Stuck on a birth cert - newbie looking for pointers

[Skwide]

Hi,

I'm looking for pointers which will certainly be helpful in many cases, not just this:

I'm stuck on an ancestor:

Moninna Helen Southerwood nee Negus
Dressmaker • Born 1862, Paddington, Middlesex, England • Died 1931, Chelsea, London, England

I can't find her birth cert index (neither in FindMyPast or Ancestry). Plenty of census references.

Her first names vary a lot, including

Womoninna H
Helen
MONIMIA H
Monimia Helen

I've tried wildcardd and variants, +/- 2 years on the date, even searched for every Negus and Southerwood born around that date in London (London is a fairly certain factoid).

No trace... Is it possible that:

1) The BMD entry and/or baptism is simply missing;
2) She was adopted - and how would I research that?
3) Some other reason?

It's not a mega important branch of the tree - but I expect to run into this problem from time to time. Any tips for a beginner welcome, even a link to a good webpage or youtube vid

Many thanks indeed

[rosie99]

Welcome to rootschat

It is possible that her birth was never registered, quite a few were missed in the earlier year of registration    Do you have her marriage certificate as that should name her father

[avm228]

I see that the marriage was Sep qtr 1880 Chelsea - Harry Frederick Southerwood to Monimia* Helen Negus.

*Alternatively indexed as "Monicia" on FreeBMD - but the banns register (St Luke's, Chelsea) is clear that it's Monimia.

[avm228]

Married at St Simon Zelotes, Chelsea, 31 July 1880 - Monimia was a spinster, full age, of 24 Marlborough Square.

Father: James Negus, servant, deceased.

Witnesses: William Davis; Annie Catherine Southerwood.

[avm228]

Helpfully in 1891 there's an "aunt" with the widowed Monimia Southerwood - Monimie? Frances Davis, wid, 70, living on own means, born London City.

The aunt is still in the household in 1901 - Monimia F Davies, 80 b City of London.

"Davi(e)s" seems an important surname in the family- not just from this entry but also the marriage witness William Davis, and the son Frederick Davis Southerwood born 1881.

[avm228]

Likely death of the aunt: Monimia Davies, 85, Jun qtr 1908 Chelsea.

[avm228]

Still on the aunt:

Monimia Frances Lovett (wid, 49) married William Davis (wid, 59, bootmaker) 24 Dec 1872 at St Margaret's. Westminster.  Both of 10 Brewer's Row.

His father: Walter Davis, farmer.
Her father: Thomas Archer, bootmaker.

[avm228]

Monimia Frances Archer was born 9 November 1820 and baptised 18 February 1821 at All Hallows, London Wall.

Parents: Thomas (bootmaker) and Monimia, of Great Winchester St.

[avm228]

A previous thread on the name Monimia:

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=327160.0