Esther Ethel J. Wells - Dead or Alive?

[v.wells]

Esther Ethel J. Wells b. 1900, Lee, Lewisham and appears on 1901 census with the right family Albert Thomas Wells. RG13, Piece 547, Folio 164, pg 28. I checked GRO and her birth is legit. Now the problem is I can find NO Record through GRO of any death or marriage. I have looked at all years thru to 1907. My father never put her on his little tree that he drew for me, so perhaps she died at a very early age and it was never mentioned. He was born in 1916 and remembered barely another sister dying in 1924 age 12. That is recorded birth and death. So where do I go to hunt for this missing child? The family was not religious so would not have gone through the churches. I did find an Ethel age 2 in 1902 but as the death occurred in Tynemouth, I have discounted it as this family never left Lewisham, Kent. This is a brickwall with roadblocks!|help| Any other ideas?

Vanessa

Sorry, the mother's maiden was Webster, Eliza Emma

[MarkJ]

I had a quick look at FreeBMD and found nothing either. Wondering if it is possible that Esther was known under another name - do you have anyone in the tree your father drew up born around 1900 - perhaps with the initial J? It was often the case as you will know that a family member was known by a different name - either one of their other first names or even a "pet" name which became commonly used.

Mark

[v.wells]

Mark

I think most of the children had pet names BUT they are at least the ones I can find, used the birth name on official documents. I looked up Ester, Esther, Ethel and J., Jane ect. in the GRO. Nada. Maybe they were so upset they buried the toddler in the back yard. Just joking, but I am frustrated and now really curious as to what happened to this child!

Vanessa

[MarkJ]

Hi Vanessa,
I was just wondering if she was actually living still - at least when your father drew up the tree. That may explain the missing death. That was partly why I asked if he mentioned anyone whose name - pet or otherwise - may possibly be the missing Esther, maybe someone who you haven't been able to quite place before.
Yes, it would frustrate me too I think! It is a long way off yet, but the 1911 census may possibly give you more of a clue I expect.

Mark

[v.wells]

Mark
I thought of that too, that maybe one of dad's other sisters was actually her. The only one I can't find is Clarissa Wells but she was born 1904. I am sure that if she had been living at any point he would remember it. Clarissa married a Leslie Livett and lived in Hastings - I can't find them either but I have an old address. They are both dead now. I did ask my sister about Esther Ethel and she said that she had never heard of her so that's why I think she died in infancy. I might have to slog thru another 7 years of quarters under a misspelled surname. Do you think it is possible that a GRO typist changed the spelling somehow?

Vanessa

[MarkJ]

Anything is possible! Like you, I did a search for variations - even looking for the Wells surname in Lewisham deaths for any clues, but found nothing. Mis-spelling is certainly a possible reason that you have found nothing, but if that is the case, it may be difficult to find a record - who knows what she may be listed as!
The death in Tynemouth - that may be worth investigating, if only to rule her out. What did Albert Thomas do for a living? Just wondering if there was any possibility he was up there with the family working or visiting relations at the time? Were there any other relatives who may have been living in Tynemouth - perhaps Esther could have been sent to live with them, even at such a young age - perhaps Mum couldn't cope for some reason and it was considered best for the child to live with a relative.
All sorts of possibilities - but all quite flimsy at the moment :(

[v.wells]

No one living in Tynemouth I'm afraid. Albert was a railway carman and never left Kent! Her mother Eliza was living with them at the time of the census so I don't think caregiver is the answer. Of course no is living anymore to ask. My 2 aunts that I met in 1971 and the only aunts still living never mentioned her. They were born much later. My mother never mentioned it either, but I do remember vaguely about my dad's mother having lost children in infance. She had 10 including Esther and all the others are accounted for either in memory or my dad having written it down. And of course my enless hunting.

I may have to drop this for a while and go onto another line as this is too wearying!

Thanks for letting me pick your brain as mine are rather numb at the moment.

[v.wells]

Anything is possible! Like you, I did a search for variations - even looking for the Wells surname in Lewisham deaths for any clues, but found nothing. Mis-spelling is certainly a possible reason that you have found nothing, but if that is the case, it may be difficult to find a record - who knows what she may be listed as!
The death in Tynemouth - that may be worth investigating, if only to rule her out. What did Albert Thomas do for a living? Just wondering if there was any possibility he was up there with the family working or visiting relations at the time? Were there any other relatives who may have been living in Tynemouth - perhaps Esther could have been sent to live with them, even at such a young age - perhaps Mum couldn't cope for some reason and it was considered best for the child to live with a relative.
All sorts of possibilities - but all quite flimsy at the moment :(

I knew I would get my brain together. what I shall do is order the birth cert, because now I think she may be a Wells but belonging to one of my uncles. I will then know for sure who the heck she is! Thanks Mark for waking me up:D

[Mutley]

There are three deaths registered for an Ethel Wells not far from Lewisham.

Ethel Wells born abt 1900 died 1900 2nd qrt - Wandsworth 1d/400
Ethel Mary Wells born abt 1900 died 1900 3rd qrt - Camberwell 1d/511
Ethel Maud Wells born abt 1899 died 1900 2nd qrt - Lewisham 1d/648 (says age 1)

[Mutley]

Sorry ignore the above,
Mutley should put brain in gear,
How can she die in 1900 when she was on 1901 census?

Apologies again, I will look again tomorrow, maybe I will be awake then|doh|

[blue eyes]

Just to point out that Lee comes under 2 different boroughs, Lewisham and Greenwich
the registration dist for Greenwich would be Woolwich, thats now but dont know about all those years ago.

[v.wells]

The Wells's lived in Deptford, Greenwich until 1895 then it was Lee, Lewisham. They didn't leave Lewisham until the 40-50's when they moved to Tonbridge or Tunbridge Wells. I am going to check my granddad's siblings to see where they were in 01 as maybe the baby was one of theirs. I will have to send for the birth certificate to really find out BUT the 1901 census listed her as dau., but the census takers have been known to make mistakes although on the original census there is clearly a mix of sexes so I don't know how it could be written differently, and they are in the right order. I dislike roadblocks that I can't move!

Thanks everyone!

Vanessa

[Karen Newman]

Just a thought but someone called David has an Esther Wells b 1900 Lewisham on GenesReunited. He may only have the info that you have but if you have the necessary subscription you could mail him and find out.

[v.wells]

It just costme 9.95 sterling to sign up and send a message. I have never explored genesreunited since I have a sub with A. Thanks for the info Karen, maybe something will come out of it.

[v.wells]

Just a thought but someone called David has an Esther Wells b 1900 Lewisham on GenesReunited. He may only have the info that you have but if you have the necessary subscription you could mail him and find out.

Karen
I was bemoaning Genesreunited as it cost 9.95 to send a message and the David had made a mistake and it was the wrong Esther. HOWEVER, when I did a search of Albert Thomas Wells, my grandfather, I got a hit and now have discovered relations in Normandie, France, related to my great aunt! I am so excited to make another breakthrough. :D Thanks for directing me to that site. It is still expensive tho as you can't do bmd searches without buying more credits!

Vanessa

[v.wells]

I finally received the b cert on Esther Ethel Jenny Wells and it is correct that she is the daughter of Albert Thomas and Eliza Emma Wells born in 1900. But I can still find no death and I have gone through at least 20 yrs. Another Aunt Elizabeth (Betty) whom my dad mentioned from time to time, was apparently born 1902 and died 1964 - he wrote this down. I can find no record of her birth or death and I have checked all years twice over in case I missed something. I can find no marriage either for either of these. Esther could have decided to call herself Elizabeth and was nicknamed Betty. But that doesn't make sense as Esther's 3rd name Jenny is a pretty one and I can't see anyone changing from that. All were born in Lewisham except for the first 2 in 1895 and 1897 when they lived in Deptford. This family continues to stymie me. It's bad enough that they just disappear from GRO but when I find possible living relatives I have no idea as to how to find them to day. I cannot afford a detective!|banghead|