Genealogy Chat

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I don't have access to 1891 at the moment, have only just started this year and on limited budget, but I have in my posession a book that was given to My Great Great Aunt Rebecca Kinglsey a month beofre she got married to my G.G.Uncle William Lovell. It is signed by one William Maudham, with Kindest wishes, Aug 12th 1891. She married in September 1891. I know from previous questions asked on here that she was in service in Hastings at the time of the 1891 census, and I was wondering if anyone could find out which family this was.

This could be her: Rebecca Kingsley Age: 39 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1852 Relation: Servant Gender: Female Where Born: Cottered, Hertfordshire, England Civil parish: St Mary Magdalene Ecclesiastical parish: St Leonard Town: Hastings County/Island: Sussex Country: England Hastings Sub registration district: St Mary in the Castle ED, institution, or vessel: 24 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Fred K E Dowshway 34 Jane Holder 38 Alice E Kingsley 29 Rebecca Kingsley 39 Sophia Mendham 85 Annie Thompson 69 RG12; Piece: 765; Folio 77; Page 41; GSU roll: 6095875. Dea x

1891 Name: Rebecca Kingsley Age: 39 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1852 Relation: Servant Gender: Female Where Born: Cottered, Hertfordshire, England Civil parish: St Mary Magdalene Ecclesiastical parish: St Leonard Town: Hastings County/Island: Sussex Country: England Registration district: Hastings Sub registration district: St Mary in the Castle ED, institution, or vessel: 24 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Fred K E Dowshway 34 Jane Holder 38 Alice E Kingsley 29 Rebecca Kingsley 39 Sophia Mendham 85 Annie Thompson 69 Source Citation: Class: RG12; Piece: 765; Folio 77; Page 41; GSU roll: 6095875 Maureen

Dea, Snap. Maureen

Phew Dea that was quick! Alice and Rebecca are shown as being born Cottered Hertfordshire. They are servants in the parish of St Mary Magdelene Hastings St. Leonards. Alice and Rebecca mcould well be sisters. Pauline

Thank you Dea and Maureen. That is the correct Rebecca Kingsley. I may have misread the name in the book, Maudham/Mendham, very similar. That answers one question, that this would be a wedding gift from the family she worked for. Nice to know that she was appreciated. Does it say if Sophia Mendham is the head?

Teresa what was the book? Just be curious as to why it survived all thgese years. Pauline

Pauline, the book was Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan. I come from a family of hoarders, and books have been kept well, even when read often like a couple of family and teaching bibles we now have.

Alice and Rebecca were sisters, there was also another sister Hannah.

That's very interesting Teresa as also with Rebecca and Alice was a clerk in Holy Orders. It would seem to have been an establishment of very good credentials hope they were happy there. Pauline

Just checked Sophia Mendham all the way back to 1841 - no son listed called William. But the names are too similar. Maureen

1881 Shows Sophia to have been born in Hull, and there is a William Mendham in Hull, they seem to have been a Norfolk family originally, with several in Suffolk and Cambs too. Thanks for the help Ladies. x

There is a death for a William Mendham in Hull - Dec. Q 1892 - Ref Hull 9d 166 Dea x

Have also found a death for Sophia Mendham in 1893 aged 87. It looks like William may be her Grandson.