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Lancashire Lookup Requests / Re: Rayner family in 1901
« on: Friday 15 September 23 23:44 BST (UK) »
Hi Simon,
So it looks like William was your and my husband John's great-grandfather! Which of William's children are you descended from?
We found the family on the 1901 and 1911 censuses under the name of Smith. In 1901, Amy and William were with them but not in the 1911 census. With wife Helen, he had Nellie, Walter, Lilian, Ethel and Maggie. Nellie married Jack Fitton, as you point out, and they had Marjorie and John (aka Jack), who are John's mum and uncle respectively, both long departed.
We didn't know that Hannah had also died young. What happened to Bertie?
We wondered if William and Helen were actually married or were they ''on the run'' from something? It seems strange that they moved around so much and also changed their name to the most common name in the country (to avoid detection). Also, on each census, their places of birth seem to change. An added mystery is that Margaret, the youngest daughter, lived at home and had 2 sons. No one knew who their father was. If only we could turn back the clock and investigate issues like we can today!
Please keep us updated with any new finds!
Ann and John
So it looks like William was your and my husband John's great-grandfather! Which of William's children are you descended from?
We found the family on the 1901 and 1911 censuses under the name of Smith. In 1901, Amy and William were with them but not in the 1911 census. With wife Helen, he had Nellie, Walter, Lilian, Ethel and Maggie. Nellie married Jack Fitton, as you point out, and they had Marjorie and John (aka Jack), who are John's mum and uncle respectively, both long departed.
We didn't know that Hannah had also died young. What happened to Bertie?
We wondered if William and Helen were actually married or were they ''on the run'' from something? It seems strange that they moved around so much and also changed their name to the most common name in the country (to avoid detection). Also, on each census, their places of birth seem to change. An added mystery is that Margaret, the youngest daughter, lived at home and had 2 sons. No one knew who their father was. If only we could turn back the clock and investigate issues like we can today!
Please keep us updated with any new finds!
Ann and John