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I am trying to find out what happened to Jennie Keen born in 1901 in Theydon Bois, Essex. She is in the 1901 census aged 2 months with the parents Percy Keen (b. 1879) and Ethel Helena (born c.1962 nee Felgate, died in 1907).

To cut a long story short, Percy Keen is a cousin to my great grandfather William Faulkner - I believe my grandmother, Jessie Faulkner was adopted as we have no birth certs etc for her (she can be found in 1911 census in New Alley in Stepney) and I have searched for info on her for a number of years now.

I am wondering if Jennie Keen could have been my grandmother Jessie as Jennie's mother died in 1907 and her father, Percy was a lot younger than her mother - any ideas would be much appreciated!
Thanks, Jenny

1901 for ref
KEEN, Percy Head Married M 22 1879 Bricklayer
Theydon Bois
Essex VIEW
KEEN, Ethel Wife Married F 34 1867
Kew
Surrey VIEW
KEEN, Jennie Daughter F 0 (2 MOS) 1901
Theydon Bois
Essex VIEW
ROSS, James Boarder Widower M 64 1837 Pensioner
Ireland VIEW
RG number:
RG13 Piece:
1638 Folio:
64 Page:
16

Registration District:
Epping Sub District:
Chigwell Enumeration District:
15 Ecclesiastical Parish:
St Mary's

Civil Parish:
Theydon Bois Municipal Borough:
Address:
Woburn Avenue, Theydon Bois County:
Essex

can't see her in 1911

nor can i find a birth for her
have you located one
maddie

Thank you for that - yes, that is them. No, I can find no further trace of her or her father Percy. I found out that her mother Ethel died in 1907.

I think Jennie is also quite an unusual name for 1901, I wonder if it should have been Jessie (ie, possibly my grandmother?)

Do you have her marriage cert?

jax

I have a marriage certificate for my grandmother Jessie (Faulkner), she married James Reed on 2nd April 1923 in Limehouse, London. We have never found a birth cert. for her and think she was "taken in" as a baby/child. I haven't got a marr. cert. for Percy & Ethel, I only discovered this possible link today so haven't gotten around to ordering anything yet!

1911 census - address transcription
Address: 3 New Alley




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196 FAULKNER, William Farther Married
23 years M 44 1867 Coal Porter Parish of Limehouse VIEW
196 FAULKNER, Lousia Mother Married
23 years F 38 1873 Whitechapel London VIEW
196 FAULKNER, William Son Single M 21 1890 Carman General Stepney London VIEW
196 FAULKNER, Rosie Daughter Single F 15 1896 Not Work Limehouse London VIEW
196 FAULKNER, Edward Son Single M 13 1898 School Limehouse London VIEW
196 FAULKNER, Charles Son M 9 1902 School Limehouse London VIEW
196 FAULKNER, Jessie Daughter F 7 1904 School Limehouse London VIEW

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Does not look like the same person age is 3 or 4 years out

yes, I know, but I don't think they were very good with dates etc. as Louisa Faulkner (Jessie's "mother") constantly lied about her age, she was actually born in 1866 (not 1873 as stated on the 1911 census!)

I thought it was probably a long shot but worth trying anyway, especially as Jennie Keen has no birth cert and there is no sign of her in the 1911 census and no sign of her father.............. strange?

passenger transcript details
Name: Percy KEEN
Date of departure: 30 May 1907
Port of departure: Liverpool
Passenger destination port: Montreal, Canada
Passenger destination: Montreal, Canada

Date of Birth: 1879 (calculated from age)
Age: 28
Marital status: Single
Sex: Male
Occupation: Engineer
Passenger recorded on: Page 3 of 23




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Ship:
Official Number:
Master's name:
Steamship Line:
Where bound:
Square feet:
Registered tonnage:
Passengers on voyage:
DOMINION
0
W L Mendas
Dominion Line
Montreal, Canada
21803
4462
1206

could this be percy
BMD Search result details

Civil Registration event: Marriage
Name: KEEN, Percy
Registration District: Help Epping
County: Essex
Year of Registration: 1900
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
Spouse's last name: Not available before 1912
Volume No: Help 4A
Page No: Help 673
MarriageFinder™: Percy Keen married one of the following people Help


BETTIS, Charlotte view record


FELGATE, Ethel Helena view record

How old was Jessie when she married and what was her fathers name?

jax

That is really interesting Jax bearing in mind that Jennie's mother died in 1907 - maybe he did a runner!!

Jessie was married on 2 April 1923 and her father was called William Faulkner.

William Faulkner's mother was Rachel Keen, her brother was Thomas Keen and his son was Percy Keen - hence the link with Jessie and Jennie.

My grandma Jessie was only about 4'10" so they could have passed her off as being younger than she actually was, especially as she had a brother who was 9 in 1911 (Charles Faulkner).

oh, and yes, Percy married Ethel Helena Felgate - she was a lot older than him and died in 1907 - what a coincidence?

I cant understand why they would say a 10 year old is 7

It was pretty normal to have a child more or less every year anyway

so did her marriage cert say she was 23?

jax

Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935
about Keen
Name: Keen
Gender: Male
Age: 28
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1879
Date of Arrival: 9 Jun 1907
Vessel: Dominion
Search Ship Database: View the 'Dominion' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: Montreal, Quebec
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
Roll: T-490

(following Jax, his arrival in Canada, poor image, says Bricklayer)

Chris :)

no, her marriage certificate says she is 20.

I think Percy was a bricklayer so I'm sure that's him).

If Jessie isn't Jennie I wonder what happened to Jennie and I wonder why neither Jessie Faulkner nor Jennie Keen have birth certificates?

Could Jennie have gone to canada as a home child?? where they sent ophans

There are some with just initals which could be her

jax

I've never heard of a home child - is that what they did with some orphans??!!
would she not have travelled with her father in that case??

Births Mar 1901 (>99%)
Keen Queenie Ethel Epping 4a 526

(don't suppose the above was Jennie do you?)...


1916 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta
about Percy Keen
Name: Percy Keen
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 38
Est. Birth Year: 1878
Birthplace: England
Year of immigration: 1907
Home in 1916: 01J, Calgary West, Alberta
Address: 2422 22nd Ave Sarcu Camp
Racial or Tribal Origin: English
Relation to Head of Household: Self
Spouse's Name: Charlot Louisa Keen
Sub District Desc.: (A - M) inclusive, City of Calgary, such portion as is situated in this district according to the Representation Act, 1914
Household Members: Name Age
Percy Keen 38
Charlot Louisa Keen 44
Queenie Ethel Keen 15
Kathleen Mary Keen 13
Dorothy Dordeen Keen 6

Chris :)

(just nosin' on Canada!)

edits to say, image says 2 daughters born England, he arrived 1907, them 1908.




Births Sep 1902 (>99%)

Keen Kathleen Mary Epping 4a 531

Looks like the one chris well done

passenger transcript details
Name: Queenie KEEN
Date of departure: 20 March 1908
Port of departure: Liverpool
Passenger destination port: Saint John NB, Canada
Passenger destination: Saint John NB, Canada

Date of Birth: 1902 (calculated from age)
Age: 6
Marital status:
Sex: Female
Occupation: Child
Passenger recorded on: Page 19 of 36





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The following people with the same last name travelled on this voyage: -

Catherine KEEN Page 19 of 36 View transcript >>>>>>>>>age 4
Richd KEEN Page 19 of 36 View transcript >>>>>>>>17 Farmer



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Ship:
Official Number:
Master's name:
Steamship Line:
Where bound:
Square feet:
Registered tonnage:
Passengers on voyage:
EMPRESS OF IRELAND
123972
J V Foster
Canadian Pacific
Saint John NB, Canada
24852
8028
1492

That sound very possible Chris - especially as Jennie/Queenie's biological mum was called Ethel!! I thought Jennie was an unusual name for 1901!

And I suppose it was entirely possible that poor Ethel had another child before she died (Kathleen Mary).

Oh well, that has dismissed my Jennie/Jessie theory but on the plus side at least Jennie/Queenie stayed with her father.

Sometimes the genes stuff can really take you on a wild goose chase and be very frustrating!!!!!