Violet Mary Coenen

[Chris Brice]

also birthday was may 9th yes - but only her say so - my father could never trace a birth certificate anywhere - not somerset house etc

[Chris Brice]

I think it likely that Violet did come over to uk when a baby/very young - she talked about Canada - possibly escaping from pograms in Central europe/east via Canada?

[Chris Brice]

but none of this is certain

[heywood]

Hi Chris,

People often made up a father on a marriage certificate. That may not be the case though but as yet no Joseph David is showing.
However there is a big coincidence re Violet in school and birthday ( not the year though).
Then there is Nellie- you could get a birth certificate to check parents.
She was married in Cambridge - another connection.
I would not yet dismiss what has been found here re Violet and Nellie.

Heywood

[Chris Brice]

Heywood this is all very helpful - very many thanks indeed - My father tried desperately to trace a birth cert in order to get mum a passport - but he failed despite going to Somerset House and other possible sources - its strange if she did make up her Dad's name that she chose 2 obvious Jewish names - I agree the cambridge link is interesting - my mum did her initial nurse training at Addenbrookes in Cambridge - I think - and then at the radcliffe in Oxford where she met my Dad - it is just possible that my mum mentioned Marylebone - she talked about being abandoned by her mum in a hotel - and it may have been in Marylebone - whatever happened left traumatic scars

[Chris Brice]

the May 9th birthday was pretty firm - my mum's age was much less so - she claimed or we guestimated 1916 - which is what the birth cert said cos I helped provide details but she could have been older so 1913 date on the St Paul Bentink School entry in Lisson Grove could work- see below could fit -

[heywood]

I think it would be worth purchasing Nellie's birth certificate.
If I recall Violet started school around the day of Nellie's birth which may account for the lack of a parent's name.
That would be a start. Nellie's birth states mother's maiden name as Nowell but we couldn't find a birth for Violet with that name.

Looking at Nellie's married name, it would seem she emigrated to South Africa.

[Chris Brice]

Heywood thank you for this its all really helpful - at work at present - will try to do more this evening - where can I find the school records with Violet Mary's admittance recorded/

Very Many thanks indeed

Chris

[heywood]

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