2022 – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 2 - Favorite Find

 This week I’m turning my attention back to what I was going to write about in Week 1, and as the overarching theme for January is still Foundations it is still very much on topic. Hopefully you will allow me the indulgence of the first three paragraphs giving a bit of personal background before I move on to the find itself.

Growing up I had always had a sense of not fully knowing where I belonged. I spent three years from the age of 6 living in first Prague, Czechoslovakia (as it was then, now the Czech Republic) and then The Hague, Netherlands due to my father’s work, during that time we lived in 7 different houses, never knowing exactly when we would be moving again due to the regulations preventing Czech nationals renting out their homes. When we did return to England, a few months before my 10th birthday, it was sadly due to my father, an only child, having terminal cancer. We returned to the Lincolnshire bungalow that his parents had lived in since it was built, the place where he was born an where my paternal Grandma still lived. Sadly, a month after my birthday he passed away. Understandably, my mother, still not 40 and with two young children, crumbled and we were mostly left to fend for ourselves with the help of Grandma (then aged 80) who was also mourning the loss of her only child. Other than my paternal Grandma, who was my rock, I didn’t have any ‘elders’ to really look to, and without dwelling too much on the difficulties, I learnt very soon that I had to fend for myself, and so I always considered myself an outsider.

As for other relatives my paternal Granddad had died when I was 6 months old, my maternal Grandmother passed shortly before I was born, and my maternal Grandfather died when I was aged 7. My paternal Grandma did have a sister, my Great Aunt Ivy (aged 75 when my dad died) but she lived around 20 miles away and no-one in the family drove so we seldom saw her. My mum’s brother and sister, although both lovely, and thankfully still in my life now, were a lot younger than my mum, both lived a long way away, and obviously had lives of their own too. Grandma sadly passed when I was 23 and had never wanted to speak much about family history, I think the grief she felt from losing her husband and then my dad was still very raw with her.

So, against this background, I just tried to ‘get on’ with living my life, as many people do, trying not to think too much about the bigger picture of ‘Who am I? Where do I come from?’ I got married, perhaps in haste, and had my two children, both now adults, and then divorced from their father. Unfortunately, we had to sell the family home, but it as a result of that, that I made my favourite find, and the one that set me off on the voyage of discovery that is genealogy and family history.

When my paternal Grandma passed away, and we had to clear her things I ended up with an old cardboard suitcase in my attic, I only had a quick glance inside and saw a few books and what-nots, but didn’t really have a lot of time to think much more about it then. However, once the house was sold and I was living in my new, rented home with my two kids (then aged 2 and 4) I had a little more time to myself so one evening once they were asleep I turned my attention to the case.

Wow! It was actually so much more than a humble cardboard suitcase; it was a virtual treasure chest of family information that I had previously been unaware of. Firstly, were some certificates, my paternal Granddad’s for passing a St John’s Ambulance course in 1917 when he was still living in Sunderland and working for North Eastern Railway, and another to show he was a Special Constable in 1939, there was also a photograph of him in a football team at Durham University, it felt unreal seeing him as a young man. Also in the case were some old books that had been given as school prizes, but I didn’t recognise any of the recipients’ names, other than the surname of Marshall which was my Grandma’s maiden name.

Then, best of all, was an unimposing looking black book, tattered and missing its spine. At first I thought it was something like a dictionary, but then I ran my fingers over the worn cover and read the words ‘Sold by the British and Foreign Bible Society for use in Sunday Schools Exclusively’ I opened the front cover and found a list of names and dates. I realised it was a family bible, dating back to the time of my 3 x Gt-Grandma, Naomi Wells (1814-1846) and showing the dates and times of each of her 6 children’s births from 1835 to 1844, sadly her passing is also recorded inside the front cover. Turning to the back I then found details of her widowed husband’s second wife, Martha Colton (1829-1867) and all 10 her children with my 3 x Gt-Grandfather Edward Winter (1810-1880) sadly her death is recorded the day following the birth of her last child, a son Peter, who is shown to be ‘In Trouble’, although I can currently find no records within GRO relating to his birth or death. Other than the recognition that Naomi was a family name that had been passed down to the eldest daughter in each generation for as long as my Grandma, also Naomi, was aware, I knew nothing of this branch of the family, and that realisation made me realise just how little I did know about the history of my family on either side. I’ve since found my 4 x Gt-Grandmother was a Naomi too, but not been able to go back to the previous generation to discover whether she was the first.

At the time of the discovery, money was very thin on the ground for me, and the internet was in its infancy, this combined with looking after my two young children I didn’t have much time to do any research, let alone have much of an idea of where I could look anyway. I was very lucky however, that my Great Aunt Ivy was still alive, and despite being in her 90s incredibly lucid, she explained who the family in the bible were and how we were related. She was also able to tell me that the school books belonged to two of her other sisters and one brother, whom I had never met or heard of, but she didn’t tell me much more about them, it seeming just a fact of life to her that they had died young, but obviously in hindsight I can see that it was just that she had lived with that knowledge a long time, and it was nothing new to her. My Great Aunt Ivy actually lived until just a month before her 102nd birthday and I feel very blessed that my children got to meet her many times.

Great Aunt Ivy on her 98th Birthday (still in her own home) with my two children (my private collection)

The bible now sits above my mantelpiece, with an angel on top, on what I call my Ancestor Shelf, which holds photographs of both mine and my husband's departed family members.

This bible then was the very beginning of my genealogy journey; I think (hope!!) that I have come a long way since then. At first I started by mimicking the format of the details recorded there, dates of births and names, and collated a very long list, but a list without true context. It is this lack of life and substance in my records that I am currently working to correct, with the aid of the many resources now available, and the marvellous examples of people such as Natalie Pithers (Curious Descendants Club) and Amy Johnson Crow (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks) and all the other genealogists I am meeting along the way.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 14 – April 5-11 - Check It Out

The prompt for this week immediately made me think about libraries, and my first thoughts flew to my own experiences at the British Embassy in Prague where, as a child, the librarian Squirrel (I have no idea what her actual name was but everyone called her Squirrel) would let me sit beside her on Saturdays and stamp the books out, I think she could sense intuitively how much I loved books even then. I felt so proud of myself rotating the little wheels on the stamp to set it to the correct date and paid particular attention to getting it as straight as I could, happy memories indeed.

British Embasy, Thun Palace, Prague

courtesy of Wikipedia

Whilst it’s lovely reminiscing, and it’s something I don’t do often enough, my own recollections aren’t really what this challenge is about, so after a little more thought I turned my attention to my late father, John Wright’s first wife.  

If you’ve read some of my previous posts you may be aware that my Dad passed away in 1980, aged just 41, when I was 10; and I really only knew snippets about his life before he met my mum in the early 1960s.  I was vaguely aware that he had been married before, but didn’t really know any of the details.  Well, I’ve recently received some more of my late Mum’s paperwork from my step-dad and within that was Dad’s divorce decree.  This gave me the actual dates of both the marriage and the divorce, and in some of my Mum’s written notes I was surprised to find a paragraph or two about Dad’s first marriage.

Now I’m sure you’ll be wondering why the prompt ‘Check it Out’ and my word association jump to libraries brought me to my dad’s wife. 

Dad was born in 1938, and whilst growing up appears to have been an active member of the local Air Cadets, eventually joining the RAF in 1956 aged just 18.   At some point following his basic training he was stationed out in Singapore, and this is where he met his first wife, who was working in the National Library in Singapore.  I shall refer to her as Ying, as that is the name Mum gave her in her notes; it is not the name given on the official paperwork, but I don’t feel it would be correct to include her full name here without the benefit of being able to ask her permission.

National Library of Singapore 1950s

courtesy of National Library Board, Singapore

Despite an age difference of several years, and Ying’s English not being very good, they began courting, and Dad became totally enamoured, asking her on several occasions to marry him. Ying initially refused but when Dad was posted back to England he managed to persuade her, and they had a hastily arranged wedding on 7^th November 1959, before returning to England together.

Unfortunately, it seems that my paternal Grandma was suspicious of Ying’s reasons for marrying Dad and did not greet her with open arms.  Nevertheless, the couple continued their married life in hotel accommodation in Beverley whilst waiting for Dad to be allocated married quarters.  The next blow to their marriage was the death of Ying’s sister, leaving 2 young children, Ying decided to fly back to Singapore to look after them.  I think initially Dad expected her to return to England, but she refused, not wanting to leave her mum to look after the children on her own; and being understandably unhappy at the reception she had received from Dad’s mum, her new mother-in-law.  At some point Dad was granted special leave to fly out to Singapore and try and save the marriage, but to no avail.

I think Dad was then in a bit of a limbo situation, married but not married, and indeed he was still married when he met Mum in 1962 when she joined the WRAF and was stationed at the same base as him, Leconfield.  Initially they were just acquaintances, who shared some of the same social group, but after around a year they began courting.  When Dad realised he had fallen in love with Mum he had to work out how to organise his divorce from Ying, something that was not easy at that point in time, and he actually sought help from his father-in-law to be.  The divorce was finalised on the 2^nd November 1964 and my parents were married shortly afterwards.

Mum & Dad on their Wedding Day

in Mixed Media frame

(writer's own collection)

I must admit that sometimes wonder how things might have turned out, had Grandma been more welcoming, or if Ying’s sister hadn’t passed away when she did; I also wonder whether there is any chance that I have an unknown half-sibling over in Singapore, although I’m certain that Dad would have found out if Ying had had a child.

I hope that she was able to find happiness when she returned to Singapore.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 13 - Mar. 29-Apr. 4 - Sisters

When deciding what to write about for this week’s prompt, I chose to steer clear of examining sibling relationships and instead look a little deeper into the life of my Great-Great Aunt Rose Anna Kerrin (1861-1949).

There are two reasons behind this choice; firstly when I originally added Rose on to my family tree it was early on in my genealogy journey and I was concentrating more on my direct line than on the overall history of my family; and secondly, once my attention shifted to the wider picture I have been able to find out quite a lot of interesting detail about her brother Daniel Kerrin (1859-1941) and nephew Richard Elual Kerrin (1898-1988) and their working relationship within the Anglo-Catholic Church but surprisingly little about Rose’s work with the Franciscan Sisters Of Mill Hill.

As I intend to write Daniel and Richard for a later prompt, Road Trip, I will not say much about them now, instead turning back to Rose.

The first I learnt of Rose was finding her alongside my maternal Great-Grandfather Francis Kerrin on the 18711 and 18812 Scottish Census records, and then once added into my family tree Ancestry.com gave me a suggested record hint of a 1920 US Census3. I checked the record and noted that the year and place of birth were correct for the entry but the name on the record was Mother M Leonard Kerrin, and the role given was both Head and Mother Superior. I carried on to verify that Rose had been naturalised to the US in 19094 and also found some passport application forms5, confirming her parents to be my 2xG Grandparents, but for some reason I was not sufficiently intrigued by her life to look any further at that time. I think it was most likely because I was trying to trace my direct lines and relying on the free trial weekend offers that appear from time to time, but after working through the Curious Descendants 'Reclaim Jane' prompts about forgotten women, I confess to feeling a bit disappointed with myself now, especially as I think she has a fascinating tale to tell.

Rose Anna Kerrin 1861-1949 taken from 1923 US Passport Application

Decision made, I re-examined the existing sources of information I had for my 2xG Aunt, in addition to the three Census records and Naturalisation papers, the passport application which included the above photograph, together with record of her back in England on the 1939 England & Wales Register6.  As I currently have a paid membership to Ancestry.co.uk and some credits for Find My Past I decided to carry out fresh searches and was able to find Rose on some passenger lists travelling from England to the US in both 19197 and 19238 (on the White Star Majestic no less), and a record of Rose’s death on both the English Register9 and a report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad document10. Frustratingly I am still unable to find Rose on any UK Census entries for 1891, 1901 or 1911 or in the US, so despite knowing that she first arrived in the US in 1885 and was naturalised in 1909 I can’t be certain about her movements in between.

 

RMS Majestic aboard which Rose took her 1919 crossing

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Looking back at the 1920 US Census3, I realised that Rose, or now Mother Mary Leonard, was residing as the Head of Saint Elizabeth Home for Colored Children, an Orphanage in Baltimore, Maryland. I have to admit I took an inwards breath at that realisation; despite having learnt about the American Civil War as a child during my time as a student at the American Embassy, Prague; and studying the work of Martin Luther King in order to create an in-depth report as part of my O-level Religious Studies, as a white English woman I cannot claim to have any true understanding of the realities and intricacies of race relations within the United States.

Reading up about the Orphanage I found an interesting academic essay, ‘The Good Work- The Franciscan Sisters of Saint Mary, Mill Hill, and the African American Mission in Baltimore’ by Amy Rosenkranz11 which discusses some of the history behind there being separate schools and churches for African Americans, the belief being that they would be neglected by the priest if they were in a mixed congregation.

The essay states:

‘The origins of Saint Elizabeth's begin with Mary Herbert, an African American Catholic and member of Saint Francis Xavier Church. In 1871, Mrs. Herbert's husband abandoned her and her disabled daughter. In order to support herself and her child, she began caring for the children of working friends and neighbors. The nursery located in her home, quickly developed into an orphanage when some of those parents failed to return for their children. Eventually, with more than thirty children in her care, she turned to Father John Slattery for help. While Slattery praised her work, his church was impoverished and he could not give her any financial assistance. He did, however, give her permission to go door-to-door asking for financial help. With that permission, Herbert approached Josephine Etting, a member of a prominent local Jewish family, for assistance.’

Mrs Etting’s help led to a building being acquired to house the Orphanage. Over time disagreements developed between Father John Slattery and Mary Herbert, and the Father resigned his post as spiritual director, necessitating another religious order having to take over that role. This led to the recently formed Franciscan Sisters Of Mill Hill being invited to oversee the role; and four sisters, Sisters Winifred Phillips (Superior), Rose Mitchell, Teresa Bartram, and Augustine Royston (lay sister) travelled to Baltimore in December 1881, just four years before Rose.

It appears from reading the history of the Sisters of Francis12, that the Orphanage continued to grow, moving in 1889 to the Hiss Mansion, Maryland Avenue in Baltimore; and when that property was sadly hit by fire in 1914 it resulted in almost 300 children being displaced and homed in alternative accommodation until the replacement building was finished in 1917.  I realised that this time period is whilst Rose would have been the Superintendent at the Home, and wondered what her feelings were at the time, there would surely have been a great deal of extra work to be carried out.  The new St Elizabeth was located at 3725 Ellersie Avenue, and continued as an orphanage until 1960, at which point it became a school for children with special needs and a residential high school.  Reading through some of the former resident’s memories from the 100 year celebratory mass13, it seems that the home was a happy place and despite the constraints of the segregation system which were out of their hands it appears the Nuns themselves did all in their power to provide the utmost care to the children.

 

Hiss Mansion, Baltimore

Courtesy of Women's Housing Coalition

St Elzabeth, Ellerslie Avenue, Baltimore

Courtesy of Catholic Review

In writing this, I realise I still have more to learn about Rose, or Mother Mary Leonard as she became known, I want to understand more of her early experiences within the order, what led her to go overseas and what experiences she had whilst at the Orphanage in Baltimore; I also wonder about her return to England after being Nationalised as an American citizen.  Having been able to get in touch with the Sisters of Mill Hill who have confirmed knowledge of Rose, I am now waiting to see what other information they are able to provide to me.

I hope to be able to write a follow up piece in due course as and when I learn more

 1. Roxanna Kerrins (1871) Scotland Censu, Parish: Glasgow Barony, ED 105, Page 10, Line 24, Roll CSSCT1871_127 Available at www.ancestry.co.uk accessed 01/07/2020

2. Rose Anne Kerrin (1881) Scotland Census, Parish: Glasgow Barony, ED 95, Page 1, Line 9, Roll CSSCT1881_248 Available at www.ancestry.co.uk accessed 01/07/2020

3. M Leonard Kerrin (1920) United States Federal Census, Census Place: Baltimore Ward 9, Baltimore, Maryland, Roll T625_662, Page 20A, Enumeration District 141 Available at www.ancestry.co.uk accessed 01/07/2020

4. Rose Anna Kerrin (1909) US Naturalization Records Indexes 1794-1995, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Washington DC; Indexes to Naturalization petitions to the US Circuit and District Courts for Maryland, 1791 -1951, Microfilm Serial M1168, Microfilm Roll 9 Available at www.ancestry.co.uk accessed 01/07/2020

5. Rose Anna Kerrin (1919 & 1923) US Passport Applications 1795-1925, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Washington DC, Roll #810, Volume #Roll 0810 - Certificates 91000-91249, 24 June 1919-25 June 1919 and Roll #2192, Volume # Roll2192 - Certificates 253350-253849, 06 Mar 1923-07 Mar 1923 Available at www.ancestry.co.uk accessed 03/07/2020

 6. Rose Anna Kerrin (1939) England & Wales Register, The National Archives, Kew, Reference RG 101/832F Available at www.ancestry.co.uk accessed 03/07/2020

7.  Rose Anna Kerrin (1919) New York Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island) 1820-1957, Year 1919, Arrival New York, New York, Microfilm Serial: T715, 189-1957, Microfilm Roll 2685; Line 15; Page Number 288 Available at www.ancestry.co.uk accessed 29/03/2022

8. Rose Anna Kerrin (1923) New York Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island) 1820-1957, Year 1923, Arrival New York, New York, USA Microfilm Serial T715, 1897-1957, Line 13, Page Number 43 Available at www.ancestry.co.uk accessed 29/03/2022

9. Rose Anna Kerrin (1949) England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1916-2007, General Register Office, United Kingdon, Volume 5e, Page 665 Available at www.ancestry.co.uk accessed 29/03/2022

10. Rose Anna Kerrin (1949) Reports of Death of American Citizens Abroad 1835-1974, National Archives at College Park, College Park Maryland, USA; NAI Number 302021; Record Group Title: General Records of the Department of State;Record Group Number: Record Group 59; Series Number: Publication A1 205; Box Number: 952 Available at www.ancestry.co.uk accessed 29/03/2022

11. Amy Rosenkrans (2017) The Good Work - The Francisan Sisters of Saint Mary, Mill Hill, and the African American Mission in Baltimore Available  at https://www.academia.edu/32325366/The_Good_Work_The_Franciscan_Sisters_of_Saint_Mary_Mill_HIll_and_the_African_American_Mission_in_Baltimore_pdf accessed 30/03/2022

12.  Sisters of Francis of Assisi (2022) History: Franciscan Sisters of Baltimore Available at https://www.lakeosfs.org/who-we-are/history/  accessed 30/03/2022

13. Catholic Review (2017) Ellerslie Avenue building has been a center of ministry for 100 years Available at      

https://catholicreview.org/ellerslie-avenue-building-center-ministry-100-years/ accessed 30/03/2022

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 12 – March 22-28 – Joined Together

Co-incidentally the theme for this week, Joined Together, is also the explanation behind why I have been missing in action for the last few weeks of this challenge, my son’s wedding.

The wedding was just over 2 weeks ago; however due to my health issues, I find that I must allow extra time on the lead up to such events and afterwards to try and minimise the way that they affect me, so I decided to put this challenge on hold for a while, although I do hope to return to the missing prompts if/when time allows, especially those of Maps and Worship.

On the lead up to the wedding I was struggling for gift choices and decided I wanted to mark the official joining of both families in some way, initially I thought of creating and printing out a family tree chart, but I couldn’t quite decide on one that I really like. In a flash of inspiration (or stupidity!) I decided to dig out some of my old unused cross-stitch equipment and create one myself from scratch. Doing so allowed for the inclusion of some step-parents who were particularly instrumental in each family’s journey, and which would possibly have been difficult to do otherwise.

The begininning of the project - first few stitiches

(own collection)

The act of sitting and stitching whilst reflecting on both my son’s ancestors and my (now) daughter-in-law’s was for me a different but meaningful way to connect to those who have gone before, I found myself thinking about my late parents and grandparents; grateful that I was finally unravelling (maybe not the best choice of words whilst sewing!) more details about their lives; and also wondering about the people on the other side of the tree, what life experiences had they had, and how they may have been shaped by them, but they will be for future research projects, if and when I ever finish researching my own tree.

The completed Family Tree

(own collection)

I wondered how many of the females, whose names I was stitching, and those further back, would have sewn samplers of their own, and how they would have judged my creation, and this reminded me of a firescreen table I inherited from my mother.

The table was created by my Great-Grandfather James Griffith Waldby Duggleby (1878-1960) and the beautiful crewelwork was sewn by my Great-Grandmother Sarah (née Ransom (1877-1960)). Whilst I believe these screens were very popular in the early 1900s and not highly valued today, to me mine is priceless and a tangible link to two people I never had the privilege of meeting. Sadly as you will see from the photograph there is some water damage to the cloth which was there when it came into my possession; I am in contact with restorers about the best way to remedy this, so that I can bring it back to its original glory.

Firescreen Table - created by James G W Duggleby & Sarah Ransom

(own collection)

My mother always said her Grandparents were very much in love throughout their 59 year long marriage; then in 1960 first James and then within just a few weeks Sarah passed away, the family legend is that Sarah died of a broken heart.

Perhaps then Love is truly the thread that joins us all together ........

The Remarkable Markham Marshall - Reclaim Jane Part 2

Following on from my last post for the Reclaim Jane Challenge, writing about my 2 x Gt-grandmother, Jane; I found myself drawn to learning more about her first-born, Markham Ladley/Marshall (1847-1932). Until joining the Curious Descendants Club, I had mostly been interested in following my direct line back as far as I was able, without giving much consideration to the real lives and relationships of my ancestors, but that is no longer the case.

I have found that I am actually connected to Markham and Charlotte’s family twice over; Markham, my great-uncle (via my 2x great-grandmother) married Charlotte Brader at Hemingby in 18701, below is a transcript from the Banns being read2. Charlotte’s elder brother Thomas Brader (1842-1932) was my 2x great-grandfather, already married to Naomi Winter (1838-1867)3, and father to my great-grandmother Naomi Wells Brader (1865-1921)4 who later married Markham’s younger brother, my great-grandfather John Marshall (1867-1954)5.

Banns for the Marriage of Markham Marshall & Charlotte Bradervia Hemingby.net - transcribed by John Marwood

Realising how interconnected the families were, and that the cousins would have grown up within 20 miles of each other, I found myself wanting to learn more about Markham, Charlotte, their children, and the lives they will have led.

Whilst researching Jane's story I had found some intriguing newspaper articles from July 1923 relating to prizes Markham won at the Lincolnshire County Show, one for length of service (54 years)6 and one for the number of children he had raised (12)7.

Extract from Boston Guardian July 1923 - courtesy of British Newspaper Archives

Extract from Cornish Post & Mining News July 1923 - courtesy of British Newspaper Archives

Had I decided to leave my research there, I would have moved on from Markham and his wife Charlotte believing that they had simply been remarkable parents for the time, succeeding in raising a large family and somehow managing to avoid the sorrows and losses of other families around them. However, as my attention has now shifted to wanting to understand more about my ancestors’ personal history, I continued my research.

Whilst looking through the British Newspaper Archives I also found a Death Notice for Charlotte, in August of 19238, the month following the County show; it must have been a bittersweet time for him, initially pride in the life he and Charlotte had created together and then such sorrow when she passed away.

"MARSHALL - At Revesby, July 20th, 1923.

Charlotte, the dearly beloved wife of Markham Marshall, aged 72 years.

The Husband and Family wish to thank all friends and neighbours for kindness and sympathy shown to them in their sad bereavement and for flowers sent."

Transcription from Skegness Standard, 1st August 1923

Turning to the 1911 Census9, I noted that despite the award for having raised 12 children, and placed out 11, in the section regarding children born to their marriage, it recorded that 4 out of their 12 children had died; additionally, I discovered that one of Markham and Charlotte’s sons, John, had died during WW110; their lives had obviously not been sorrow-free after all. I felt a little deflated at that discovery, my remarkable Markham, whilst undoubtfully having exceeded the potential that his illegitimate birth might have given him, had not lived a life untouched by sadness, and alongside Charlotte, had experienced the loss of children after all.

John Marshal 1887 - 1917 courtesy of Imperial War Museums

Finding out details of John’s death in 1917 was relatively straightforward; the initial report I had seen had been via a short memorial by the Imperial War Museum and a report on A Street Near You, that listed John Marshall (1887-1917)11 and 12 as the son of Markham Marshall, had he been married, I may not have made the connection. The report also listed which regiment he had served with, The Lincolnshire Regiment, and I then turned to Forces War Records to search for more details. I discovered that he had been injured in 191413, and then following his return to duty was first reported missing before being confirmed as Killed in Action on 28th April 191714.

Whilst being both sad and fascinating, this discovery has again highlighted how easily our less remarkable ancestors can slip into the voids of history, and the reason that Natalie’s ‘Reclaim Jane’ challenge is so important in terms of gaining a true understanding of the lives of the ‘ordinary’ members of our family trees.

"Make the Ordinary Come Alive" poem by William Martin

Surely the other Marshall children who had died in early adulthood were no less important to their family and yet it was nowhere near as easy to discover what had happened to them; I had to trawl through the various census records to see when they disappeared, cross-checking that against parish burials, FreeBMD.org and GRO.gov records. Even then, limited financial resources with which to purchase certificates mean we sometimes need to take a leap of faith to decide whether those death records are truly those of our ancestors, especially when they have common names.

I have so far unable to find any records for two of the children Harry Marshall (b1882) and Naomi Marshall (b1884) so cannot ascertain anything about their lives once they had left the family home. Of their siblings though I have found three young deaths:

Charlotte’s first born, Eliza (b1868) married a William Goodwin (1853-1898) in 188615, giving birth to a son, Ernest Edward Goodwin in 188716; sadly she passed away aged 20 the following year 188817, and Ernest died as an infant a year later18. I would like to know more of her short life, how she met her husband some 15 years older than her, whether her death was related to post-natal health or another illness, and how and why her young son Ernest died so shortly afterwards.

Another daughter, Mary Jane Marshall (b1873) was in service as a General Domestic Servant at Revesby Manor House in 189119, but sadly died in 189320 shortly before her 20th birthday.

Edith Marshall (b1880) sadly passed away aged 1121, and must be the one child whom Markham is shown not to have ‘placed’ into service.

Each of the sisters, Eliza, Mary Jane and Edith will have had an impact, not only on their families, but on the lives of those around them, and yet this is something the records do not usually show us. Obviously we should recognise those who have given their lives on the stage of war, such as their brother John (this feeling especially poignant today as I write this on the day that Russia have invaded the Ukraine) but surely this should not be at the cost of the memory of the many ordinary people who have lived and loved alongside them?

References

1. Markham Marshall and Charlotte Brader (1870) Enlgand Select Marriages 1538-1973 via Ancestry.com accessed 15/06/2021

2. Hemingby.net (2022) Register of the Banns of Marriage, Published in the Parish of Hemingby in the County of Lincoln 1825/1910, Transcribed by John Marwood for Hemingby PCC. Entry 141 Page 29 of 49 Available at https://hemingby.net/hemingby-banns-of-marriage-1825-to-1910/ accessed 15/02/2022

3. Thomas Brader and Naomi Winters (1864) Enlgand Select Marriages 1538-1973 via Ancestry.com accessed 15/06/2021

4. Naomi Wells Brader (1865) England and Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915, Horncastle Registration District Vol 7a Page 496 Via Ancestry.com accessed on 15/06/2021

5. Naomi Wells Brader (1890) England and Wales Civil Registration Marriage Index 1837-1915, Horncastle Registration District Vol 7a Page 639 Via Ancestry.com accessed on 15/06/2021

6. Boston Guardian (1923) Long Service Records Saturday 28th July 1923 Available at British Newspaper Archives https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001888/19230728/022/0002 accessed 14/02/2022

7. Cornish Post and Mining News (1923) Farm and Garden, Prizes for Big Families, Saturday 28th July 1923, Available at British Newspaper Archives https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004039/19230728/032/0002 accessed 14/02/2022

8. Skegness Standard (1923) Deaths, Wednesday 1st August 1923 Available at British Newspaper Archives https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001935/19230801/148/0008 accessed 14/02/2022

9. Markham Marshall (1911) Census return for Wilksby and Revesby, Revesby Boston, Registration District 419, Sub-registration District Tattershall, Class RG14, Piece 19813, Via Ancestry.com accessed 14/02/2022

10. John Marshall (1917) UK Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919, via Ancestry.com accessed 14/02/2022

11. Imperial War Museum (2021) Lives of the First World War, We Remember John Marshall, available at https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2933044#remember accessed 16/02/2022

12. A Street Near You (2021) Lance Corporal John Marshall, available at https://astreetnearyou.org/person/780469/Lance-Corporal-John-Marshall 11.15 accessed 16/027/2022

13. War Office (1914) British Army daily reports (report dated 18/11/1917) Available at https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/13535305/private-j-marshall-british-army-lincolnshire-regiment/ accessed 16/02/2022

14. War Office (1917) British Army daily reports (report dated 28/04/1917) Available at https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/1725774/lance-corporal-john-marshall-british-army-lincolnshire-regiment/ accessed 16/02/2022

15. Eliza Brader (1886) England and Wales Civil Registration Marriage Index 1837-1915, Horncastle Registration District Vol 7a Page 1143 Via Ancestry.com accessed on 16/02/2022

16. Ernest Edward Goodwin (1887) England and Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915, Spilsby Registration District Vol 7a Page 559 Via Ancestry.com accessed on 16/02/2022

17. Eliza Goodwin (1888) England and Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1837-1915, Spilsby Registration District Vol 7a Page 325 Via Ancestry.com accessed on 16/02/2022

18. Ernest Edward Goodwin (1889) England and Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1837-1915, Spilsby Registration District Vol 7a Page 365 Via Ancestry.com accessed on 16/02/2022

19. Mary Jane Marshall (1891) Census return for Revesby, Revesby Boston, Registration District Horncastle, Sub-registration District Tattershall, Class RG14, Piece 2600, Folio 69, Via Ancestry.com accessed 14/02/2022

20. Mary Jane Marshall (1893) England and Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1837-1915, Horncastle Registration District Vol 7a Page 371 Via Ancestry.com accessed on 16/02/2022

21. Edith Marshall (1891) England and Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1837-1915, Horncastle Registration District Vol 7a Page 321 Via Ancestry.com accessed on 16/02/2022

Reclaim Jane - Writing Challenge

I’ve just taken part in the #ReclaimJane writing project devised by the wonderful Natalie Pithers, who is also the brains behind the Curious Descendants Club.  The aim of the project is to encourage people to give voice to their forgotten ancestors, often but not always women, people who may have only shown up fleetingly in the records but who lived very real lives.

I decided to turn my attention to my 2 x Great-grandmother Jane Ladley (1828-1899), which  curiously was also the name of my much loved late mother-in-law, and it felt like she was calling to me across the generations.  I knew there would not be a blood connection to my ex-husband’s, and therefore my children’s family, as this was his mother’s second marriage but nonetheless I was curious to see how the families connected.

What follows is a longer post than my usual ones, if you want to skip past my research process then feel free to jump ahead to Jane's story at the end of the post.

Royalty free signpost image via pxfuel.com

Jane’s parents were George Ladley (1788-1868) and Ann Markham (1785-1873)1. From the records I can find George and Ann married at Horncastle on 2^nd June 1812, and had 7 children: Eliza (1813-?)2 born in Horncastle; Sarah (1815-1829)3 born in Winceby; then Mary Ann (1817)4 who was born Greetham, followed by George (1818)5, Anne (1820)6, Thomas (1823)7, and Jane (1829)8 who were all born in West Ashby.  There may well have been other children, however as this was prior to the implementation of Civil Registrations in 1837, I am reliant on what baptism records I can find.  There is also the additional problem with the various spellings of the surname Ladley.  On first look you may think it is quite a straightforward name, however, as my own children would attest it can so easily be mistranscribed as Laidlow, Hadley, Padley etc and indeed George and Ann’s marriage is under the name Ladlow and their first appearance on the Census records (1841)9 is recorded under the name of Padley although on looking at the image itself I can clearly see it is Ladley.

There is a lot of written history about the turmoils within agriculture during the 19^th Century, and I won’t dwell too deeply on it as part of this blog post, but I do need to bear it in mind when trying to picture the daily lives of my ancestors, the upheavals and uncertainty faced by the introduction of new machinery and new farming practices

In the 1830s there was much disorder amongst the workforce, the following is an extract of a letter dated 1831 and sent to Joseph Stevens of Baumber, Horncastle (less than 5 miles from where my ancestors were based):

Steveson, you may think it a great favour that we write before we fire. If you have a machine in your yard, we will set fire to the stacks the first opportunity, and we can do it if you stand by; and you and all the farmers must give better wages to the labourers, or we will fire; and if fire will not do we will dredge poison on your turnip shells. You may warn all the farmers.

 Penalties were harsh too, for example a young 15-year-old servant, Priscilla Woodford, was found guilty of setting fire to a haystack in another area of Lincolnshire in 1832, and was transported for life.10  

Certainly, times were tough but agriculture remained the principal employment for Lincolnshire up to the 1850s and beyond.  Even now, living in the county, I am surrounded by fields, with both livestock and agricultural uses, although more of them are getting turned over to recreational uses such as for keeping horses.

Returning to the 1841 Census 9, George is recorded as an Agricultural Labourer, living with his wife Ann, daughter Jane and two others: Samuel and Ann Barton, Samuel also being recorded as an Agricultural Labourer.  I have noted that on some other Ancestry.com trees people have recorded Samuel as being the son-in-law to George with Ann Barton being their daughter Anne (born 1820)6; as there is a marriage record for an Ann Ladlow and Samuel Barton recorded in Louth in 184011 this would seem a reasonable suggestion, especially as there are no other shared households on that particular Census entry.

By 185112 the Bartons have moved to Fulletby, around 3 miles away and have 6 children: Sarah aged 19; Francis aged 8; John aged 6; Henry aged 4; Elizabeth listed as 13 but having found a baptism record13, I believe she was 3; and Mary A aged 9 months old.

This leaves Jane living with George and Ann, on the 1851 Census14 still at West Ashby but now with an additional family member Markham Ladley aged 3.  He is listed on the Census as being George and Ann’s grandson and I initially jumped to the conclusion that he was therefore Jane’s son; this is where my rabbit hole and Jane’s story truly begins….

When I was originally researching this side of the family I had tried in vain to find a birth record for Markham Ladley, on both Ancestry.com and FreeBMD.org despite his birth occurring after Civil Registrations began.  Picking my research back up again as part of this challenge I had now learnt of additional places to search; GRO.gov sadly still turned up a blank but on Find My Past I was able to find a Baptism entry for Markham15.  Dated 17 Dec 1847, the entry records Markham as the illegitimate son of Ann Ladley, Single Woman from West Ashby, his actual birth date is not listed.

This obviously gave me some questions!

Within the Ladley family there were 2 Ann(e)s and one Mary Ann; was one of these actually the mother? Well Ann Markham, Jane’s mother was already 62 and surely if she had put her name to the Baptism record for the sake of decency she would have been recorded as a married woman? I have ruled out Jane’s eldest two sisters as although I found it difficult to trace her eldest sister Eliza, I think I have her in Boston as a servant in 184116, and Sarah sadly passed away in 182917.  Turning to her other sisters, Ann would have been aged around 27, but appears to have already been married and with children of her own; one being born in May 184812; so I feel I can rule her out also.  That would leave Jane’s other sister Mary Ann, who would have been aged around 30 when Markham was born; the few records I can find for Mary Ann though suggest that she was married to a William Anderson in 183518, and by the 1841 Census19 was living with him and 2 children, a daughter, Mary aged 3 and a son, William aged 2, still in West Ashby; at the time of the 1851 Census20, I found William recorded as a Widower with one further child, a son, Robert aged 8, and digging a little further I found a burial record for Mary Ann Anderson dated 184321.

I felt I had now ruled out either of the Ann(e)s and Mary Ann from being Markham’s mother, which brought me back full circle to Jane.

West Ashby itself was a relatively small rural community; in 1841 there were 403 residents listed in the Census rising only slightly to 414 in 185122.  Within such a small neighbourhood I don’t believe that Jane could have concealed her pregnancy and son’s subsequent birth so was struggling to understand why she had given a different name when baptising her son.  Then whilst typing all of this up, I had a brain wave, something so obvious I can’t believe I overlooked it.  Jane will only have been aged around 19 when she gave birth to her son, and despite having lived a hard life, she was quite possibly overwhelmed when arranging to things such as the baptism, perhaps her mother actually dealt with a lot of this for her.  Was the name Ann being recorded as mother simply a mis-understanding? Presumably unable to read in 1847, had Jane thought the question ‘Mother’s name’ related to her mother, rather than her name as Markham’s mother?

I believe that in this case, the simplest explanation is indeed the correct one, but I don’t begrudge being side-tracked into checking.  One of the most important things when establishing our family history is to make sure that our records are as accurate as possible.  Without my exploring who Markham’s mother actually was, I most likely would not have discovered Jane’s sisters or persevered with exploring their lives, or at least not for some years to come.

And so I return to Jane, in 1851, a young unmarried mother living with her son and her parents.  What next for them? 

The following is a piece of creative non-fiction I have written using the available facts, including Parish records, Census returns, and General Registration details; it is written from the perspective of Jane in the final years of her life, looking back over how her life developed.

As Jane pulled the shawl tighter around her shoulders, and leant closer into the fire, she let her eyes flit across to the window, seeing all the snow outside her mind drifted back to a bitterly cold December day, over 40 years ago.

It was 1847; Jane had had to pull her shawl especially tight that day too, trying to keep both her and her young son warm, as she shuffled along the edge of the field trying to keep up with her mother who was striding out ahead of her.  She was grateful when the crunch of the crisp snow underfoot gave way to the crunch of the gravel, so that the cold was no longer seeping up through her well-worn boots, and she could feel herself slowing as they neared the church doorway, willing her feet to warm up.

‘Come along Jane,’ her mother urged her, ‘the Reverend will be waiting for us. Try and at least look grateful. ‘

Jane felt the bite in that remark, but knew this was true, Reverend Pierce had agreed with her mother and father at the Advent service a few weeks ago, that he would do the Baptism today, Friday 17^th December.  There would not be many there of course, she doubted if her father and brother Thomas would have been able to get away from the farm, Ann was busy with her own youngsters over in Fulletby, and as for her brother George he was very clear in his disapproval, even though she knew his wife Hannah had taken pity on her.

‘Pity,’ she thought disparagingly, ‘what else is there for me now?’ It was quite clear that many of the village folk thought she had brought this on herself, and it’s not as if she didn’t understand the way of the world, she had grown up around the Lincolnshire Longwools, watching when the tups got brought into the field. The young man in question had moved away, unaware of her condition. He and many other labourers had worked in the area a short time, moving on when the Mop Fair came Horncastle that May.

As she left the Church following the short service, Jane actually felt a little lighter. Markham had been very good, only giving one short squeal when the cold water from the stone font had been splashed on his forehead, but then turning back to silence as Rev Pierce traced out a cross there. Even Mrs Pierce, who was purportedly there to do the church flowers even though Jane knew she was really being nosey, had smiled at Markham and called him a bonny baby. She had been pleased to see Thomas there, with his young lady Mary-Ann, they were to be married next year, and would soon be thinking about children of their own.

She knew was lucky that her parents hadn’t put her out, she could not begin to contemplate what going on the Parish would mean for her and her young son. It worked both ways she realised, her mother wasn’t getting any younger of course, and relied quite heavily on Jane these days to help with the household duties, especially the washing; and they had all felt a terrible loss to the family when Mary Ann had passed away just a few years earlier and her widower William had moved to the next village with the children to be nearer his sister.

A loud crack from the fire brought Jane back to her Baumber sitting room; ‘Thomas will be home soon,’ she realised, rising to put more wood on the fire, and swing the kettle across.  She allowed wry smile crossed her face, ‘Thomas, her second husband.’ What a different life she had had from the one she’d envisioned leaving the church, all those years ago. 

The first two years with Markham had been especially hard, but then she had met Charles, a simple farm worker like her father and brothers, he had moved to West Ashby to work at the farm and they started walking home after church together, Markham now a toddler delighted in picking up twigs to show him and Charles would pick him up and point out birds in the hedgerow; they were wed in the Spring of 185123 and Markham took Charles’ name, Marshall. 

Absent-mindedly Jane started to prepare the evening meal, ready for when Thomas came in from the yard, and as she pottered around getting the plates out and buttering the bread, she allowed her mind to wander again.

1870, another marriage and another 3 year old guest at their mother’s wedding.  ‘Ah yes,’ she smiled inwardly, ‘sweet Liza.’

Markham had grown into a fine young man and started stepping out with a pretty young carpenter’s daughter, Charlotte Brader who lived in Hemingby near his uncle.  She already had a young daughter, Liza, but having been in the same position herself Jane was unconcerned and allowed the relationship to flourish.  They were married in May 187024 by Reverend Thackeray, before moving to Revesby where Markham had already secured a position.  They had had quite the gathering at the Coach and Horses, she recalled, unlike her own nearly 20 years previously; her youngest two sons Edward and John being around the same age, played happily with little Liza making daisy chains on the green.  They had had a good marriage, after Liza there were 10 more children, and Charlotte was heavy with another even now, and Markham retained his job on the estate at Revesby, it paid him well and gave him a much better living than her poor Charles had had.

‘Yes, poor Charles,’ she thought, he had been a good man.  She still missed him now, despite having re-married Thomas25, himself a widower some 5 years earlier. 

Extract from my TreeView family tree

 

Charles had died in 187526, leaving her with 3 young children aged 11 and under, but a strong woman and never one to shirk her duties she had carried on; and their son, George, by then 14 already working had become the man of the house bringing home his wages as his father before him had.  Time moved on and the children grew older, by 188127 George and Edward had both moved to Sotby near Market Rasen for work and their sister Elizabeth28 had followed them, working as Cook at the Rectory there, young John first moved to Horncastle29 where he had some fancy of becoming a confectioner! ‘That didn’t last long!’ she recalled as he moved again soon afterwards to become a groom30, certainly the outside life suited him much better.

Jane stirred the stew, releasing its aroma to the small room, before setting the lid back on the pot and wiping her gnarled hands on her apron.  She had done well she smiled to herself, remembering again the timid 19 year old scuttling into West Ashby church behind her mother all those years ago.  And now she had Thomas and his companionship with frequent visits from children accompanied by various grandchildren to fill her days.  It had been a hard life, but one well lived. 

All Saints Church, West Ashby

via en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Ashby

 

Jane passed away in 189931 the 189132 Census shows her living with Thomas, with his daughter, and her daughter in law recorded as visiting together with 2 young grandchildren. She was right that her son Markham had turned into a fine young man, and her belief that the job at Revesby had been a good choice.  In July1923, at the Lincolnshire County Show, Markham was awarded a prize for his long service, 54 years working for the same family; Markham also came second in the category for agricultural labourers who had brought up and placed out the greatest number of children, with 12 children born, 11 brought up and placed out. (The winner in that class had 17 children born, 14 brought up and 13 placed out). These achievements were shared widely in the press of the time, both national and local papers reaching as far afield as Cornwall shared articles about the County Show and awards33,34.  Sadly Markham's wife Charlotte also passed away in July 192335 and so I am sure his achievements will not have held much meaning for him at that time, save to mark their long and successful relationship.

I have not still fully connected these Ladleys with my own extended family, but from the information I have found so far I believe that George Ladley (1788-1868) is a distant cousin to my ex-Father-in-Law's family.

1.       George Ladlow and Ann Markham, (1812) England Select Marriages 1538-1973, 2^nd Jun 1812, FHL Film Number 504249 via Ancestry.com accessed 15/06/2021

2.       Eliza Ladly (1813) England Select Births and Christenings 1538-1975, 16^th May 1813, Father Geroge Ladly Mother Ann FHL Film Number 507835, via Ancestry.com accessed 10/02/2022

3.       Sarah Ladlow (1815) England Select Births and Christenings 1538-1975, 07 May 1815, Father George Ladlow Mother Anne, FHL Film Number 508073,508092, via Ancestry.com accessed 10/02/2022

4.       Mary Ann Ladley (1817) England Select Births and Christenings 1538-1975, 23^rd Mar 1817, Father George Ladley, Mother Ann, FHL Film Number 432513, via Ancestry.com accessed 10/02/2022

5.       Geroge Ladley (1818) England Select Births and Christenings 1538-1975, 11^th Dec 1818, Father George Ladley, Mother Anne, FHL Film Number 421896, via Ancestry.com accessed 10/02/2022

6.       Anne Ladley (1820) England Select Births and Christenings 1538-1975, 20^th Oct 1820, Father George Ladley, Mother Anne, FHL Film Number 1541956 Ref ID p.10, via Ancestry.com accessed 10/02/2022

7.       Thomas Ladley (1823) England Select Births and Christenings 1538-1975, 18^th Sep 1823, Father George Ladley, Mother Anne, FHL Film Number 1541956 Ref ID p.14, via Ancestry.com accessed 10/02/2022

8.       Jane Ladley (1828) England Select Births and Christenings 1538-1975, 25^th Apr 1828, Father George Ladley, Mother Ann, FHL Film Number 421896, via Ancestry.com accessed 15/06/2021

9.       George Padley (Ladley) (1841) Census return for West Ashby, Lincolnshire, Enumeration district 12, Folio 8, Page 9 Line 2, GSU Roll 438760, via Ancestry.com accessed 15/06/2021

10.   Wilcuma (2020) X Agriculture and Society 1750-1850,  available at  https://www.wilcuma.org.uk/the-history-of-lincolnshire-after-1066-2/agriculture-and-society-1750-1850/ accessed 08/02/2022

11.   Ann Ladlow (1840) England & Wales Civil Registration Marriage Index 183-1915, Oct-Nov-Dec 1840, Ann Ladlow and Samuel Barton, Louth, Lincolnshire Volume 14 Page 892

12.   Samuel Barton (1851) Census return for Fulletby, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, Class HO107, Piece 2108, Folio 62, GSU roll 87737, via Ancestry.com accessed 08/02/2022

13.   Elizabeth Barton (1848) England & Wales Non-conformist and Non-Parochial Registers 1567-1936, 18^th Jun 1848 Father Samuel Barton Mother Ann Barton, Class Number RG4, Piece Number 1316, via Ancestry.com accessed 10/02/2022

14.   Jane Ladley (1851) Census return for West Ashby, Lincolnshire, Class HO107, Piece 2107, Folio 415, Page 9, GSU roll 87736, via Ancestry.com accessed 15/06/2021

15.   Markham Ladley (1847) Parish Baptisms, Lincolnshire Baptisms, West Ashby, 17 Dec 1847, Page 48, Archive held Lincolnshire Archives, via findmypast.co.uk accessed 09/02/2022

16.   Eliza Ladlow (Ladley) (1841) Census return for Boston, Lincolnshire, Class HO107, Piece 613, Book 1, Folio 14, Page 21, Line 20, GSU roll 438755, via Ancestry.com accessed 10/02/2022

17.   Sarah Ladley (1829) England Select Deaths and Burials 1538-1991, Burial Date 1 Dec 1829, Father George Ladley Mother Ann, FHL Film Number 1541956, Ref ID P.9, via Ancestry.com accessed 10/02/2022

18.   Mary Ann Ladley and William Anderson (1835) England Select Marriages 1538-1973, 18^th May 1835, West Ashby, Lincolnshire, FHL Film Number 1541956 Ref P18, via Ancestry.com accessed 10/02/2022

19.   Mary Ann Anderson (1841) Census return for West Ashby, Lincolnshire, Class HO107, Piece 626, Book 22, Folio 10, Page 15, Line 2, GSU roll 438760

20.   William Anderson (1851) Census return for West Ashby, Lincolnshire, Class HO107, Piece 2107, Folio 419, Page17, GSU roll 87736, via Ancestry.com accessed 10/02/2022

21.   Mary Ann Anderson (1843) England Deaths and Burials 1538-1991, Parish Burials, Lincolnshire, 31^st May 1843, via findmypast.co.uk accessed 10/02/2022

22.   Genuki (2021) West Ashby, available at https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LIN/WestAshby) accessed 10/02/2022

23.   Jane Ladley (1851) Census return for West Ashby, Lincolnshire, Class HO107, Piece 2107, Folio 415, Page 9, GSU roll 87736, via Ancestry.com accessed 15/06/2021

24.   Markham Marshall and Charlotte Brader (1870) England Select Marriages 1538-1973, Hemingby, Lincolnshire, Father Charles Marshall, FHL Film Number 1541961, Ref ID 2:3V4KM14, via Ancestry.com accessed 15/06/2021

25.   Jane Marshall (1884) England & Wales Civil Registration Marriage Index 1837-1915, Jul-Aug-Sep Horncastle, Volume 7a, Page 805, via Ancestry.com accessed 15/06/2021

26.   Charles Marshall (1875) Lincolnshire Burials, Parish Burials, 26^th Jul 1875, via findmypast.co.uk accessed 10/02/2022

27.   George Marshall (1881) Census return for Sotby, Lincolnshire, Class RG11, Piece 3247, Folio 86, Page 1, GSU roll 1347741 via Ancestry.com accessed 10/02/2022

28.   Elizabeth Marshall (1881) Census return for Sotby, Lincolnshire, Class RG11, Piece 3247, Folio 87, Page 4, GSU roll 1341774 via Ancestry.com accessed 10/02/2022

29.   John Marshall (1881) Census return for Horncastle, Lincolnshire, Class RG11, Piece 3248, Folio 43, Page 11, GSU roll 1341774 via Ancestry.com accessed 15/06/2021

30.   John Marshall (1891) Census return for Bourn, Lincolnshire, ClassRG12, Piece 2557, Folio 75, Page 18, GSU roll 6097667 via Ancestry.com accessed 15/06/2021

31.   Jane Curtis (1899) England Select Deaths and Burials 1538-1991, Burial date 22 Aug 1899, Baumber, Lincolnshire FHL Film Number 1541957, via Ancestry.com accessed 15/06/2021

32.   Jame (Jane) Curtis (1891) Census return for Baumber, Lincolnshire Class RG12, Piece 2597, Folio 107, Page 4, GSU roll 6097707, via Ancestry.com accessed 10/02/2022

33.   Cornish Post and Mining News (1923) Farm and Garden, Prizes for Big Family, via britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk accessed 10/02/2022

34.   Westminster Gazette (1923) Servants Who Stay, Three Divide an 88 Years Record, Two-Figure Families, via britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk accessed 10/02/2022

35.   Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian (1923) Deaths, Charlotte Marshall, 20^th July 1923, via britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk accessed 10/02/2022