother surviving and going on to have a further child. The operation was certainly possible and survivable in 1890.


http://www.laboratoriosilesia.com/upfiles/sibi/GI1007846.pdf



Regards

Valda

[Nick29]

1891 census shows the family together, and NOT in the workhouse!

Reference RG12/102/85/7
49 North Street, St Marylebone

Farnham, Alfred W  Head  M  39  Labourer  b St Marylebone
Farnham, Mary Ann  Wife  F  36  Washer  b St Marylebone
Farnham, Alfred C  Son  M  6 months  b St Marylebone

The 1891 census only shows who was living in the house on one particular night in 1891.  It's not wise to assume that Alfred W was living at the address full-time, especially given the other paperwork relating to the 'family'.  It was not uncommon for women to adopt the name of the child's father, even when no marriage had taken place.  He could have been staying there part-time (with possibly a wife elsewhere), and he could have been described as 'away at sea' to the neighbours.

[Valda]

Hi

On 19th June 1890 Mary Ann Farnham aged 36 entered the Marylebone Northumberland Road workhouse from 49 North Street. Alfred George being born on the same day. They were discharged on 2nd July. So purely there for the lying in.


On census night 1891 they appear as a family unit. There is no evidence as yet that they weren't, just that they weren't married. Couples did live together without getting married, but appearing to neighbours as married couples.

It might be interesting to see the details of Alfred's death certificate.


Regards

Valda

[kay2510]

Thank you all very much for your answers to my question.

I have the death certifcate of Alfred Farham,dated 22nd June 1892 at Marylebone Infirmary, Labourer of 40 Boston Street.informant Ino Nicholas,Steward,Marylebone Infirmary. Could  this still the workhouse?.No mention of Mary Ann Baker.

Can you tell me where I find the workhouse records please.
Fantastic site wish I had found it earlier!!

[Valda]

Hi



What did Alfred die of?


Workhouse records are held at the London Metropolitan Archives. Ancestry has some workhouse records online, unindexed and time consuming to search.

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec/Default.aspx?htx=List&dbid=1557&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0


Marylebone Rackham Street Infirmary became St Charles Hospital

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=102&hospital=st+charles&town=&searchdatabase.x=0&searchdatabase.y=0

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/



Regards

Valda

[kay2510]

Alfred  died of " Phrhisis" a form of TB. My grandfather his son had a TB in his 50's, recovered
but was still weak chested & enventually died from lung cancer in 1951 when he was 61.