Esther White 1891-1973 help

[ELawry1]

Hi, I’m new to this so hopefully I’ve posted in the right place.

Esther was my great-great-grandmother and the family story goes that she lived in Leeds, was in service to a doctor and his family, fell pregnant, and then was cast out of her family and moved to Birmingham.

I’ve found her marriage certificate to Benjamin Lewis from 18th Oct 1914 (which is definitely correct) with both living at the same Birmingham address, and around the time that the baby, Lily May was born. The certificate lists her father as Joseph White, a foundry man.

I take from this that the likelihood is that Benjamin was the father but that does not explain the Leeds connection and I cannot find any Esther White’s that match her exact details.

She is down on the 1939 Register with a birth date of 31st December 1891, which her grave confirms, but her death certificate puts it at 1889 (which I wonder may be a mistake in the maths). I’m very grateful for any help that you can give.

[aghadowey]

Welcome to Rootschat 

Have you found her in the 1911 census yet? (we aren't allowed to do lookups for that one)

[ELawry1]

Welcome to Rootschat 

Have you found her in the 1911 census yet? (we aren't allowed to do lookups for that one)

Hi, thanks for the message. I have looked but can’t find her. There is one Esther White in service in a mental hospital but from Staffordshire in 1911. It doesn’t match the Leeds story though. Other than that, I’ve searched the GRO site for birth certificates for her but none match these details.

[Ladyhawk]

Hello & Welcome 

Her m/c doesn't indicate that father Joseph is deceased and witnesses are Bert Rose & Violet Riley so no help there - I haven't been able to find a Joseph White & Esther together on 1901 census 

[ELawry1]

Hello & Welcome 

Her m/c doesn't indicate that father Joseph is deceased and witnesses are Bert Rose & Violet Riley so no help there - I haven't been able to find a Joseph White & Esther together on 1901 census 

Hi,

Thanks for the message. Me neither! It’s a real mystery. I’m guessing that his name on the certificate does not indicate that he was present so he could still have cut her off.

But then, I can’t understand how she would be pregnant in Leeds, then go to Birmingham to move in with and marry a man in the space of a pregnancy. Which makes me question the story.

[KGarrad]

The addresses on the Marriage Certificate do not imply that the couple were living together
It's usually an address of convenience, for the calling of the banns, or the Notice of Intention to Marry.

I have been married twice, and used an address of convenience both times!

[Ladyhawk]

She is down on the 1939 Register with a birth date of 31st December 1891, which her grave confirms,

Have you looked on FreeBMD for an Esther WHITE or try without a surname and
check GRO for mmn and see if you can cross reference a marriage for possible parents

If that is her correct birth date she should be registered Dec qtr. 1891 or it could be registered
in Mar qtr. 1892 as she was born 31st December 1891

edit - or Dec qtr. 1889 / Mar qtr 1890 if born 31st December 1889 (according to death record)

a quick look there's this entry Dec 1891
White    Esther Mary        Grantham    7a   454    
GRO indexes show mmn STEVENSON

[ELawry1]

The addresses on the Marriage Certificate do not imply that the couple were living together
It's usually an address of convenience, for the calling of the banns, or the Notice of Intention to Marry.

Ah ok, that’s interesting. Thanks!

I have been married twice, and used an address of convenience both times!

[ELawry1]

She is down on the 1939 Register with a birth date of 31st December 1891, which her grave confirms,

Have you looked on FreeBMD for an Esther WHITE or try without a surname and
check GRO for mmn and see if you can cross reference a marriage for possible parents

If that is her correct birth date she should be registered Dec qtr. 1891 or it could be registered
in Mar qtr. 1892 as she was born 31st December

a quick look there's this entry Dec 1891
White    Esther Mary        Grantham    7a   454    
GRO indexes show mmn STEVENSON

I’ll look into it when I get home, thanks! The Grantham one isn’t her though, I’ve looked into it before and the father is an Elias White.