Genealogy Chat

Hi all am trying to locate a W G Rawlings who lived at 11 Leadenhall Street, London EC3 in early 1900's. He, we believe, is the father of my grandmother, her mother being a servant in his house, Ada Mumford. We have letters from Rawlings sending money for the baby. Ada never married and the child, Phyllis Ada Mumford (b approx 1908), was brought up by her mother's sister. have not been able to find W G Rawlings on 1901 census. I wonder whether anyone has any relatives on the 1901 census living in Leadenheall Street. If so could you give me the page number etc so that I can scroll through the pages for that street? Long shot I know, but not much else to go on. Thank

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Sharon Here is the birth record: Births Sep 1908 Mumford Phyllis Ada Wandsworth 1d 732 Do you have the birth certificate? Suzy

Are you sure he actually lived in Leadenhall Street, rather than it just being his business address? I'll look it up in some directories and see if I can find anything. Kate.

In 1910 the Post Office Directory of London has the following entries listed for 11 Leadenhall Street: Bank (The) of Adelaide, Percy Arnold, manager Western Australian Bank, London agency Briggs W. & Sons Ltd. marine glue manufacturers Emerson, Walker & Thompson Brothers Lim. windlass mnfrs Ingenlath Paul, gelatine maker Frutella Co. table dainty mnfrs Lindsay, Bendix & Co. ship brkrs Derbyshire Chemical Co Langlois & Co., solicitors So my guess is that either Langlois were acting as solicitors for Mr. Rawlings or he worked for one of those companies listed (the actual manufacturing would not have taken place in Leadenhall Street, I don't think; it would just have been their London office.) I will have a quick look to see if I can find a possible home address for him, but he could well have lived out in the suburbs. Kate.

Good work Kate. I have had a good look at the 1901, but nothing really close. St Bride is about the nearest parish, but that is nearer Fleet Street. Having worked in the City myself, I think it fairly unlikely that anyone lived in Leadenhall Street - it is all banks and offices. I think you may be on to something though. Suzy

Nearest I can find on a very quick look is this one, but no middle initial given to confirm it: London County Suburbs Directory 1911: Rawlings W. 85 Dresden Road Hornsey Rise N Sorry but I've not got time to look him up any more tonight, but you could do an address search on the 'official' 1901 census site for that address (try Rd instead of Road, though) to see if it looks like him. I'll have a bit more of a nose round tomorrow if you haven't tracked him down by then. Kate.

Sharon, If the birth was in the Wandsworth district perhaps she worked there too. Where was Ada in 1901? Rose

Sharon If you 'google' 11 Leadenhall St then look at page 7, go down to ANZ Retired Officers, seems to tell you what the address was in 1901. Its now a Starbucks!! maureen

Hi Sharon (Its me - your Maldon Stebbens-Pilley connection!) Stumbled across your post thought I might try and help out. Could Ada have been here in 1901? No. 11 Cupar Road, Battersea Thomas Alexander 55 General Labourer b. Silney, Norfolk Martha Alexander 55 b. Silney Ada Mumford 26 (single visitor) b. Kennington Just a thought! Alex

Thank you all for your help. Will have a good look at all your suggestions tonight when I get back from work. Much appreciated. Regards Sharon

Another thought. If Mr Rawlings isn't actually named as the father of the baby, he may have been the man who made payments on behalf of the father. As her employer he might have helped her.

Sharon, I know you won't be back on here till this evening, but I am just adding a few more thoughts. Forget that 85 Dresden Road one; it isn't him. I think there might be too many W. G. Rawlings around to work out which is the right one without more info. If you want to scan the letter in and send it to me to see if I can pick up any clues from it, send me a PM and I will give you my email address. There are a few possibles for Ada on the 1901, but none is a servant with a Rawlings family. Do you have her on the 1901 already? And / or do you have any information about her, like when and where born? Could well be that she only went to work for Mr. Rawlings after 1901, though. Duh, just realised - it doesn't sound as though you have Phyllis's birth certificate yet!! Births Sep 1908 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mumford Phyllis Ada Wandsworth 1d 732 If you get it, it will give you the address where she was born, and also the address where her mother was living, and maybe that will help us find out where Mr. Rawlings lived! (The informant might possibly even be somebody other than Ada, to give more clues!) Kate.