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Research Brick Wall Advice

Research Brick Wall Advice

Posted: 4 Aug 2014 10:49AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Cowmedow, James, Phillips, Ballinger
Hi, I am in a bit of a rut and looking at advice to determine where to go next. I am researching my Great Grand Mother Mabel Alice Dorothy Phillips who was Born on 16 Aug 1897. I Purchased her Birth Cert and labels her parents as James Phillips and Elizabeth James and she was born in Westbury-on-severn, Wiltshire. She married my Great Grand Father Ralph James Ballinger on 26 Dec 1921 at St.Peter's Church, Notting Hill, London. Where Mabel Alice Dorothy Phillips was living at 74 Portabello Road, London and Ralph Living in Cliffords Mesne, Gloucester.

My Problem lies with I have got the correct 1901 Census where it had Mabel and her parents living in Plump Hill, Gloucester along with her 4 Sisters; Lilly (15 yrs old), Frances (11 yrs old), Ada (6 yrs) and Ida(1 day old)(this may be a communication error and maybe known as Ivy). I cannot find the 1911 Census, to see how Mabel was living in London. I do find a 1911 Census , which seems 3/4 of the information seems feasible, but they have a son Walter Phillips living there at 18 yrs old, but does not appear in the 1901 census, Marriage number of years is down as 4, but there was alot of crossing out, which tells me the writer was a bit confused maybe(long day at work, possibly!), but they also have two children down as son and daughter but with different surnames (cowmedow) aged 13 and 8. The daughter (13) Gewndoline Cowmedow does not show in the 1901 Census either, which leads me to think this is the incorrect one, regardless of the Parents and Children being born at the same places and years I am searching for.

What I am trying to find out is Why did Mabel and Ralph marry in London, Why was Mabel living in London and if the 1911 Census is the right one, how do i find out the information put on it is correct and not an outlier?

I have attached the two Census's and Marriage Cert
Attachments:

Re: Research Brick Wall Advice

Posted: 9 Sep 2014 5:26PM GMT
Classification: Query
my guess would be that James has remarried ie 4 years ago to an Elizabeth with Cowmeadow children.

a James Philips did marry in Westbury on Severn in 1907 spouse unknown

a 43 yr old Elizabeth M C Phillips died in Westbury on Severn in 1906

***************************


Births Sep 1902
Phillips Ivy Eva Westbury S. 6a 309




Births Jun 1901
PHILLIPS Ida May Westbury S. 6a 301

Deaths Jun 1902
Phillips Ida May 1 Westbury S. 6a 182




Births Dec 1894
Phillips Ada Elizabeth Westbury S. 6a 237




Births Mar 1890
Phillips Frances Maud Westbury, S. 6a 250


maybe

Births Sep 1885
Phillips Flora Lillie Westbury S. 6a 257

Re: Research Brick Wall Advice

Posted: 9 Sep 2014 5:49PM GMT
Classification: Query

1891 England Census

Name:James Phillips

Age:30

Estimated Birth Year:abt 1861

Relation:Head

Spouse's Name:Elizabeth Phillips

Gender:Male

Where born:Little Birch, Herefordshire, England

Civil Parish:East Dean

Ecclesiastical parish:Holy Trinity

Town:Bailey Pound

County/Island:Gloucestershire

Country:England

Registration district:Westbury On Severn

Sub-registration district:Newnham

ED, institution, or vessel:6

Piece:2004

Folio:61

Page Number:4

Household Members:


James Phillips 30 miner
Elizabeth Phillips 27 b Hope Mansell, Herefordshire
Eliza Phillips 7 b East Dean
Lilly Phillips 5 b East Dean
Louis Phillips 3 b Woodhouse YKS
Frances Phillips 1 b East Dean


1901 Walter and Louis/Lewis are with an uncle in 1901, their mother having just had a baby!!!



1901 England Census

Name:Walter Phillips

Age:8

Estimated Birth Year:abt 1893

Relation to Head:Cousin

Gender:Male

Birth Place:Puddle, Brook

Civil Parish:East Dean

Ecclesiastical parish:East Dean Holy Trinity

County/Island:Gloucestershire

Country:England


Registration district:Westbury on Severn

Sub-registration district:East Dean

ED, institution, or vessel:3


Piece:2419

Folio:37

Page Number:17

Household schedule number:96

Household Members:

George Phillips 26 head, coal hewer
Sarah Ann Phillips 71 mother
Lewis Phillips 13 cousin, b YKS
Walter Phillips 8 cousin


Louis Charles James Phillips registered in Sheffield Dec 1887 9c 596


Phillips Walter Theophilus J Westbury S. Sept 1892 6a 238

Re: Research Brick Wall Advice

Posted: 11 Sep 2014 7:05PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 11 Sep 2014 7:29PM GMT
Hello David,

Just to cover your comment - accuracy. The 1911 Census was the first (I believe) to be completed by the householder themselves. Their reading and writing skills may have been limited, but there is an address on the census form, which could lead somewhere - who else lived there?

They may have had limited spelling and limited information of where they were born, etc., I am not suggesting this is a fact in this case, but merely a thought to be considered.

Good luck
mj7777

This is a p.s. - Mabel could have been in Service/Working in London although she was from a West Country family. The address would be the best start on this as it will give you others living at the time and then you could return to the census under their name/s to see if Mable was with them. The 18 year old nephew could be there on the census night and that is why he would be included - just visiting etc. Another thought that if this was the case, the name Mabel may have been common and so she may have been known at Dot, or any other variuation of her name/s. if you understand my meaning.

Re: Research Brick Wall Advice

Posted: 16 Apr 2015 8:50AM GMT
Classification: Query
A bit late coming to this thread, but I suggest you try the county bmd service:
http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/bmd/

"Marriages" shows James Phillips and Eliza Cowmeadow (Nee Barnard) marrying in 1907.

Also, birth records show father's surname, mother's surname and mother's maiden name.

I generally look for such county services as, where available, they provide better detail (Bath have complete records, for example).

Phil
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