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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => London and Middlesex => England => London & Middlesex Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Trevellian on Tuesday 16 September 25 17:41 BST (UK)
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Hi, a bit of a strange one but I have been trying to research more about my (most likely) ancestor Isabella Boyens, who I have found in two newspaper entries.
1. In the Daily Telegraph, 30 March 1895, it is reported:
"BOYENS - If ISABELLA BOYENS, the niece of Robert Potts, late of 6, Oakleigh Street, Brick-Lane, will apply of Messrs. Hewlett, Preston and Co. of 2 Raymond-buildings, Gray's Inn, London, she will HEAR of SOMETHING to her ADVANTAGE. Any person giving satisfactory proof of the date of the death of the said Isabella Boyens will be rewarded."
2. In The Bath Chronicle, 11 April 1895, it refers to the Daily Telegraph's entry on a 'Persons Wanted' list:
"BOYENS, ISABELLA, niece of Robert Potts, late of 6, Oak-leigh Street, Brick-Lane. Something to advantage, or information of wanted. Advt. Times, March 30, 1895."
She appears to be the daughter of Henry Boyens and Isabella Potts (the latter with a brother Robert Potts, hence Isabella being the niece described). There is an Isabella Boyens born Q'2 1862, Mile End Old Town, with the MMN as Potts. However, this Isabella appears to die as an infant, with there being a corresponding death entry in the same year and same place. I have found a baptism for an Isabella Susan Boyens from 1866 with a birth date given of 2 February 1866; however, I can't find an official birth entry for this Isabella, but it is most likely this one as there is seemingly no other.
She married an Arthur William Dickens on 16 December 1895 in Edmonton, and the two can be found still in London on the 1901, 1911 and 1921 censuses (not to be confused with a slightly older Arthur William Dickens, b. 1862, who married a Cecily Domiley).
There is a death entry for an Isabella Dickens in 1948 in Dartford, Kent, age 86 = born 1862 which could fit, but I don't seem to be able to order it as a digital image and the cost of a PDF/certificate is a bit steep, so when died is unconfirmed.
There is an Isabella Boyens of London in a list of unclaimed estates published 1910, which may be relevant to the Daily Telegraph's entry about her. The Daily Telegraph's entry is rather strange, as they simultaneously address her as if she is alive and as if she is dead!
...So essentially what I am trying to find out is what she was 'wanted' for, whether to verify her uncle Robert Potts had died, or was it she herself had died and they were seeking someone to confirm this? For the latter, I discovered the 'Hewlett, Preston and Co.' was a Solicitors from the time who obviously would have been involved with the will.
I am confused by it all, especially the Daily Telegraph piece, but hopefully I have explained clearly enough and I would be very grateful for any suggestions about what's going on, thank you :)
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Isabella gives her age as 25 when she marries Arthur Dickens in 1895 :-\
1901 she is in Edmonton age 29 born Mile End and 1911 in Southgate age 43 bn Whitechapel - still in Southgate in 1921 age 50
Southgate comes under Edmonton RD
Death Mar qtr 1936
Dickens Isabella age 66
Edmonton 3a 1103
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Try this one
1851 Census Deptford Kent
Thomas Floyd 38 Shipwright born Deptford Kent
Margaret Floyd 33 born Plymouth Devon
*Isabella Potts 11 born Limehouse (daughter in law) s/b step daughter
*Robert Potts 7 born Limehouse (son in law) s/b step son
Thomas Floyd 9
William Floyd 6
Thomas Floyd married Margaret Potts reg. Polar 1848
Either they were both widowed or he was widowed and Margaret had 2 illegitimate children.
It seems significant that their names are Isabella and Robert. Might be a connection.
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1841 Census St. Anne, Limehouse
Robert Potts 30 Shipwright Transcribed on ancestry a Petta
Margaret 20
Isabella 1
ADDED
GRO Index
Robert Potts reg. Stepney 1844 mother's maiden name Livingstone
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Robert Potts married Margaret Louanstone 1839 reg. Stepney
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That wording is typical when solicitors are trying to trace a lost beneficiary to a will or other financial benefit
Robert Potts died 22 Feb 1894 in Bethnal Green workhouse. Address on the probate register was 24 Oakley St, Brick Lane. Administration of his estate was given to Henry Boyens, engineer, in July 1895
Death registration gives his age as 45
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There's a Henry Boyens b c1861 who is in the Mile End area in 1881, and is an engine fitter. Looks like he may also be the child of Henry and Isabella
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1871 - Mile End
Henry Bayens 40
Isabella Bayens 31
Robert Bayens 7
Isabella Bayens 5
Nicholas Boyens 2
Henry jnr is with his grandparents
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It would appear that Robert Potts of 24 Oakleigh St, Brick Lane died 22 February 1894 at Bethnal Green Workhouse without leaving a will and Henry Boyens (occ Engineer) applied to administer his estate. His effects were £288.13.11d
Perhaps Isabella was no longer in contact with her father but there was to be a payment from this money to her
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Isabella gives her age as 25 when she marries Arthur Dickens in 1895 :-\
I did notice that though it's not that unusual for people to have not been entirely truthful with their ages, especially if in truth she was a bit older than him. It definitely is the right couple though, who significantly have Isabella's brother Henry Boyens' children (Emily) Elizabeth and Ernest in their household on the day the 1911 census was completed, stated as niece and nephew.
Death Mar qtr 1936
Dickens Isabella age 66
Edmonton 3a 1103
I can see that death entry now too and don't know how I didn't find it before! Thank you for finding it!
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1841 Census St. Anne, Limehouse
Robert Potts 30 Shipwright Transcribed on ancestry a Petta
Margaret 20
Isabella 1
ADDED
GRO Index
Robert Potts reg. Stepney 1844 mother's maiden name Livingstone
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Robert Potts married Margaret Louanstone 1839 reg. Stepney
Thank you for finding all this! I think we can be quite sure this is the right Isabella (as the mother of the 'wanted' Isabella in question) which makes her born c. 1840, the daughter of Robert Potts and Margaret Livingstone, where Robert must have passed (and Margaret remarried) before the 1851 census. On this note, a Margaret Potts marries a Thomas Floyd Q'2 1848 in nearby Poplar, which must be the couple we find on the 1851 census. You were certainly right that it was significant the two Potts children were called Robert and Isabella. I can't seem to be able to find a death entry for this Isabella b. about 1840, but it's her daughter who's the key focus anyway.
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That wording is typical when solicitors are trying to trace a lost beneficiary to a will or other financial benefit
That's really useful to know, thank you; I was hoping someone would be able to confirm or deny.
Robert Potts died 22 Feb 1894 in Bethnal Green workhouse. Address on the probate register was 24 Oakley St, Brick Lane. Administration of his estate was given to Henry Boyens, engineer, in July 1895
Death registration gives his age as 45
That's definitely the right Robert Potts what with the Boyens connection, even though the age given would make him born about 1849, not 1844 or so as the 1851 Floyd census and 1844 Stepney birth entry would suggest :-\
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There's a Henry Boyens b c1861 who is in the Mile End area in 1881, and is an engine fitter. Looks like he may also be the child of Henry and Isabella
Thank you I have got him too, I have found his birth entry as Q'3 1860, Whitechapel, MMN Potts, and likely corresponding death entry 1904, Edmonton, age 42 (only two years out).
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It would appear that Robert Potts of 24 Oakleigh St, Brick Lane died 22 February 1894 at Bethnal Green Workhouse without leaving a will and Henry Boyens (occ Engineer) applied to administer his estate. His effects were £288.13.11d
Perhaps Isabella was no longer in contact with her father but there was to be a payment from this money to her
The slightly frustrating thing is this Henry Boyens could either be the father (born about 1830) or the son born Q'3 1860 Whitechapel, as while the son is still alive at this point as I have his death entry for 1904 (see previous reply) I can't find a death entry for Henry Boyens senior, so am unsure whether he was still alive. If they were both still alive, she must have no longer been in contact with the whole family to have been so unreachable.
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Maybe the administration document gives an address for Henry
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Maybe the administration document gives an address for Henry
Good call and may well be interesting anyway. I have ordered the will - will update when it becomes available :)
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It would appear that Robert Potts of 24 Oakleigh St, Brick Lane died 22 February 1894 at Bethnal Green Workhouse without leaving a will and Henry Boyens (occ Engineer) applied to administer his estate. His effects were £288.13.11d
Perhaps Isabella was no longer in contact with her father but there was to be a payment from this money to her
The slightly frustrating thing is this Henry Boyens could either be the father (born about 1830) or the son born Q'3 1860 Whitechapel, as while the son is still alive at this point as I have his death entry for 1904 (see previous reply) I can't find a death entry for Henry Boyens senior, so am unsure whether he was still alive. If they were both still alive, she must have no longer been in contact with the whole family to have been so unreachable.
Probably the son - think this is the father's death
Henry Boyens
Age 42
Q4 1873
Bethnal Green, Vol 1c p 204
Added - have found a workhouse record for him. Admitted 14 Oct, died 28th. Address and occupation match 1871
I couldn't find birth registrations for Robert or Nicholas from 1871 either, as well as Isabella jnr
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I suspect the family may have been split up after Henry died.
Not sure what happened to Isabella the mother
Robert was also admitted to the workhouse in October 1873 and then sent on to Forest Gate school/home. He's a lodger in 1881
Nicholas looks to have remained connected to Henry jnr, as they are together in 1891
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I suspect the family may have been split up after Henry died.
Not sure what happened to Isabella the mother
Robert was also admitted to the workhouse in October 1873 and then sent on to Forest Gate school/home. He's a lodger in 1881
Nicholas looks to have remained connected to Henry jnr, as they are together in 1891
I think you may be right the family was split up, at least for a while. For Nicholas and Henry jnr. staying connected, it appears Nicholas was 'reunited' with his sister Isabella after Henry jnr. died in 1904, as in the 1911 census he is part of her household (though stated as a lodger, rather than brother-in-law to Isabella's husband, while the late Henry's two children (Emily) Elizabeth and Ernest are correctly stated as niece and nephew).
Going back to the original question about Isabella's involvement with Robert Potts' estate and being sought after by her brother Henry in relation to it, you would think given that she was at least reunited with their brother Nicholas that it did get resolved. However, there is that Isabella Boyens of London who appears on F. H. Dougal & Co.'s 'Unclaimed Money Registry' in 1910 - suggesting it was still to be sorted 15 years on from the original newspaper entry in 1895. Obviously by 1910 (December 16 1895 onwards) she was Isabella Dickens, not Boyens, but there doesn't seem to be another Isabella Boyens this could have been.
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I suspect the family may have been split up after Henry died.
Not sure what happened to Isabella the mother
Robert was also admitted to the workhouse in October 1873 and then sent on to Forest Gate school/home. He's a lodger in 1881
Nicholas looks to have remained connected to Henry jnr, as they are together in 1891
I think you may be right the family was split up, at least for a while. For Nicholas and Henry jnr. staying connected, it appears Nicholas was 'reunited' with his sister Isabella after Henry jnr. died in 1904, as in the 1911 census he is part of her household (though stated as a lodger, rather than brother-in-law to Isabella's husband, while the late Henry's two children (Emily) Elizabeth and Ernest are correctly stated as niece and nephew).
Going back to the original question about Isabella's involvement with Robert Potts' estate and being sought after by her brother Henry in relation to it, you would think given that she was at least reunited with their brother Nicholas that it did get resolved. However, there is that Isabella Boyens of London who appears on F. H. Dougal & Co.'s 'Unclaimed Money Registry' in 1910 - suggesting it was still to be sorted 15 years on from the original newspaper entry in 1895. Obviously by 1910 (December 16 1895 onwards) she was Isabella Dickens, not Boyens, but there doesn't seem to be another Isabella Boyens this could have been.
I think Nicholas and Isabella were linked up earlier, as it looks like he witnessed her marriage in 1895. He's Nicholas Thomas, and the witness looks very like N T Boyens to me
Is the 1910 item referring to Isabella Boyens as the person whose estate is unclaimed, or a lost beneficiary? There is also the mother that I've not traced after 1871
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I suspect the family may have been split up after Henry died.
Not sure what happened to Isabella the mother
Robert was also admitted to the workhouse in October 1873 and then sent on to Forest Gate school/home. He's a lodger in 1881
Nicholas looks to have remained connected to Henry jnr, as they are together in 1891
I think you may be right the family was split up, at least for a while. For Nicholas and Henry jnr. staying connected, it appears Nicholas was 'reunited' with his sister Isabella after Henry jnr. died in 1904, as in the 1911 census he is part of her household (though stated as a lodger, rather than brother-in-law to Isabella's husband, while the late Henry's two children (Emily) Elizabeth and Ernest are correctly stated as niece and nephew).
Going back to the original question about Isabella's involvement with Robert Potts' estate and being sought after by her brother Henry in relation to it, you would think given that she was at least reunited with their brother Nicholas that it did get resolved. However, there is that Isabella Boyens of London who appears on F. H. Dougal & Co.'s 'Unclaimed Money Registry' in 1910 - suggesting it was still to be sorted 15 years on from the original newspaper entry in 1895. Obviously by 1910 (December 16 1895 onwards) she was Isabella Dickens, not Boyens, but there doesn't seem to be another Isabella Boyens this could have been.
I think Nicholas and Isabella were linked up earlier, as it looks like he witnessed her marriage in 1895. He's Nicholas Thomas, and the witness looks very like N T Boyens to me
Is the 1910 item referring to Isabella Boyens as the person whose estate is unclaimed, or a lost beneficiary? There is also the mother that I've not traced after 1871
Good spot! I agree it really does look like N T Boyens. Strange that she didn't seem to have been reachable by her other brother earlier that same year in that case.
I am not sure in which capacity Isabella is in the 1910 item, it's just something I found using my local library's FindMyPast subscription. RootsChat won't let me attach a file for some reason (not a file too large issue, it simply isn't giving me the option in the first place) but the two key parts of the document are the title, 'F. H. Dougal & Co.'s "Unclaimed Money Registry", 62, Strand, London. Full and authentic copy of advertisement relating to any name, £1.' and on the page below it has an alphabetical list of names including 'Boyens, Isabella (London) 19-J.' - that's all the information it gives about her. It is from the FindMyPast Record set 'Britain, Missing Beneficiaries and Unclaimed Estates 1910' so she could be either (?).
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There is also the mother that I've not traced after 1871
I haven't been able to find anything more about her either, but you're right to bring her up as obviously she if still alive actually would be Isabella Boyens in 1910 not Isabella Dickens. When Robert's will that I ordered becomes available I'm hoping that might shed some light on things...
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Could Isabella read?
Would she have read The Daily Telegraph and or The Times where the notice was originally published.
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Could Isabella read?
Would she have read The Daily Telegraph and or The Times where the notice was originally published.
She made her mark rather than signed the marriage register
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Robert Potts' will I ordered is now available. However, the GRO have said they are unable to provide a copy of the will, as a Grant of Letters of Administration was issued since he died intestate. We knew this already, but it turns out it is still a barrier to research all these years on. The grant however can be viewed and states:
"BE IT KNOWN, that at the date hereunder written, Letters of Administration of the personal Estate of Robert Potts of no. 24 Oakley Street Brick Lane Spitalfields in the County of London deceased, who died on the 22nd day of February 1894 at the Bethnal Green Workhouse in the said County a Widower without child or Parent Brother or Sister and intestate, were granted by Her Majesty's High Court of Justice at the Principal Registry of the Probate Division thereof to Henry Boyens of no. 15 Sheldon Road Silver Street Edmonton in the County of Middlesex Engineer the lawful nephew and one of the next of kin of the said intestate, he having been first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same.
Dated the 11th day of July 1895
Gross value of Personal Estate £288.13.11"
So it certainly was Henry Boyens 'junior' i.e. Isabella's brother, rather than the father, who it is now even more likely correct died in 1873 and the family split up as discussed.
Very strange, then, that her brother Henry had needed to resort to advertising in the newspaper about her inheritance, as although the family had been split up it appears to have been due to a death rather than a falling out, and it evidently wasn't permanent. As you have highlighted she wouldn't have even necessarily been able to read the notice. I don't think we'll find out why Isabella lost touch with her remaining family temporarily, or whether she got her inheritance in the end, but at least we know the circumstances around the newspaper entry now! Thank you everyone for your help :)