Missing: Mayzod Roffe (1879-?) and her baby (1909-?)

[avm228]

Can anybody help me find out what happened to Mayzod Roffe, and her child born in Ceylon in 1909?

Mayzod (likely to be the Mayzod Cecile Roffe b 1879 Dulwich) is not related to me, but her name appears in divorce papers of a couple in my tree.

That couple was Philip Henry Milward (1873-1915) and Rosa Marguerite née Edge (1873-1953), whose (first cousin) marriage was childless.

19 Feb 1901: Marriage of Philip Henry Milward and Rosa Marguerite Edge in Worcestershire
Date unknown: Philip and Rosa move to Cape Town, South Africa - Philip perhaps meets Mayzod there
14 Apr 1906: Miss M C Roffe arrives in Southampton from Cape Town on the Armadale Castle
Date unknown: Philip and Mayzod set up home together in Colombo, Ceylon
16 Jan 1909: Philip and Mayzod’s baby is born in Colombo, Ceylon
20 Dec 1911: Rosa Marguerite Milward presents a divorce petition mentioning Mayzod and the baby
13 Dec 1914: Philip Henry Milward arrives in London from Ceylon for Army service in the war
07 Dec 1915: Capt. Philip Henry Milward dies on the Western Front

Much of the detail comes from the divorce petition, which for some reason Rosa did not proceed with. She remained married to Philip at the time of his death - but what happened to Mayzod, and who was Mayzod’s child? I don’t know whether the child was male or female, let alone a name.

As an aside, both Rosa and Mayzod seem to have been talented artists, so I wonder whether that is how the connection was made. Rosa was a sculptor in her widowhood, and continued to travel widely. Mayzod Roffe appears in several 1890s newspaper reports as having received various awards as a student of fine art.

Any help much appreciated.

[polarbear]

It looks like there is a will available. Perhaps this would shed some light on things. You can look for particulars at this link....click on the appropriate year range at the top of the record set.

https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate

This info is also available on Ancest..y if you have a sub.

I believe wills cost £1.50 to purchase at the moment.

PB

[Kloumann]

Baptism in Lincolnshire of Josephine Roffe, 11th July 1909, mother Mayzod Roffe

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP7W-6SVF

[polarbear]

Oh, what a great find!

Here is Phillip's CWGC entry...

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/146172/milward,-philip-henry/


PB

[avm228]

Baby Josephine - that’s brilliant! Thank you.

I may get Philip’s will in due course, but suspect that if he provided for his unmarried partner and illegitimate child he may have done it by another means.

[avm228]

Full details of Josephine’s baptism:

Boothby Graffoe, Lincolnshire

11 Jul 1909

Josephine, born 16 Jan 1909, daughter of Mayzod Roffe of Boothby Graffoe Rectory.

Baptised by H.R. Hall, Rector*.

*The Rector (with whom Mayzod was apparently staying) was Henry Reginald Hall who was married to Philip’s sister Clara Milward - so he was Philip’s brother-in-law. He was also one of Philip’s executors.

[avm228]

I’ve now found a 1931 St Neots marriage for Josephine as Josephine Milward, and a 1998 death in Lewes for her in her married name of Thompson matching her known birthdate. Really pleased - thank you both.

[Kloumann]

No. I have found her in 1911 census. She was adopted

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7YC-R5K

[avm228]

I see - Josephine “Walton” in 1911, still at the rectory in Boothby Graffoe and recorded as the adopted daughter of Henry Reginald Hall. How odd! I wonder where Walton comes from.