Clara Mary Matthews - Missing prior to 1901

[iregurl]

Hi everyone,

I'm wondering if some of you could use your amazing skills to help me find Clara before her marriage in 1896 in Chelsea.

I can find Clara Mary Matthews on her marriage certificate and on the 1901, 1911 and 1921 censuses, however, she seems to appear out of nowhere.  On the census, she is listed as being born in 1864 in Chelsea, Middlesex.  I can not find anyone by that name born on living in the area.  It seems she simply does not exist.  This is the information I have:

Facts

Birth
Abt 1865 • Chelsea, London, England

Marriage
April 1896 • Chelsea, London, United Kingdom

Marriage
Apr 1896 • Chelsea, London
William Cooke Morris
(1868–1950)

Residence
1901 • Rugby, Warwickshire, England
36 Age: 36; Wife RelationToHead: Wife

Residence
Apr 02, 1911 • Norwood, Middlesex, England
StreetAddress: 130 Beaconsfield Road, Southall; 46 Age: 46; EnumerationDistrict: 09; RegistrationDistrict: Uxbridge; RegistrationDistrictNumber: 127; SubRegistrationDistrict: Hayes; SubRegistrationDistrictNumber: 3; Married MaritalStatus: Married; Wife Re

Death
Jul 03, 1937 • Rugby, Warwickshire, England

[CaroleW]

What was her fathers name & occupation on her marriage cert?

[djm297]

Perhaps she  did not give her correct date of birth at marriage and in subsequent census records?

There is a Clara Mary Matthews born in Chelsea Q4 1856-mmn Cranfield. Also 3 different Clara Mary Matthews in London born 1857/58 on census returns prior to 1901

What is the name of her father on the marriage certificate?

djm297

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Casting the net a little wider around London. One possibility I can probably cross off for you. this one looks to be daughter of Charles, a house painter, and the M is for March

1881

Peter Hanley    55
Harriet Hanley    54
Clara M. Mathews    16 servant b St Pancras

RG11; 279; 123; 44;

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Another option is that she was a widow when she married WC Morris. No children on 1901 or 1911 to check for maiden name

[CaroleW]

We need info from her marriage cert

From my reply above - we need her fathers name & occupation

From Mabel’s reply - we need to know whether she was a widow or spinster when she married

[iregurl]

I'm waiting to get the marriage certificate.  TBH international shipping is quite expensive. But I'll order it as soon as I can afford it.

In the meantime, I think she may have been previously married.  I just found a Clara Matthews married to Henry Matthews in the 1891 census and her birthplace is listed as Kensington.

[CaroleW]

She is on the 1891 census with her brother Charles & his wife Amelia.   Birthyear 1857!!

Dec qtr 1856 - Clara Mary Matthews Chelsea 1a 132 - mmn was Cranfield

1891

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QQPY-QMM

[CaroleW]

On the 1872 marriage cert for Charles Henry Matthews & Amelia Latimer - his father is shown as Stephen Matthews occ wood carver