Born in Heckingham Workhouse, Norfolk?

[Gwaelodian]

My grandmother was called Ethel in her life time but we found at her death she was Mary Elizabeth. Her mother was Eliza Sturman and we think she may have been born in the workhouse. Her mother was from Poringland. Thanks. G

[candrjm]

Hi Gwaelodian,

Your post reads like a statement, are you looking for some help and if so what help do you need? 

Chris

Possible baptism:

St Faith Horsham Norfolk

Date: 5th May 1889

Mary Elizabeth Ethel Sturman

Mother: Eliza Sturman

[fiddlerslass]

Is this Mary Elizabeth Ethel's  baptism  -Bergh Apton is not far from Poringland

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-RDR4-G?i=237&wc=MXD1-16D%3A982211901%2C982211902%2C982268101%2C982219402%3Fcc%3D1823613&cc=1823613

The birth certificate should say where she was born.


1891 census

https://familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&query=%2Bgivenname%3A%22mary%20elizabeth%22~%20%2Bsurname%3Asturman~%20%2Bbirth_place%3Anorfolk~

1881

Burgh-Apton, Norfolk,
Thurton Road,
Loddon registration district

Page Number    4
Registration Number    RG11
Piece/Folio    1963/110

John Sturman    Head    M    55    Gillingham, Norfolk, England
Harriet Sturman    Wife    F    53    Woodton, Norfolk, England
Henry Sturman    Son    M    27    Seething, Norfolk, England
John Sturman    Son    M    19    Seething, Norfolk, England
Herbert Sturman    Son    M    15    Seething, Norfolk, England
Eliza Sturman    Daughter    F    13    Seething, Norfolk, England

Moderator comment: edited for content. Please do not copy and paste information from commercial sites. You must transcribe what you see in the image.

[Gwaelodian]

Hi, both of you who have replied.  I somehow lost my first message.. if it comes twice, forgive me. I was explaining that although I have found quite a bit about my grandmother, it doesn't quite make sense. Known as Ethel throughout her life, it was a surprise for the entire family to find she was actually Mary Elizabeth.  I have located her in some census information ( 1891 being one). She is variously listed as foster child, boader or domestic.  It is clear her mother , Eliza Elizabeth Sturman lived with her, but my grandmother never knew this and had no idea  where she was born or who was her mother. Her mother was a domestic at the home of  people I heard referred to as Grandma and Granddad Foster, but they were not in our family. It is now also clear a brother, Waltham, also came to live with the Fosters. My grandmother, with whom I lived, did not appear to know Waltham was her brother. I was trying to unravel why the Foster family were so benevolent to Eliza Elizabeth and her children, and why is was kept secret. I set off researching my grandmother, to see what information I could find of her birth. I understand from a 93 year old aunt, her daughter, that her mother, Ethel, was born in the workhouse. Any help  reseach or  interpretation gratefully received. Thanks. N

[Annette7]

You say it's clear that her mother Eliza Elizabeth Sturman lived with her but this was only on the 1891 census - and her mother wasn't born in Poringland (although Eliza Foster nee Sergeant was).

As from census details posted, her mother Eliza Elizabeth Sturman was bc.1868 Seething, Norfolk - birth reg'd Sept.1867 Loddon - dau. of John and Harriet.  They appear to have had an earlier daughter with this name born/baptised in 1861 who presumably died.

I see that Eliza Elizabeth Sturman married a David John Coffin in 1901 Hampshire with whom she had more children.

As to her previous children they all seemed to go by second names - Mary Elizabeth Ethel known as Ethel, Elsie Annie bc.1892 Epsom, Surrey known as Annie in 1901, and Thomas Waltham born 4/12/1898 (died 1976) known as Waltham.

Since James and Eliza Forster had no children of their own one can only assume that having had the care of the Sturman children from a young age/birth they loved them like their own and indeed the last census shows Elsie and Thomas as adopted.

Annette

[Gwaelodian]

Hello, Annette.
Sorry it has taken me so long to respond. I am interested in all you say and have found, and am very grateful. I am sure the Fosters did look after the children with love, and she stayed a huge support for my grandmother through her many pregnancies and births. The census gives a cooler picture when I read the census description of boarder, etc. I wonder why no one ever told my grandmother and Waltham that Eliza Elizabeth was their mother.My aunt tells me now that her father, my grandmother's husband, made regular visits to Sturman's in Burgh Apton with money. She didn't know why. I had hoped find  a father for my grandmother, wondering if the link to the Sturmans was a son of the family who could have been her father. I will clearly never be able to find that data. Thanks for your help. Much appreciated. Still a bit of a mystery to me. Norma

[Gwaelodian]

PS. I didn't know Elsie and Waltham were adopted by granny Foster.  I met both people when I was very young. We called Annie aunt Annie, but we were told she wasn't a real aunt. Ditton 'uncle' Walt. There was ALSO an Elsie in the family where Waltham lived. She is still alive, so it won't be the same Elsie.