Help Please! Drawing a blank on Banwell Family

[BenStevens87]

Hi everyone! I've been working on my Family Tree recently and I'm drawing a blank on my 2nd Great Grandmother - Helen Elizabeth Balch (nee. Banwell) Hopefully one of you can spot something I've missed and/or your research overlaps with mine.

Attached to this message is a diagram that recreates the postit notes I've spread out on my floor and gives more information on the research I've done. I'm struggling (I think) because there are holes in the records I can access.

I can't find a baptism or birth certificate record for Helen Elizabeth Banwell, but according to census data she seems to have been born in 1857 in Oxfordshire. On her marriage banns, her father is listed as Congreve Banwell (unusual name which helps). There were 2 Congreve Banwells, the most likely father married his wife Rebecca in 1866, so 11 years after Helen Elizabeth was born. The other Congreve also had a daughter called Helen, but she was born 10 years before the Helen I'm looking for, and died in 1865.

Which raises the potential that Helen Elizabeth was illegitimate and ended up with the father? I can then start to make assumptions (like why she was shuffled off to her Aunt and Uncle's house by the 1871 census) but I don't know how I could verify that? 

And then, weirdly, her father and his wife have a daughter in 1872 also called Helen! Helen Maude Banwell was born to Congreve and Rebecca in Bristol. Is it likely/possible that they would call the daughters the same thing? 

I'm spinning out on it. I don't know if there's something obvious I've missed or what!? Hopefully one of you can spot something and/or your research overlaps with mine.

Thanks in advance! 

[rosie99]

Welcome to rootschat

In 1871 you have her with William Hadland & his wife Mary, they say that Ellen E is their niece born Wheatley, Oxfordshire. Through which members of the family is she related to them.

It is also very possible that Congreve is not her father but just a name added to her marriage certificate to make her appear legitimate.

[tazzie]

Hi. A snippet from a newspaper....1888.

On 4 October at St Sepulchre London by Rev Thomas Pugh. Linford George Balch of  Caterham to
Helen Elizabeth daughter of the late Congrove Banwell ( as spelt on transcript I cannot view page) o Buckingham.

The Congreve that dies in 1871 looks likely. Now if birth year is out and that's possible what if her mother is Camilla and she died in or soon after childbirth. Father left with new baby....confusion...the birth might not have been registered. It's also possible that there was a Helen already.....baby named Ellen.

Tazzie

[tazzie]

Rosie...

A marriage ....William Hadland married Mary Banwell in Thames reg district 1839.

Tazzie

[mckha489]

Is this the 1837 Congreve?

16 August 1884 - Oxford Journal - Oxford, Oxfordshire, England

[mckha489]

Not your question I know, but to fill in some of the other question marks, and you never know, sometimes it helps

Helen Maud died Dec 13 1877, age 5 1/2
Ethel Mary died Jan 10 1878 age 3 yrs 10 months

[cath151]

In 1851 Congreve Banwell born 1837 is in the same household as a Sarah Hadland born 1828, niece to John and Mary Ann Banwell.
Cathy

[mckha489]

19 March 1892 - Oxford Journal - Oxford, Oxfordshire, England

Similar wording to marriage of Helen Elizabeth, also London location

[mckha489]

04 March 1871 - Buckingham Express - Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, E