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EMILY JANE SPENCE married ROBERT FOSTER at York in 1875 she states that she is aged 18 and her father was entered as JAMES SPENCE occupation a Watchmaker, I am trying to find her parents and the nearest I can get is JAMES SPENCE a Watchman and Night watchman, he was born at Bramley Yorkshire about 1824. EMILY could not read or write and I am wondering if Watchmaker was entered wrongly and should have been Watchman. There is a EMILY JANE SPENCE on Free B.M.D. born 1857 at Knaresborough the daughter of a butcher but this is not our EMILY, I cannot find EMILY on the1861, 1871 or 1881 but she is on the 1891,1901 &1911 census and her birthplace is entered as Knaresborough. A elderly member of our family has told us that EMILY,S mother was working in service at a place called Ollerton or Hollerton Hall and EMILY,S birth was a result of a affair with the son of the owner of this house, so EMILY,S mother may not have been a SPENCE at that time, all very confusing. If there is any other person researching this family or can help me with any information would they kindly get in touch. Thank you.
Regards,
Syd & Judy

Hello Syd - who were the witnesses from the marriage certificate?

There is also the possibility that the father's name of James was made up to hide illegitimacy.

Not all brides told their true age.

Wondering about this one

Emily Spence
Birth Date:10 May 1859
Parish:Leeds, St Peter
Baptism Date:10 Jul 1859
Father's Name:James Alonzo Spence
Mother's Name:Harriet Spence


EDIT **

No, he was a clothes dresser

Are you sure she was born SPENCE ?

in 1911 she is listed as Emily Jane SpenceR Foster


Emily Jane Spencer Foster

Age in 1911:54
Estimated Birth Year:abt 1857
Relation to Head:
Wife

Birth Place:Knaresborough
occ : Street Worker

The witnesses were JOHN MASON & JANE BENSON.

birth??

Births Sep 1853 (>99%)
SPENCE Emily Jane Knaresbro' 9a 91

I wondered about this one

birthplace for Caroline correct as per 1911 - rest of family born York

Name: Caroline Gibson
Age: 2
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1879
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Robert Gibson
Mother's Name: Emma Jane Gibson
Gender: Female
Where born: Redford, Nottinghamshire, England

Civil Parish: Coventry St Michael
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England

Street Address: No 57 Grey Friars Lane
Education:

Employment status:

View Image

Registration District: Coventry
Sub-registration District: St John
ED, institution, or vessel: 13
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 3067
Folio: 53
Page Number: 15
Household Members:
Name Age
Robert Gibson 28 - hawker
Emma Jane Gibson 22
Robert Gibson 4
Caroline Gibson 2

what was Robert's occupation on the marriage certificate?

cf 1891

Name Age
Robert Foster 38 licenced hawker born Yorkshire
Emely F Foster 34 (Emily J on image)
Robert Foster 11 (14 on image)
Caroline Foster 12 - born Redford
Rosa Foster 10
Margaret Foster 8
Edward Rowlan 19
George Low 17
James Foster 6

ROBERT,S occupation on his marriage certificate was a Licensed Hawker, EMILY did not enter a occupation.

so that 1891 looks even more likely to be the right family even though they are calling themselves by another surname for whatever reason.

I know Emily is down as Emma but as you said she could not read or write so it is quite likely a midlands enumerator could misinterpret a Yorkshire accent.

1901 Going from the births of the children they moved around a lot (1911 says 13 born 7 still living) here in 1901 they are living in a caravan

****EDIT on the original someone has written STABLE over Roberts occupation and the caravan is in the rear of 132 Trafalgar Road not as below.

Search criteria used

Person: FOSTER, Emily J Address: 132, Caravans In Rear Of, Trafalgar Road, Camberwell
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refine search back to 1901 census search resultsBack to all search results
Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation
Disability Where born Image
FOSTER, Robert Head Married M 49 1852 Job Master & Oil Cloth Dealer
York, Yorkshire VIEW
FOSTER, Emily J Wife Married F 42 1859 Saleswoman Oil Cloth
Leeds, Yorkshire VIEW
FOSTER, Carrie Daughter Single F 22 1879 Assistant Saleswoman Oil Cloth
Redford, Nottinghamshire VIEW
FOSTER, Rose A Daughter Single F 19 1882 Assistant Saleswoman Oil Cloth
Northampton, Northamptonshire VIEW
FOSTER, James Son Single M 15 1886 Yard Lad
Birmingham, Warwickshire VIEW
FOSTER, Millie Daughter F 13 1888
Lower Edmonton, Middlesex VIEW
FOSTER, Emily J Daughter F 6 1895
Camberwell, London VIEW
FOSTER, Edward G Son M 3 1898
Camberwell, London VIEW

LancashireAnn is right with the 1881 in Nottingham as Foster because they were in Nottingham in 1879 for Carries (Caroline) birth and in 1882 they were in Northampton for Roses birth

****EDIT*****

Should read .....1881 in COVENTRY. All births and places of birth correct.

Thank you all for your kind help.
Regards,
Syd & Judy