Hi, wondering if anyone can help with a puzzle
This follows, but precedes, a recent topic on the London / Middlesex board looking for help finding the ‘aunt’ of the Walter Simmonds below, sent to Canada as a home child in 1892.
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=833784.0I’m looking for the baptism (and parents) of Thomas Simmonds, born between 1832 and 1840 in Norfolk according to later censuses and workhouse admissions.
He married Mary Ann Ball at St Clement Danes (Middlesex) on 28 May 1860, with his father named as William a tailor. He and Mary Ann had children Ann (1863-?, Strand), John (1865-1865, Strand), James (1867-1941), Emma (1871-1882), Walter (1874-1959) and possibly an unnamed male child born and died in March quarter 1886, along with his mother Mary Ann. Various spellings of the surname, but mainly Simmonds, otherwise Simmons, Symons or Simons. No certificates purchased yet because of the coronavirus situation, but the children’s births are on the GRO, and the baptisms of the named children plus Thomas and Mary Ann’s marriages are images on Ancestry.
Not yet found Thomas in the census prior to 1871 when he is said to be aged 38 (1833), porter, born Norfolk. In 1881 he is aged 46 (1835, born Norfolk, porter). In 1891 he is a patient at the St Marylebone infirmary, widowed, aged 51 (1840, Norfolk, porter). In 1901 he appears to be in the Kensington workhouse, aged 67 (1834, widowed, Norfolk, though a market gardener
). Possible death in March quarter 1903 in Kensington, aged 70.
A more vague search for Thomas in 1851 offered an interesting entry at St Clement Danes, Thomas Semmence, aged 15 (1836), born Hingham, Norfolk, with parents William Semmence, aged 47 (1804, born Hingham, Norfolk, a
tailor) and
Sarah aged 46 (1805, Millwall, London). With them are 2 additional children Mary A aged 11 (1840, St James), and William aged 4 (1847, St Clement Danes). Both these children are found on the GRO with mother
Lovick.... Mary Ann
Simons and William
Semmence.
I have found a baptism for the youngest child William, at St Martin in the Fields, Westminster, on 23 March 1848 (born 6 May 1847), parents William and
Sarah Semmence, William a
tailor. But i can only find a marriage for a William Semmence and
Harriet Lovick, in Hingham, Norfolk on 13 October 1831. This also produces a baptism at Hingham on 2 July 1832 (born 25 June 1832) for a Thomas, parents William and
Harriet Semmence. William is a
taylor. I can’t find a death of Harriet Semmence, or a marriage for William to a Sarah Lovick.
Any help unravelling this, or comments on the possibility of William Semmence and William Simmonds being the same man, most welcome. Thanks for reading.