metropolitan convalescent institute, walton on thames

[Junemac]

my g.grandmother, florence ethel blandford was listed on 1881 census as a patient at this facility.
Does anyone know whether there is a record of patients.?  She was on the way to Aust. by 1884.
I found her baptism (age 18) while she was a patient, and wondered about this.

She doesn't appear on 1871 census, anywhere, so is a bit of a mystery.

Hope someone can help.

Cheers, June

[KGarrad]

There's a history of Ellesmere Hospital, as it became known, here:
http://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/ellesmere.html

Looks like any records will be with the London Metropolitan Archives.
As mentioned here: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/2a97b400-ed7c-4cb5-bfe6-58f8f304b585

[rosie99]

Who were her parents 

Henry James Blandford occ Carpenter
Sarah Blandford

[Milliepede]

Snap just about to post the baptism - so she was an adult but how old was she?

I see now 18 in 1881 so she should be somewhere in 1871 age about 8. 

[Junemac]

Her parents were James Blandford died 1863 and Sarah Pilkinton . Florence gave the incorrect fathers name both at her baptism, and at her marriage in Oz. Henry James was her older brother.

Thanks.

[rosie99]

What happened to Sarah Blandford after James died in 1863, did she remarry.

Did Henry James Blandford stay in England
Is it him in the Middlesex Industrial School in 1871
RG10/1304 f153 p35


OK found him in 1871 with Grandma Pilkinton in Gravesend RG10/891 f56 p51

[Junemac]

Hi Rosie, Thank you for your help.Henry James moved to Lincolnshire, where he settled in Cleethorpes/
grimsby area.  I am in c ontact with some of his descendants. Just as Florence never spoke of having a brother, Henry J. never spoke about a sister. It has always seemed strange to me, that H.J. was with the Pilkintons, but no sign of Sarah or Florence.  As far as I can ascertain, Sarah appears to have been committed to Leavesden Asylum in Watford, as a Sarah Blandford is there from '81 until her death in early 1900's.

At some time before her departure to Aust. Florence became involved with a .C.of E. family called Sinclair, as 2 of that family, Janet Mary and John Stuart are god parents of my grandfather and his brother, and I have a family bible which came from the Sinclair family. 

Florence was very close mouthed about her past, and was very much about 'saving face' or doing the right thing

Realise this is a bit of a 'story', but there it is.

Cheers, June



 

[rosie99]

What a sad story, the family going in different directions and not knowing about siblings. 

Sarah is also in Watford in 1871  of Unsound Mind  RG10/1382 f132 p19 .    No sign of Florence though.

[jennifer c]

In 1881 census John Stuart Sinclair was aged 27 and the curate of All Saints Fulham, Janet Mary was his sister aged 23.

Jennifer