Searching for Mabel Boyd

[Johnsdaughter]

Mabel Boyd is the birth mother of Dorothy Mabel Boyd ( born 11th June 1899 Oswestry) who was adopted and became Dorothy Mabel Davies.
Mabel Boyd is the mother recorded at the Christening on July 30th.

Dorothy’s birth certificate shows that Thomas Davies who with his wife, Mary adopted her, was the person who registered her birth. Dorothy was born at the same address as that of Thomas Davies.
Under the mother’s name on the certificate it says, Boarding House Keeper. She was registered on August 2nd and the Christening was held on 30th July at Holy Trinity Church where Thomas and Mary were married.
They had already adopted a boy.

I have searched for Mabel Boyd but with little success. The most likely candidate was a Londoner on the basis of age.
Would a pregnant young girl travel to Oswestry in those days to have her baby with the intent of giving it up for adoption?

Thomas and Mary soon after had 2 children themselves but sadly in 1903 Thomas died. Mary married again in 1909, a man called John Morris who was about 16 years younger than herself. Could he have been Dorothy’s father? It seems very strange for a 28 year old to marry an older woman with 4 children.
 I’ve puzzled over this family for sometime and would appreciate any ideas.
Thanks.

[Milliepede]

What age was Dorothy when she was adopted?

Who is she with on the next census - Thomas & Mary?

[Girl Guide]

Is this the Mabel Boyd that you thought might be likely?  From the 1901 census living here Drapers Shop Barrett Bro, 116, High Street, Clapham, Wandsworth, London & Surrey

Born 1878, birth place Forest Gate, Essex

Registration district   Wandsworth
Archive reference   RG13
Piece number   464
Folio   76
Page   18

[Girl Guide]

There is only one birth in that time frame and birth place

BOYD, MABEL  ANNIE     SLEDGE 
GRO Reference: 1878  M Quarter in WEST HAM UNION  Volume 04A  Page 105

West Ham covers Forest Gate

[Girl Guide]

Going back to the 1891 census shows her as a grandchild with her grandparents David and Ann Boyd.  Has to be the same one as her place of birth is given as Forest Gate, Essex

Living at Prestbury Road, East Ham, West Ham, London & Essex

Registration district   West Ham
Archive reference   RG12
Piece number   1340
Folio   20
Page   33

This is of course pure speculation as you don't know how old Mabel was when she gave birth to Dorothy.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Would a pregnant young girl travel to Oswestry in those days to have her baby with the intent of giving it up for adoption?

Quite possibly if the adoptive parents had been put in contact with Mabel ahead of the birth and she went to them to give birth and hand over the baby

[Johnsdaughter]

Thanks for your replies.
Milliepede - on the 1901 census, Dorothy is living with Thomas and Mary with surname Boyd. On the 1911 she is Dorothy Davies.

Girl Guide, yes you’ve found the Mabel that I thought was most likely and makes me more confident in my assumptions.

Mabel - so if Mabel Boyd came from London it’s more likely that Dorothy’s father was also from London?

[Girl Guide]

I would consider it more than likely that the father also came from London.  You will never know who he was as he is not mentioned on Dorothy's birth certificate.

Have you done any investigation to see if Mabel married at all?  Have you found her on the 1911 census?  This is assuming that the London Mabel is the correct one.

[Girl Guide]

I've had a quick look for a likely Mabel in the 1911 and come up with this one.

Living at 22 Somerset St W, St Marylebone, London & Middlesex, birth year given as 1879, birth place is Forest Gate, Essex.  She is a shop assistant drapery and still single.

Registration district   Marylebone
Registration district number   7
Sub-district   St Mary
Sub-district number   2
Enumeration district number   18
Series   RG14
Piece number   554
Schedule   109
Census reference   RG14PN554 RG78PN19 RD7 SD2 ED18 SN109
RG 78 piece number   19