Help in finding Great Grandfather's birth

[Aliss06]

Thanks so much Jon, I searched for Charles using the surname Porter but I clearly missed it somehow.
I'm going to go and have another look now.  Thanks again.

[bbart]

Hi,

Although they might be on the St Pancras workhouse census for 1861, the enumerator chose to only use initials for both first and last names, so they won't be searchable (unless you go through all 51 pages and hope no one else has her initials...)

See example image:

[jonwarrn]

Well spotted!
I think they may be recorded by the initial of surname first, because there are quite a lot of female's P's, B's, etc., too many to be first names (unless the workhouse was full of Phoebes and Betseys)

So one possibility might be P. E., 29 (female), unmarried, laundress, born Mid. London.
Piece 118 folio 86 page 26

[jonwarrn]

A rough exam of Eliza Porter in Pancras, 24 Feb 1859
Not too easy to read it all
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1557/images/31451_214821-00357

[jonwarrn]

Does she say at the end
"I was born in this house in 1830. I am illeg."

Anyway, a baptism in Pancras, 12 Aug 1830
Eliza
Illeg of Sarah Porter
Abode Workhouse
Date of birth July 18

[jonwarrn]

Well, thanks to the Pancras Index to Sworn Examinations, 1821-1846, on ancestry, we can see there were two sworn examinations of Sarah Porter in 1830, re bastardy.
One on 8 May 1830, in volume 34, page 201
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1557/images/31451_213087-00213

Top of next page/image
Another one for Sarah Porter on 18 August, 34/274

And Sworn Examinations "No.34", 1829-1830, is on ancestry too!
So on 8 May Sarah swears she is pregnant with child, and names the father
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1557/images/31451_213090-00463

On 18 August Sarah swears that on 18 July at the workhouse she was delivered of a female bastard child baptized Eliza
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1557/images/31451_213090-00504

No first name of the father given on that second exam, but on the first one he is named as George Byars of No. 3 Pall Mall, Middlesex, Hatter.

[jonwarrn]

Those exams say that Sarah Porter was a singlewoman, aged 30 years.
Register of Inmates in the Workhouse, 1830
Adults
Porter Sarah, 30, came in April 30th, went out August 19th
Children
Born Porter Eliza, came in July 18th, went out August 19th

After all that, hope it's the right Eliza!

[bbart]

A rough exam of Eliza Porter in Pancras, 24 Feb 1859
Not too easy to read it all
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1557/images/31451_214821-00357

My guess:
I have been in the house 5 or 6 nites on send off.  I came from 31 Little
Camden Hewett Rd Hilton. I have no ? or distress. I have Uncles
and aunts but don't know where they are  -- f^r [father] died when I was very
young -- M^r [mother] died 6 yrs ago in Berdmondsey. 35 Xmas Lane.  My illeg child
Thomas 5 yrs old now attends school was born at 35 Xmas Lane --My
2nd child was born in this house.  I was born in this house in 1830 __ I am
illeg

Edit: words struck out are corrected by Bookbox in following post so ignore them!

[Bookbox]

Porter Eliza 28.  I have been in the house 5 or 6 Nites on and off – I came from 31 Little
Camden St with M^rs Hilton. I have no bros or sisters ... [etc.]