Alma Daviss (nee Dudley) born about 1866, i think.

[catedavis]

I am having huge problems locating one of my ancestors, Alma Dudley. She appears on the birth certificates I have of two of her children (Graham Mervale Leslie Daviss (born 1894) and Graham Roy Hylton Daviss (born 1891)) and the baptism record of her other child (Graham Vera Olga Daviss (born 1895)) but I can find no trace of her as Alma Dudley before her marriage, or any trace of a marriage record (husband Graham Daviss born 1872). I believe she was born in London.

This may partly be because the family were actors and used various names. I think I have found her listed as Helen Craig and Helen Clavering Craig in various records and her husband is definitely often called Graham Clavering Craig.

It is very irritating as I have managed to trace most of the other members of the family, despite the fact that they change their names and move around a lot. It is not really that long ago and we have programmes and pictures of her which were given to us by her daughter.

ANY help from someone with more experience would be really appreciated.

Thanks, Cate

[karenlee]

Hi Cate

Welcome to Rootschat.

There is this one, but the birth year is about ten years after your assumed birth year of 1866....

Baptism Register
St Peter Walton on the Hill
Surrey

Alma Jane daughter of Jane DUDLEY of Walton baptised 18th June 1876.

Cheers
Karenlee

[KGarrad]

You may be missing some children?

Birth September qtr 1892
Richmond, Yorkshire district     vol 9d, page 693

Daviss, Fred Graham R D B 


Died same quarter, age 0    vol 9d, page 395



And only a death, but:
September qtr 1893
Gateshead district     vol 101, page 595
Daviss, Graham Ruby D    age 0

[jorose]

I see that  Graham Roy Hylton Daviss was probably born just after the census of 1891 - do you have the address from that certificate, and have you been able to find the family in the 1891 census?  (And later censuses, too - I'm having trouble spotting them, so it would be helpful to see if they're together/which names are used when).

You might be able to trace their movements between censuses with archive.thestage.co.uk .

It is possible that Alma and Graham didn't marry until later in life, or never married at all.

[jaywit]

1871 Census    RG10; Piece: 833; Folio: 96; Page: 2


Jane Dudley age 19 born Banstead, housemaid living in Walton on the Hill.

[jaywit]

We can't do 1911 look ups but look for Graham and son Roy using their alias in Wales, Alma isn't with them.

[jaywit]

I think we are going to have to forget the Walton on the Hill Alma.

Alma Jane Dudley b 1877, death registered Mar qtr 1877 Reigate Surrey
Volume: 2a Page:87

[jaywit]

Cate Have you any idea where and when Graham and Alma died?

[Jolee]

As the children were born in three different areas it looks like they were part of a travelling theatre group, on the 8th. September 1900 a newspaper called "The Era" published a report on a play under the heading "Amusements in Belfast" that they were both in, if you can find the name of the group they performed in you may be able to find out more from a theatre history site.
Just as point of interest why were the children all given the first name of Graham, even the girl