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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => London and Middlesex => England => London & Middlesex Lookup Requests => Topic started by: yendis44 on Thursday 15 September 11 17:40 BST (UK)

Title: London Theatre
Post by: yendis44 on Thursday 15 September 11 17:40 BST (UK)
RANSOM Sidney Lewis b. 1881 Wandsworth. He is my Grand-Uncle.Was a well known London actor, playwright, artist and author. The London Times has reviews of his plays during the 1920's but I cannot find his marriage or death details. I know he married an Irish actress and they had a daughter Doreen Ransom who died aged 9 or 10. Again, no trace of her. He also worked under Mosnar Yendis (his name spelt backwards). He disappears from 1891 Census onward. Have also searched Overseas Consular Marriages & Deaths. :(Any help greatly appreciated. Yendis44
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: nanny jan on Thursday 15 September 11 19:13 BST (UK)
Hi,

Is this the family on 1901 census?

Sidney Ransom b 1876 Pimlico     Artist   
Ena Ransom wife b 1874  Basingstoke   Actress
Doreen Ransom dau b 1894  Clapham

Living at 49 Crewdson Rd, Lambeth
 
RG13     420     146    48


Nanny Jan
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: mosiefish on Thursday 15 September 11 20:06 BST (UK)
Nice one Nanny Jan  ;D

Possible marriage in June Qtr 1893 Lambeth Volume 1d page 879
A Sidney Ransom and Ena Lewis appear on the same page.

Mo
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: nanny jan on Thursday 15 September 11 20:23 BST (UK)

Nice one Mo!   :D

Can't see anything for Doreen; I wonder if she was registered with another name?


Nanny Jan
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: mosiefish on Thursday 15 September 11 20:44 BST (UK)
The nearest death I can find is of an Olive Doreen Ransom in March Quarter 1903 Lambeth aged 9. There doesn`t seem to be a corresponding birth.  :-\

Mo
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: nanny jan on Thursday 15 September 11 20:58 BST (UK)

There's this birth:

Olive Hazel Ransom   MarQ  1894  Lambeth    but I can't track this one.........   maybe time for a reviving cuppa!


Nanny Jan
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: yendis44 on Friday 16 September 11 02:22 BST (UK)
Sorry Sidney's birthdate is 1881 - I have his Certificate for this. Although being an actor maybe he reduced his age? And for some reason lied about his birthplace! Perhaps Wandsworth where he was born was not a salubrious place as Pimilco?I have saved this and tried to research Ena and Doreen mentioned. Thank You Nanny Jan, Mosie Fish and Mo for your assistance.
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: JenB on Friday 16 September 11 09:11 BST (UK)
Sorry Sidney's birthdate is 1881 - I have his Certificate for this.

Could you then post the details from the birth certificate, in particular the father's name and occupation and the mother's maiden name.

You say he can't be found after the 1891 census, but I've been unable to find him on that. Has anyone else?
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: JenB on Friday 16 September 11 09:18 BST (UK)
You say he can't be found after the 1891 census, but I've been unable to find him on that. Has anyone else?

Answering myself  :-[

If I have the right family they are in Worcester in 1891 Rg 12 / 2328 / 46 / 1. Parents are William and Susannah?
In 1881 they are in Wandsworth, RG 11 / 658 / 100 / 20
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: yendis44 on Friday 16 September 11 09:51 BST (UK)
Yes, he was with his parents William & Sussanah nee Fitzgerald in Worcester but after that he disappears.
His father was a Supervisor in the Inland Revenue.
This shows Sidney's siblings of William, and Herbert (my grandfather). Their sister Edith who ended up nursing the wounded in France during WW1 also disappears from all the Cenus rcords.
The Pimlico record doesnt have Sidney's correct birthdate of 1881 - but I am prepared to believe that he lied about his age and birthplace.
Thanks for you interest. This family is my worst brickwall!!!
Yendis44
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: yendis44 on Friday 16 September 11 10:15 BST (UK)
Jen B - Sidney was 10 yrs old with the family in Worcester in 1891. His father William, was a Supervisor of Inland Revenue and his mother's maiden name is Fitzgerald.
Thanks for your help.
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: JenB on Friday 16 September 11 10:51 BST (UK)
Sidney Ransom b 1876 Pimlico     Artist   
Ena Ransom wife b 1874  Basingstoke   Actress
Doreen Ransom dau b 1894  Clapham

Living at 49 Crewdson Rd, Lambeth
 
RG13     420     146    48

Odder and odder.

Ena seems to be Halgena E.P. Lewis, who appears in the 1891 census as an actress, born Basingstoke in 1867.
RG 12 / 118 / 43 / 28, living at Regent's Park Terrace.

In 1881 she's with her family in Eastbourne. Her mother is 'born at sea' and her father born in Ireland.
Rg 11 / 1038 / 125 / 49

Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: yendis44 on Friday 16 September 11 11:20 BST (UK)
Thank You for that. You have found more on Ena than I ever have.The family looks right but I still have a problem with Sidney's age and birthplace which doesnt match his earlier proven Birth record.
Just contacted my sister in NZ who says that she has a suitcase from our Grandfather (Sidney's brother) that had a shipping sticker attached to it - from Cork.
Great excitement in the family - we've been searching SLR for years and had so little on him.
Your information also means that Sidney was 14 yearsyounger than his wife. No wonder he altered his birthdate!
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: JenB on Friday 16 September 11 11:36 BST (UK)
Thank You for that. You have found more on Ena than I ever have.The family looks right but I still have a problem with Sidney's age and birthplace which doesnt match his earlier proven Birth record.
Just contacted my sister in NZ who says that she has a suitcase from our Grandfather (Sidney's brother) that had a shipping sticker attached to it - from Cork.
Great excitement in the family - we've been searching SLR for years and had so little on him.
Your information also means that Sidney was 14 yearsyounger than his wife. No wonder he altered his birthdate!

Halgena Everard Potter Lewis, born 2q 1865, Basingstoke 2c, 168

Halgena E. P. Ransom died aged 74, 4q 1943, Poole, 5a, 343
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: yendis44 on Friday 16 September 11 12:14 BST (UK)
JenB....I am new to this. Please what does 2q or 4q mean?
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: JenB on Friday 16 September 11 12:25 BST (UK)
 Each year is split up into quarters with, for example, all events registered between 1 Jan and 31 Mar held in the index labelled March. Remember it is upon when events were registered, which for marriages is normally the same day as when the marriage took place. However births may be registered up to 6 weeks after they occur, so a December birth is likely to be indexed in the March volume for the following year.

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/civreg/

1q = Ist quarter = January February March (also called the March quarter)
2q = 2nd quarter = April May June (June quarter)
3q = 3rd quarter = July August September (September quarter)
4q = 4th quarter = October November December (December quarter)

So Halgena's birth was registered sometime between 1st April and 30th June 1865, and her death sometime between 1st October and 31st December 1943.
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: yendis44 on Friday 16 September 11 12:49 BST (UK)
Thank you so much for that information.
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: nanny jan on Friday 16 September 11 16:03 BST (UK)

Is this death registration for the right Sidney?


Sidney L Ransom   SeptQ  1933     Swansea      11a     879         Age given =  57


This would match the Sidney Ransom born 1876.


Nanny Jan
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: JenB on Friday 16 September 11 16:16 BST (UK)
Sidney Ransom b 1876 Pimlico     Artist   
Ena Ransom wife b 1874  Basingstoke   Actress
Doreen Ransom dau b 1894  Clapham

Living at 49 Crewdson Rd, Lambeth
 
RG13     420     146    48

Sidney and Ena's occupations match exactly with what you've told us. So does the name of their child.

Possible marriage in June Qtr 1893 Lambeth Volume 1d page 879
A Sidney Ransom and Ena Lewis appear on the same page.

This also fits, because it introduces the name Lewis into the equation and perhaps explains why Sidney Ransom was also (according to google) known as Sidney Lewis-Ransom.

An 1893 marriage would also 'fit' with the apparent birthdate of the child on the census - c. 1893/94

BUT this can't be the Sidney you refer to, because it makes him only 12 when he married  ::)

At the moment I'm going round in circles I'm afraid.
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: nanny jan on Friday 16 September 11 18:30 BST (UK)

Looks as though it is time to buy a copy of the marriage certificate if the details are not available online.


Nanny Jan
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: avm228 on Friday 16 September 11 18:49 BST (UK)
A Sidney RANSOM born 25 February 1881 was employed amongst the electrical and power staff of the Midland Railway (though based in London) between 24 Oct 1901 and 18 June 1908.  He is said to have been previously employed as an electrician with the P&O S.N. Co (or similar - hard to read).

I see that the Sidney who was in Wandsworth in 1881 was 1 month old - could his future have been as electrician rather than dramatist?

NB there is also a Sidney RANSOM of the same sort of age (b abt 1881) who seems to have gone into Holy Orders and then become a theosophical lecturer in places including South Africa, Australia and India.
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: nanny jan on Friday 16 September 11 19:21 BST (UK)

That's interesting;  it's looking likely that the Sidney born 1881 is not the artist sought by the OP.



Nanny Jan
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: yendis44 on Friday 16 September 11 20:14 BST (UK)
Nanny Jan you feel tht you are going in circles with Sidney Lewis Ransom - Im spinning in circles!!
I previously doubted the Halgena Lewis connection but that record matched so well with what we knew about him. It is so easy to accept Halgena Lewis and Doreen Ransom but like you say it is time to nail them down with evidence of my supposition. The Marriage Certificate will be the first port of call.
Thank you for all you have done. Your time and effort is much appreciated.This would have to be the best site that I have ever used.
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: JenB on Friday 16 September 11 20:24 BST (UK)
You say you have the birth certificate - what is the birth date given on it, please?
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: nanny jan on Friday 16 September 11 20:35 BST (UK)
Please post the details when you get the marriage certificate; he's an intriguing character.   ;)

The details of his father will probably be accurate but Sidney might be "flexible" about his age.   I have a few ladies in my tree who adjusted their age when marrying a younger man.   ::)


Nanny Jan
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: yendis44 on Friday 16 September 11 20:45 BST (UK)
Jen B...SLR was born 4 March 1881 in Wandsworth,Surrey. I doubt he was ever an electrican. In fact I have a lot of data on his theatrical career. His plays were staged at Terry's Theatre, Prince of Wales theatre and the London Times reviewed his plays. He wrote The Great Red Frog a childrens story and The Flame a book of poetry for adults. He was also known as an artist. He designed the front cover of The Poster and was known to design playbills and theatre posters. Yes, you are right he sometimes styled himself as Lewis-Ransom and Mosnar Yendis (his name spelt backwards).
Thank you to everyone who has tried to help and searched records for me. There are a number of Sidney Ransom's but mine is definately Sidney Lewis Ransom.
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: nanny jan on Friday 16 September 11 20:54 BST (UK)

What address is given on Sidney's birth certificate?


Nanny Jan
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: avm228 on Friday 16 September 11 20:57 BST (UK)
Do let us know when the 1893 Ransom/Lewis marriage certificate arrives - I shall be intrigued to see what it says, especially about Sidney's age.  If he's the chap born on 4 March 1881 he must have had something extraordinary about him to walk down the aisle at 12 years old.

Anna :)
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: yendis44 on Friday 16 September 11 21:11 BST (UK)
The address on his Birth Certificate is 42 Dempster Road, Wandsworth, Surrey.
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: JenB on Friday 16 September 11 21:35 BST (UK)
The address on his Birth Certificate is 42 Dempster Road, Wandsworth, Surrey.

That ties exactly with where the family are in the 1881 census

In 1881 they are in Wandsworth, RG 11 / 658 / 100 / 20
Title: Re: London Theatre
Post by: JenB on Friday 16 September 11 21:37 BST (UK)
Please let us know what the marriage certificate says.