1921 Census - missing Gt Gt Grandmother

[lcsnor]

I just realized that in 1921, my gt granddparents are living at 52 Lower Ashley Rd, which is given as Martha's home address on the death certificate.  Louisa Mountjoy (Martha's daughter), and her husband Nicholas are their with their 6 children, but no mention of Martha.

Maybe safe to assume that Martha is already institutionalized.

Thanks everyone for your input and insights!

Louise

[KGarrad]

2 points:

1. Stapleton Workhouse was at Manor Road. But by the junction with Snowden Road.
2. Glenside Hospital, formerly Bristol Lunatic Asylum, was just to the west of the workhouse.

Also, Snowdon House (in the same area) was a mother-and-baby home, But not relevant to your query!

[softly softly]

deleted

[lcsnor]

Thanks KGarrad - looks likely that she was institutionalized - I'll do a little more digging around those two possibilities in that area.

Appreciate everyone's help!

[mckha489]

In 1861 there is at New Orphan House No 1 Ashley Down, Clifton, an M.A.K age 15 , orphan,  born London,

I see in the marriage allegation/bond William declares Martha Ann is an orphan with no other appointed guardian. Interesting he went to the trouble in those circumstances considering she was 19. One would have thought they would have just lied and said she was of age. **

There is a thread about the orphanages that says (at least in 2008) there was a small museum and excellent records.  https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=326423.9

https://www.mullers.org/orphanrecords

** but now I have read the whole thread linked above perhaps not so surprising.

[lcsnor]

KGarrad

I've always had the opinion that they were married by license because of his being in the Marines and possibly not having much certainty about where he would be.  It is interesting that they say she has no parents on the license but I thought that was likely easier than dealing with her parents perhaps being alive still in Ireland. In the marriage register they name her father (Richard) and it doesn't say 'deceased'. As you say, why not just claim to be 21, but we'll never know the answer to that one!!

I would never have thought she'd be in Bristol as an orphan in 1861, but it's definitely an interesting possibility isn't it - particularly since its says she's born London.  I had always worked on the theory that they met in London with her being recently arrived from Ireland, then after a time in Plymouth ended up in Bristol because he's from nearby Box/Bath.

I have given Martha so much of my time and would love to know more about her! Maybe this is the link?  Mullers' Orphanage is just a mile from Lower Ashley Rd.  I've made a request to see whether they may have any helpful information in their archive.

Thank you!

[mckha489]

Do report back! 🤞

Added to say.. it is a common event here on rootschat that a father is not put down as deceased on the marriage certificate, it’s all to do with the way the question is posed. (Obviously the vicar didn’t read the license)

[lcsnor]

Yes mckha489 - I have a few marriage certificates like that.

I've never been able to find any trace of the father (Richard Keiley, carpenter) in England, although I've never looked at Bristol previously. I do see there's a Richard Kelley death in 1855 in Bristol - so maybe?!
Will be interesting to see what the orphan archives can tell me.

Thanks for your insight!
Louise

[mckha489]

That 1855 death is of a 2 yr old