Genealogy Chat

See below. Thank you.

Agatha Ariel married Edward Clark 1839 in Bristol. They had six children. Agatha was divorced by her husband in 1846. I have the newspaper report. In 1851 Edward has the children and calls himself a widow. Edward remarried in 1853. I can’t find Agatha anywhere. I’ve trawled Ancestry 1846 to 1851 for marriages and deaths for Agatha under Ariel and Clark/Clarke, etc. I checked all the census under both names, and her second name. Can’t find anything in Ancestry. Just because Edward calls himself a widower, I’m not taking it as proof Agatha has died. Edward was a solicitor and Agatha was privately wealthy so she could have gone anywhere. I’ve checked here in Australia, where her brother came, and Wales where her sister was living. Does anyone have any thoughts on where to look next.

Do you know what happened to the six children and where they ended up? Any possibility that they had contact with their mother once they had grown up. Perhaps searching by each of their names in the wills/probate section on a2a to see if they show up as beneficiaries to her will? Not sure how useful these thoughts are - but nothing else comes to mind since you seem to have been so thorough with your searches! Victoria

Hi Rose, I think this marriage and census record must have been her child by her first husband. If she first married in 1839 she would have been born about 1820, so about 20 years too old to be this Agatha. Victoria

Hi Victoria, Oooops! I misread the message and thought she was born in 1839. Oh well. Will delete my messages. Rose

Thank you for your ideas. Unfortunately I had to take grandson to doctors, so missed the replies that were deleted. The children grew up with the father and new mother. I have them on later census. I have tried to contact descendants of the children, but most don't know that Agatha and not Emma (the second wife)was the mother. The children were very young, but all continued with the second name Ariel and even used it for their children. I hadn't thought of a will for Agatha. I have tried searching her name in various combinations in many places.

Oh, I am sorry - didn't realize Portland Rose would take them orff! She found the marriage of Agatha Ariel Clark[e]? to Reverend Harkness in 1863. She also found the family in 1881 (Agatha 41 and her husband 53) along with four or five children and four servants. Not sure where they were married or living in 1881 - but the children had a range of locations for their births testifying to their father being 'posted' to different parishes on a fairly regular basis. Victoria

Thanks Victoria, Yes that Agatha is the daughter of the one I'm missing. I have all the census, I think. The Ariel family regularly travelled the country. The family were merchants, solicitors, doctors,etc. Some were 'gentlemen' although that may be debated.

Just stapling myself to this thread for later...........(eating now!) Merry

where was the illusive Agatha born? and when

I don't know if I missed anything, but have you found Agatha in 1841 with hubby? Do you know who her parents were? Do you know when/where was she born? merry

Yes Merry Parents were Myles Ariel and Elizabeth Naylor Ariel. She was born March 1822, St Paul's Gloucester. Married Edward Clark 1839. Six children by divorce in 1846. She left Edward when pregnant with the sixth and went to live with her sister, Elizabeth Naylor Ariel Farr in Wales. That was according to the court report. By 1851 census the baby is with the other siblings and Dad. Also there with him is Lucretia Ariel, who is his sister. Lucretia married Agatha's father, Myles after her mother died in 1836. Myles died in 1840. She could have gone to her cousins ,Kirkbys in Lancashire. They were often visiting her in Bristol. But no luck.

I need to go to bed. Will check back in the morning,my time. Thank you all.

This is nothing to do with what you want, but just in case you don't have it (which I bet you do!) From a2a: Deeds and papers of William Hunt Catalogue in Full Deeds relating to property in Ashley Place, St. Paul's FILE - [no title] - ref. 34901/18 - date: 1833 Contents 1833 Aug.5 proved 1836 Jan.16 Will (attested copy) of William Ariel, esq., of Bristol, broker His house and grounds in Brunswick Square, Bristol, to his son, Miles Ariel. Various monetary bequests and residue of real and personal estate in trust to sell and invest, one third of the interest thereof to be paid to his daughter, Jane Ariel, and her children, one third to his daughter, Agatha Evill, and her children and the remaining third to his daughter, Ann Miller, and her children Trustees: Myles Ariel and Robert Leonard of Bristol, floor cloth manufacturer Is this Agatha's grandfather's will? Merry

This doesn't help but when you say that Agatha was privately wealthy, wouldn't her husband have gained control of her money when they married? Heather

where did you say Lucretia fitted in? sister of who? Mr edward clarke?

Jess.....I just read the court case (Dec 1845 in The Times).....Edward Clark had a sister, Lucretia, who married Myles Ariel (Agatha's father) after the death of Agetha's mother. After this, Lucretia's brother (Ed Clark) and Myles dau, Agatha, got together. Merry

Merry, I'm awake now. I have William Ariel's will. He is the missing Agatha's grandfather. Agatha Evill is her cousin. I can't find any will for Agatha. Her father, Myles died before this divorce so nothing in his will. Agatha's brother came to Australia with his family then promptly went missing himself. I tried some time ago to find him.