Rebecca Mee/Ward

[curtainhooks]

Thank you jorose, that's very helpful!
I didn't think about the fact Alfred Ward might've deserted the family and not died. And that would make sense if the aunt decided to give them Mee as a surname rather than Ward because of that.
I'll try and find a death record for Alfred Ward but might be difficult with such a common name   

[brigidmac]

Have you found any births or baptisms of the siblings

What was the mother's name ? Have you got proof of her marriages or could she have been passing as married to WARD

The children would be considered illigitimate if born after her  husband died or left
+Another scenario is that  She was not married to WARD  or MEE

[brigidmac]

On marriage   Herbert MEE lists his father as Alfred MEE deceased on marriage
His brother Oliver MEE & wife Sarah Jane MEE
Were witnesses .

baptism page  20th June 1873   
 Herbert  Frederick + Alexander
+ Edward Alfred WARD

 parents Alfred WARD  labourer and Hannah at 3 Brody's bridge Christchurch Southwark

[curtainhooks]

Hannah Wadhams is their mother and she definitely married William Thomas Mee in 1857 in Lambeth London. Hannah and William lived together for a while, had no children and then split up.
They're living together on the 1861 census at 5 Howley Place in Lambeth. Hannah is under ''Hannah Mee b.1838''.
I assume they didn't divorce and so Hannah couldn't re-marry Alfred Ward, unless I haven't found their marriage record. Hannah and Alfred are living together on all censuses after 1861 until she dies.

Children's births:
Robert Ward.     bq:3      by:1867     mmn: Wadhams       St Saviour Southwark
Frederick Ward.     bq:4     by:1868     mmn: Wadhams      lambeth, London
Alexander Ward.    bq:3      by:1870      mmn: -------    lambeth, London
Herbert Frederick Ward.    bq:3     by:1872    mmn:Wodhams     St Saviour, Southwark
William Henry Ward.     bq:2     by:1876       mmn:Wadhams       Lambeth, London
Rebecca Eliza Ward.     bq:3      by: 1878        mmn:Mee          Lambeth, London

Don't think I have found any baptisms

[brigidmac]

Try looking for Waid in 1881
At 8 sidwell place is
Alfred Waid  navigator
Hannah 40.  stonemason
Could that actually be profession of  15 year old Edward ?

Alexander 10.Herbert 8 Oliver 7 and Rebecca 2 and half are also with them

# sorry it's the 1891 census you are looking for

[brigidmac]

Rebecca probably named after her grandmother !

I found  sister Eliza s possible baptism
 march 1845  on ancestry
Parents William and Rebecca Wadhams
St Leonard's shoreditch 

[brigidmac]

I'm curious why Rebecca's birth was the only one to give mother's maiden name as MEE


Hannah & Eliza WADHAMS  had several siblings surname mistranscribed on censuses
You'd have to see if Rebecca was with any of them or in the equivalent of Norwood school but for girls .

[heywood]

Oliver Mee gave his father as Edward Mee, deceased labourer.

[brigidmac]

Thomas William MEE 35  a deal porter is lodging in 1871 with 42 year old married Marianne Glynne at  9 Lucas court
She is down as an annuitant .

In July 1861 a Thomas William MEE was charged with criminal assault held at Wandsworth jail I wonder if either or both of these  was Hannah's legal husband