Seeking Birth Record for Clara Brake around 1866 in Seavington St Michael

[OnTheRoad]

I am looking for the birth record for my maternal great grandmother Clara Brake. So far I have found the baptism record for Clara Brake dated 27 January 1867 in Seavington St Michael, Somerset, England with her parents George and Sarah Anne (nee Gibbs) Brake. I have tried searching the Government Records Office and FreeBMD but cannot find a birth record for her. I have however found her in the 1871, 1881, 1891 (Clara Mitchell), 1901 (Clara Reed) and 1911 (Clara Reed) census.

Clara married John William Mitchell on 13 December 1884 and after his death in 1891, married Walter James Reed in 1894 in Pontypridd. Clara died in Pontypridd in 1929 aged 65.

There is a record for a sister Lavinia Brake born to the same parents in March quarter 1867 and registered in Chard and it seems the baptism of Clara and the birth of Lavinia are very close together. I've tried looking for an earlier birth record for Clara (maybe she was not a baby when baptised) but have had no luck there either.

Any assistance / suggestions / observations would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in anticipation
Cherryl

[Dundee]

There is no child named Lavinia with them in 1871, and no registered death.  Either the forename at registration was an error or they changed their mind between registration and baptism.

Debra 

[OnTheRoad]

Thanks for the prompt response, Debra. I also thought that Lavinia Brake may be my Clara however in the 1891 Census she pops up as Lavina Brakey (name looks like a transcription error - born 1869 in Lopen) living as a lodger with William Harris (who marries her younger sister Thena Brake later in the year), his mother Caroline and his grandmother Ann Harris. I cannot find an alternative birth record for Lavina Brakey. Maybe this was actually Thena Brake as I can't find her in the 1891 Census?? Interestingly there are another 10 trees on Ancestry for Thena Brake and none of them shows her in the 1891 Census.

In the 1891 Census, Clara (Brake) Mitchell is living with her husband John Mitchell and sons Benjamin, Archibald and Charles.

Any other suggestions?
Kind regards
Cherryl

[BumbleB]

I'd agree with Debra's suggestion that the parents changed their mind between registration and baptism. 

Younger sister, Thema, was registered in 1868, with mmn = Gibbs.

[OnTheRoad]

Thanks BumbleB and Debra
I am now 99% convinced that the birth record for Lavinia Brake is actually my Clara and will apply for the birth certificate to see if it sheds any more light.

I've had another look at the 1891 Census (which had caused me to doubt this finding) and simply by applying logic, I now believe that the Lavina Brakey entry should be Thena Brake. This person was a lodger in the same house as the man that Thena actually married in 1891, the birth year is correct for Thena as well as the birth place. I can find no evidence of a Lavina Brakey and I guess Lavina and Thena do sound similar!!

Thanks again for helping think this all through.
Keep well
Cherryl

[ValHar]

I have found a 1891 census record for Thena Harris in the household of Benjamin Mitchell at 81 Charles St, Tonypandy SW, Rhondda, Glamorgan, Wales. She is recorded as the aunt of head of household and is widowed. This doesn't directly relate to your query, but I think that you can rule out the possibility that Lavina and Thena are the same person.
I only found this record yesterday and it was the first I was aware of any connection to the Mitchell family.

[ValHar]

Sorry, I must correct my post; the census record for Thena Brake that I found was 1911.

[OnTheRoad]

Thanks for the update, ValHar.
Much appreciated for taking the time. Thena was the sister of Benjamin Mitchell's mother (Clara Brake / Mitchell / Reed) so it is definitely the same person. However I still have not found her in the 1891 Census - just an entry for Lavinia Brake(y) which I still think is Thena.

I have obtained the birth certificate for Lavinia Brake and am confident that she is my Clara Brake.

Thanks to everyone for your input.
Regards
Cherryl

[ValHar]

Cheryl, Sorry I posted so hastily in the excitement of the moment. Yes, Lavina=Thena!