Genealogy Chat

It would appear that in the 1911 Census my grandmother was in Fulham London as an inmate in St James Diocesan Home for Penitents although she was born and lived in Bramley Leeds West Yorkshire. Would anyone have some suggestions as to why this may be so? Was she a naughty girl - she certainly had a mischievous smile. I didn't know her but looking at her photos she was such a lady. I have a feeling the story has died with that generation and my father's generation - if he knew.

Sue

How common is her name? Are you sure its her? she's a long way from home.

Googled the home name and there is at least some consolation

ST. JAMES'S DIOCESAN HOME, Sister Superior, Fulham. Female penitents of an up. class

Lambeth Palace archives might be able to help -


http://www.lambethpalacelibrary.org/

Thank you for your replies. Her name is common but as I can't find her anywhere in Bramley and she wasn't married until four years later I'm not discounting that this is my grandmother. Of course I'm not accepting that it is 100% her either. There are 2 more Alice Walkers born in Bramley in 1888 and 1892. The Alice in Fulham is of the right age as my grandmother would've turned 21 in the following September. I agree she is a long way from home.

Thanks Choccy - I will have a look :-)

Sue

It´s possible.
My grandmother & 2 of her brothers were taken into care in Barnsley when they were orphaned. My Gran was sent to Leeds, then Huddersfield & the 2 boys were moved to a school in London.
I have info from the Children´s Society which indicates that if the child was particularly difficult or showed an exceptional aptitude they were moved around to an establishment most suited to thier needs.
My grandmother was trained for domestic service & stayed on to work in one of the Homes.
If it´s any help, she was described on admission as wilful & out of control!!!

Suemaid,

Do you want to send her details and I will have a look for you ...

Thank you Sue - I have sent you a message.

Thanks for your reply Wisechild. Wilful and out of control eh? Do you take after your Gran ;-)

Sue

SueMaid.
I´m doing my best to grow old disgracefully now that I know.

Marion

Marion - I would love to be a wilful and out of control Gran :-D

Sue

This St James House in Fulham is the address on my nan's birth certificate for where her unmarried mother was living at the time of the birth.. Nan was actually born in Fulham Union Infirmary. It shows Nans mum as a domestic cook there but. ............was she already working as a cook when she became pregnant or was she taken in as an unmarried mum and had to work for her keep? I have never been able to trace any admission records for St James House to find out although I know it stood next to the Bishops Palace on Fulham Rd.

That's interesting Julie - as I have wondered if my Alice may have been sent there as an unmarried mother - but why so far from home? Again I think it's something I'll never find out. If it is my Alice that is.

Sue

Have you considered that if she had a child whilst in Fulham that the child would have had to be registered.

There is only one child born to a mother with the surname Walker, a Florence Walker in the December qtr of 1911. If there was a child and it was born before June 1911 there would be no surname for the mother. -jl

Another thought is that if you know when she was married it is possible to find out who her father was.

If he was alive, together with her mother in 1911 it would tell how many children her mother had had and by a process of elimination you might be able to prove that 'your' Alice was one of her children.

Have you found all the relevant Alice Walkers on the 1901 and then eliminated them by cross referencing the father's name on her marriage certificate.-jl

Janet - you have made some good points. I know who her father was - I have her marriage certificate. She married in 1915. She was not living with her father in 1911. Her mother died in 1907 and by 1911 Alice's father had remarried and was living with his new wife, his son (Alice's brother), his 6 month old baby son and his stepson. I have looked at all the other Alice's who were born around the same time as my Alice - it would appear that they were either married by 1911 or living with their parents. The only conclusion I have come to is that my Alice misbehaved in some way and was dispatched to Fulham. I don't think I'll ever find out why :-(

Sue in Leeds was very helpful in finding some information through electoral rolls and it was interesting to find that Alice was living with her Uncle Fred at the time of her marriage although her father was a witness to her marriage.

Thanks Janet - I appreciate your thoughts on this.

Sue

Hi SueMaid, I also presumed that she wasn't living with her parents in 1911 so that is why I suggested the 1901 census but the 1891 could be just as important. Hope you get some breakthrough-jl

Thanks Janet - I think it is one story I'll never find out. No-one left to tell the tale :-(

Sue