John Lee, Lavinia Lee. Please Help :o)

[stephenjlynch]

Hi All,
I wonder if you can help please?

My great-great-grandmother was Lavinia Lynch. Her maiden name was Lavinia Lee. She was born in 1865 to a mother who's name I don't know, and John Lee - her father. I can't find her in the BMD.

On her wedding, her father John Lee is noted as a horse trader. I know this doesn't necessarily mean they were travellers, but I've found no trace of Lavinia or her father in any records at all (census, BMD etc) so it looks a little more likely.

In all census returns from 1891 onwards, Lavinia puts her birthplace as Whitechapel, Lambeth but never the same place ).

Can anyone help please?

Cheers,

Stephen

[Nicolina]

on the 1871 Census there is a Lavinia, born right area about 1864, but her father's name is given as Joseph, a licensed Hawker. Could he have been John Joseph or Joseph John?
RG10/785/92 Page 47
Address: Living In Travelling Vans Ordnance Brickfield Van, Woolwich
LEE, Joseph Head M 38 1833 b. Surrey
LEE, Sarah Wife F 36 1835 b. Woolwich, Kent
LEE, Frank Son M 14 1857 b. Plumstead, Kent
LEE, Walter Son M 9 1862 b. Woolwich, Kent
LEE, Lavinia Daughter F 7 1864 b. Croydon, Surrey
LEE, William Son M 1 1870 b. Woolwich, Kent

[stephenjlynch]

Hi Nicolina,

Thanks for your help and super-quick response.

That was something I came across previously and I tried to check previous (and later) census returns to see if Joseph was down as John / Joseph John / John Joseph but no success.

I also looked for Sarah Lee and found her with a John Lee and a Robert Lee, but no Frank Lee, plus the places of birth were different for both.

Other than that, I've found no real corroboration (sp?) between difference census returns. I'm now about to look for William Lee in the 1881 census with his parents - hopefully one called John ).

Cheers,

Stephen

[stephenjlynch]

Just a further update. I can find no instances of William Lee (or Frank Lee) in the census returns with matching information *sigh*.

It's tricky this one and maybe I'll have to call it a day and concentrate on other family lines, unless anyone can help?

Thanks,

Stephen

[Mutley]

There is another Croydon born Lavina, daughter of James and Elizabeth but in 61 and 71 dad is a general labourer and gardener. I don't think that one is right.

I'll keep looking, it is more difficult as they obviously went back and forth across the river from Middx to Surrey. Suppose it depends where the Fairs were. Epsom and Mitcham were popular with the traders.

[Mutley]

There are loads of baptisms in the London area with a John Lee as the father, the nearest I can find is Lavina Alice Elizabeth to Henry John and Lavina Kate Elizabeth Lee. It was in 1868 in Camden but dad's occupation looks like a law stationer. Nothing like a horse dealer.

Shout if you want more details on this one.

Sorry

[stephenjlynch]

Hi Mutley,
Thanks - I found the Lavinia Alice Elizabeth and then I saw her father was a law stationer, couldn't get further away from a horse dealer .

It's a tricky one isn't it? I found that Lavinia married my g-g-grandfather, William Lynch. Then he got dismissed from the London Met Police. They lived in Woolwich at the time.

I'll keep searching, but I'm getting a sinking feeling...

Cheers