Genealogy Chat

I’ve asked for help with this before, but I thought I would try my luck again.........

My gt granddad David Henry Lewis was born in 1876 in St Albans, Hertfordshire, one of at least 5 illegitimate children of Selina Lewis. The other children are:

Eliza – 1870
William – 1872
Horace – 1882
Florence – 1884

In 1891 all children except Eliza are living with Selina and her mother in Herts. In 1901 William is married and Horace is living with him and Florence is a servant in the house next door.
There is no sign of Selina or David in 1901. My dad remembers going to see his aunt Lena (Selina?) in St Albans when he was a child and his aunt Grace; I think these might be other children of Selina after she disappears in 1891.

By 1909 David is living in Leicester where he has his 1st child, but doesn’t get married until 1913.

If anybody can help solve this problem I would be extremely grateful, I have been trying to solve this mystery for months!

Vicky X

David could have been in the Boer War......he'd have been the right sort of age...........

Reg

Could David have been in the Boer War? If so he would be in South Africa in 1901.

Kath. x

SNAP, Reg, lol

Kath. x

Have you got the death cert for the mother to see who the informant was.

Thanks for this. Do you know of anywhere there is records of people in the war?

I am going to order the death cert of Ann Lewis this Friday, so hopefully it will have Selina as an informant and if she married hopefully a married name

Vicky X

Try this site - it only gives lists of names and regiments of those in the Imperial Yeomanry though

On the 1881 census Selena appears to be Eliza

1881 England Census
about Eliza Lewis
Name: Eliza Lewis
Age: 35
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1846
Relation: Head
Mother's Name: Ann
Gender: Female
Where born: St Albans, Hertfordshire, England

Civil Parish: St Albans
County/Island: Hertfordshire
Country: England

Street address: Fishpool Street
Education:

Employment status: Occupation: Hat Sewer

Registration district: St Albans
Sub-registration district: St Albans
ED, institution, or vessel: 9
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Ann Lewis 72
David Lewis 6
Eliza Lewis 35
Eliza Lewis 10
William Lewis 8

1871 England Census
about Selina Lewis
Name: Selina Lewis
Age: 25
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1846
Relation: Daughter
Mother's Name: Ann
Gender: Female
Where born: St Peter, Hertfordshire, England

Civil Parish: St Michael
Ecclesiastical parish: St Michaels
County/Island: Hertfordshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability:
Registration district: St Albans
Sub-registration district: St Albans
ED, institution, or vessel: 11
Neighbors:
Household schedule number: 76
Household Members: Name Age
Joseph Field 70 Brother
Ann Lewis 52 Head
Eliza Lewis 6 months Grand daughter
Selina Lewis 25 Daughter
Emma Louis 31 Daughter
Eliza Redrup 39 Daughter

Have you considered Selina ("Fillo" per Ancestry transcription), boarder in St Albans in 1901, born approx 1852, i.e. six years too young? The image looks more like Fells, and it is just possible to believe that an enumerator could have misread Lewis as Fells.

I cannot see an alternative for this individual in 1891, but that was just a cursory check using Sel*a from Alb*, born 1846+/-10.

Thank you to everybody who has given me help/advice. I will order Ann Lewis' death cert and look at possible marriages for Selina.

Thanks again

Vicky

Hi again Ivy, I have just looked at the Selina Fillo that you have suggested and I think it may be her!

On all other census' she is a straw hat sewer which Selina Fello is. Also I have looked at the distance between Temperence Street where Selina is and where her children live and it is only around the corner!

Thanks

Vicky X