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How can I find out who my ancestor's employers wer

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Anne

Anne Report 18 Sep 2006 23:05

My great great grandmother Henrietta Janes (born c 1858 Wellington Somerset) was employed during 1881 census as a head servant. The address is given as Dellance, Littleton, Hampshire but all the residents at this address (& seemingly the neighbours too) were servants of one kind or another. How do I find out who the employer was? Any help would be gratefully received. Thanks.

Val wish I'd never started

Val wish I'd never started Report 18 Sep 2006 23:28

I just looked through and cannot find who they worked for it could be they only lived there but not their employers have you tried googling for Dellance in Overton Hampshire maybe it would give you a clue , sounds like a huge place doesnt it ??? good luck

KathleenBell

KathleenBell Report 18 Sep 2006 23:32

I'm not sure but I think there is a possibility that the employer is James Harris at the bottom of the page living Harestock House. The other houses and farms etc. could be part of an estate. Just a guess really. Is she at the same place in an earlier or later census? Kath. x

Anne

Anne Report 19 Sep 2006 13:34

Thanks for the advice. Henrietta is listed as a scholar on the 1871 census. Her illegitimate son (my grt Grandfather) was born 2 years later (she was 14 or 15). In 1881 she turns up at Dellance. She married one of fellow employees, the butler Henry Small & went on to have 3 more children. It was always thought that the father of her 1st child was the son of her employer when she was in service. I am trying to find any truth in this...

KathleenBell

KathleenBell Report 19 Sep 2006 23:03

Anne, I don't think there will be any way of you proving the family story. In fact I have the same sort of story in my family. My grandmother had her first child before she married my grandfather, and the story goes that the father of this baby was the son of her employers at the Hall where she worked. He wanted to marry her, but grandmother's mother wouldn't let her 'marry above her station'. Personally I don't believe it. I'm sure if there was a chance to marry off a pregnant daughter to someone rich (this was in 1899) then I'm pretty sure they would have jumped at the chance. I've heard quite a few people have similar stories in their families too. Kath. x

Anne

Anne Report 20 Sep 2006 14:21

Kath, I am beginning to think you are right! Although I have been given a name (supposedly the father's family) and they certainly had estates in the right area (Wiltshire) I know my gt gt grandmother was at home & at school only a year or so before my gt grandfather was born. I'm going to keep digging but I doubt there is any kind of record to tell me a) if she worked at one of the estates & b)who the father of her child was. I'm waiting for a birth cert. Thanks for your input! Anne x