Looking for Fanny WHITEMAN of Chelsea

[Jan1954]

During a lull at work today, I was chatting to a chap in the office. He was telling me that he had started following his family history back in the 1970s but family life got in the way about 10 years ago and so he had not picked it up since.

However, he was saying that he had one particular brick wall that had defeated him more than those 10 years ago and was still a mystery.......

A several great grandmother by the name of Fanny WHITEMAN was born about 1828 in Chelsea, according to various censuses. I do not have the references as he was working from his (pretty good) memory. However, he recalls that she was recorded as a needlewoman and that she had a few children in tow but with no discernible father for them – or fathers! The first census that he found her in was 1851, so any sighting of her in the 1841 census would be welcome as, at the age of 13 (or thereabouts) she could still be living with her parents, which would then provide a clue as to who they were.

He did find a baptism for a Fanny WHITEMAN where the father's occupation was that of a tailor. He was musing as to whether that could have instilled needlework skills in her or whether that occupation (needlewoman) could have been a euphemism for a prostitute – given the children and no marriage.

So, the question is: Can anyone find Fanny's parents with any degree of certainty?

Thank you for reading.

[Lizzy9]

Jan, help!!!!!!!!!!!!!! please. I cannot find Fanny Whitehead on ANY census. Are you sure the birth date/name is correct?

[Jan1954]

Jan, help!!!!!!!!!!!!!! please. I cannot find Fanny Whitehead on ANY census. Are you sure the birth date/name is correct?

Erm... it is fanny Whiteman.

[Lizzy9]

Sorry Jan, a lack of concentration on my part BUT I was searching for Whiteman, and cannot find her. Do you have a ref from any census?

[Jellylegs]

Well Jan, I must be doing something wrong as I can't find an unmarried Fanny Whiteman born c. 1828 with kids in tow anywhere. Have searched using variants of both first name and surname; without surname and born Chelsea and with and without occupation needle*

There are several married ones, but have looked at so many now, that I can't remember if the other criteria fitted.

[Jan1954]

Do you have a ref from any census?

No, sorry. All of the information that the chap gave me is in the original post. He said that the paperwork was in boxes on top of his wardrobe. I will see if I can persuade him to have a rummage over the next few days. Thank you for looking.