Genealogy Chat

Hello, I have been trying to research my family history, but have come to a bit of a dead end in one branch. My great great great grandmother Emma Owen was born in about 1832 in St. Georges Hanover Square, Middlesex, England. I have gained this information from the 1861, 1871 and 1881 censuses. During this time she was living in Lambeth and later Islington with her husband David Walker. She died in about Sep 1887. The earliest information I have on her is her marriage certificate. She married David on the 24th Oct 1857 in The District Church Of St Mary Magdalen, St George The Martyr, Southwark, Surrey, England. Her father is mentioned on the certificate as Benjamin Owen, merchant tailor. I have not been able to find Emma Owen or her father Benjamin Owen in either the 1841 or 1851 censuses. I would really like to find out some more information on Emma's parents, particularly to find out who her mother was. Can anyone tell me how I should go on, and what my next step should be? Thanks for you time in reading this.

Emma (sorry, meant Caroline :-) ) Who are the witnesses on the marriage cert - do they hold any clues? Angela

The witnesses are Louis Owen and Alexander Fisher. Louisa might be her sister or her mother...

The closest one on BVRI is Emma Owen christened 1833 with parents Benjamin & Lydia. The only problem is that it's in Hereford, Herefordshire. Couldn't be her, could it? Update, no, just checked him in 1851, he's a cabinet maker.

The 1861 census Class: RG9; Piece: 353; Folio: 156; Page: 3; GSU roll: 542621 show Emma's widowed sister Maria Sporer (nee Owen) who is a nurse and her daughter Emma Sporer also live with Emma Owen and her husband David Walker.

Maria Owen was born in about 1823 in Westminster, Middlesex, England. She married John Edward Sporer in about May 1842 in St James, Westminster, Middlesex, England. Her daughter Emma Sporer was also born in Westminster in about 1843.

Thanks for you help Margaret. Unfortunatle I already had the mariage indexs for both marriages. I have sent off for Maria's marriage certificate now, and I already have the one for Emma.

I also have David and Emma and their seven sons on all the later censuses (and Emm'a first son is William Benjamin Walker).

What I really hope to find Emma's mother and father on a census. This will probably be quite hard as one or other of them might have died and the children could have grown up in scholols etc.

There is one entry for an Emma in 1841 that might be her at a school, but I can't prove it.

Name: Emma Owen
Age: 8
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1833
Gender: Female
Where born: Middlesex, England

Civil Parish: Chelsea
Hundred: Ossulstone (Kensington Division)
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England
Registration district: Kensington
Sub-registration district: Chelsea South
Neighbors: View others on page

Household Members: Name Age
Ann Gosden 25
Mary Green 13
Charlotte Jackson 12
Emily Maynard 14
Victoria Maynard 12
Ann Nicholls 30
Emma Owen 8
Ann Plym 9
Eliza Tindley 12




There is also an entry in the 1851 census that might be her working a s a servant, which I cannot prove is her either:

Name: Emma Owen
Age: 18
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1833
Relation: Servant
Gender: Female
Where born: London, Middlesex, England

Civil Parish: Bushey
County/Island: Hertfordshire
Country: England
Registration district: Watford
Sub-registration district: Bushey
ED, institution, or vessel: 2d
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 63

Household Members: Name Age
Sarah Ann Child 6
William Fulcomer 48
Elizabeth Goswell 23
Emma Owen 18


How can I find her parents and siblings? Do you think they died?

Caroline
As the place is so specific, have you thought of trying for her baptism record at St George's Hanover Square......not on the IGI but google for where the records are kept and contact them???
Good hunting
Joan

I did try this and they could not find any baptisms for an Emma Owen in 1833 in St G H Sq. I think it might be worth going back to them and broadening the search a bit though.

Thanks :-)

How about a visit to the London Metropolitan Archive, they hold parish records for Middx. Its just around the corner from the Family Records Centre in Clerkenwell, London. Or you can pay them to look but its expensive.

Caroline

I would broaden your search to other churches - St Georges Hanover Square is a registration district which covers quite a wide area.

Caroline

What is Emma's address on the marrige cert?

Emma's address (and her husband's) on the marriage certificate is Warner Street, Southwark, Surrey

Thanks for all your help. I have had a bit of a break through!

I sent off for Emma's sister Maria's marriage certificate and it has come back...

John Edward Sprer was a tailor like his father Francis Sporer and HER father whos name is listed as BERNARD Owen (NOT BENJAMIN).

The marriage cert says that Maria lives in Jermyn Street, Westminster, Middlesex.

The witnesses are Barnard Owen and Mary Freheen(?) Surrier(?).

I have found Bernard Owen in the 1841 census and this is very exciting as he turns out to have been a tailor who was born in Ireland and lives in Regent Street, Westminster!

Name: Bernard Owen
Age: 20
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1821
Gender: Male
Where born: Middlesex, England

Civil Parish: St James
Hundred: Westminster
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation: View Image

Registration district: St James Westminster
Sub-registration district: Golden Square
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Alfred Owen 15
Bernard Owen 55
Bernard Owen 20
Mary Owen 20
Sarah Owen 40


Sadly Emma is not on here. I cannot seem to find any of these people in 1851. However the Mary in this 1841 census could be my Maria from before...

What do you think? Is it them? Where do they go in 1851?