My mother-in-law has asked me to see if I can find out some information on her mother, Gladys May KNIGHT (nee DALE CHELL), born 1916.
Gladys May was raised by Edward CHELL and always called Winifred POOLE (nee CHELL) her sister. In actual fact, Gladys was the informant on Winifred's death certificate.
My mother-in-law has given me two stories as she has aged:
1. Her mother was illegitimate but the natural daughter of Edward. Because the mother did not want to keep the baby, Edward took her and, with Winifred's assistance, raised her.
2. Edward adopted Gladys (this story has only recently been told to me).
The information I have to hand includes:
1. Edward Chell - believed to have been born about 1879.
2. About 1904/5 Edward married Prudence Taft.
3. On 10 October 1905 at 8 Fenton Low, Winifred was born. Edward's occupation at the time was Coal Miner (Winifred's birth Certificate).
4. On 15 October 1918, Edward applied, according to The Factory and Workshop Act of 1901, for a Certified Copy of Winnifred's [sic] entry of birth. At that time, he listed his address as No. 2, South Street, Mt Pleasant, Fenton and his occupation was Fitters Assistant, Loco Kerr, Stuarts, Stoke (Application 'To Prove Age for Elementary Education Purpose').
5. On 4th July, Winifred Chell, aged 21 years, married Frank Mottram Poole, 22 years. Frank's occupation was Stationary Engineman at Steelworks; Winifred's occupation was General Servant Domestic. Winifred was living at 6 Upper Crescent Harpfields, Stoke on Trent and Frank was living at 60 Spode Street, Stoke on Trent. On the Marriage Entry Winifred's father is listed now as William Edward CHELL and a chimney sweep (Marriage Certificate).
6. There are no children of this marriage.
7. Edward CHELL of 2 South Street, Fenton and a Chimney Sweep dies on 27 Dec 1956 aged 71 years (Death Certificate).
a. In 1916 (believed to be 23 February), a child named Gladys May DALE is born. Mother's name may be Florence Maud DALE.
b. Gladys is raised by Edward CHELL. Was this because he was the natural father and the mother did not want the child? Did Edward adopt the child?
c. Gladys called Winifred her sister and they had a close relationship.
d. Gladys marries Joseph KNIGHT 3 Aug 1935 at St Peters Church. She lists her name as Gladys May DALE CHELL. She is living at 87 Whieldon Road and her father is listed as Edward CHELL, Chimney Sweep (Marriage Certificate).
e. By the birth of her first child in 1937, she is living at 186 Whieldon Road, Fenton (Daughter's birth Certificate).
f. Winifred dies a widow on 8 Oct 1986 and the informant is Gladys May KNIGHT, sister (Death Certificate).
g. Gladys May KNIGHT (nee CHELL) dies a widow on 15 May 1988 at 186 Whieldon Road, Mt Pleasant (Death Certificate).
As can be seen Gladys May used both names separately and together: DALE, CHELL. The information above I have from photocopied documents I gathered when our family visited my husband's relatives in England (from Australia) in the mid-90s. My mother-in-law is not well and has always expressed a desire to know more about her maternal parentage (I have retired and now have some time to look into it a bit more).
In the 1911 census, Edward is living with his son and daughter and a 60 year old woman who is listed as a servant doing house work. It could be possible that within the next 5 years he could have employed a young woman and fathered Gladys. Lots of suppositions. Edward did not remarry to my knowledge.
I hope there is enough information here to elicit feedback. Any assistance or thoughts on how I might approach this would be appreciated. Is there a way to check for adoptions?
Thank you in advance.
Kind regards
Merrelyn Bates
