Daisy May Cowell

[cliverobert]

Help required please.
Trying to understand the parentage and places of Daisy May Cowell.

On the 1911 Census (aged 27 yrs old) she is shown as a domestic cook at the Isolation Hospital, St Peters, Broadstairs /Ramsgate. Now demolished. This accords with what I know.

She shows as born in 1884 in the Braintree area, Essex.

Two weeks later on 15th April 1911 she married James William Smith in St Stephens Church Canterbury. This also accords with what I know.

The marriage certificate shows her father as one Crawford John Cowell....an Engineer.
Despite extensive searches I cannot find him or wife on the systems. I would have expected him to be on the 1891 census following the 1884 birth of Daisy, but no luck. It is an unusual christian name.

Where did he come from and what happened to him??


Further complicated by other Daisy Cowells showing similar birth dates in Essex/Braintree area.

Also, after the marriage of Daisy and William Smith they adopted a child called Catherine Elizabeth Herridge who was born in 1905 in West Ham. She is listed on William's First World War service history when he joined in 1916. Interestingly, there was an Alice Herridge (17yrs old) working at the same hospital as Daisy....Shown on the 1911 census.

Is there a connection.
Where did Catherine come from and what happened to her

Clive Wanstall

[avm228]

Also, after the marriage of Daisy and William Smith they adopted a child called Catherine Elizabeth Herridge who was born in 1905 in West Ham.

Hi Clive

I can't easily see Catherine's birth registration - please could you confirm the details?

[Milliepede]

There's an Alice Maud Herridge baptised 4 Sep 1904 parents Henry Arthur and Elizabeth. 

Need to check further might be unrelated 

Maybe the little girls name was changed to Catherine Elizabeth when she got adopted.

[avm228]

Catherine's birthdate was 22 December 1905 if the military record is correct.

[Milliepede]

Sorry I was mixing up the years for Alice 

Have found another census with the names Herridge/Cowell on.

If you look for Eddie Cowell born 1906 Leytonstone Essex.

There is a Louisa Herridge in West Ham who I think could be the mother of Alice. 

[avm228]

I wonder whether Eddie Cowell might be Edith Kathleen Cowell birth reg Mar qtr 1905 West Ham.

...and possibly the person later known as Catherine Elizabeth Herridge Smith?

If so the age is a year out.

[Milliepede]

1901 for info just in case it helps. 

John Herridge 44 born London
Louisa 44 born Lichfield Suffolk
William 16
Alfred 14
Alice 7

All children born Canning Town Essex

[Milliepede]

There's a Daisy M Cowell boarder in 1901 age 18 born Great Bardfield Essex. 

Head of house is Caroline Wooding 50.

The M is helpful if she married as Daisy May. 

Can't find anything on Crawford John    seems too elaborate a name to make up.

Have you got the actual marriage certificate for Daisy?  Who were the witnesses?

[Kay99]

There is a May Cowell b 1882 Little Bardfield, Essex who is also living there as a boarder in 1891 - with the Dorking family??