Strange Memo . . .

[casalguidi]

I haven't checked the original GRO image but there is a Thomas Herbert FROSS? birth registration March quarter 1864 Stepney registration district ref. 1c 502 http://freebmd.rootsweb.com

Casalguidi

[mike175]

Wow! I just checked in briefly to see if there were any responses . . . looks like I'm going to be busy this evening.

Thomas Herbert Fross looks like a very strong contender for the birth, and he doesn't seem to appear again elsewhere under that name. Unfortunately, having found the BMD entry on ancestry, the original scan of the index page doesn't show him 

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll post more details later and see if anything turns up.

Mike.

[casalguidi]

Hi Mike

I've managed to look at the GRO index and it definitely says FROSS but, and this is a big BUT, FROSS is indexed between FOSKEY and FOSSETT which leads me to think that the "R" shouldn't be there at all and perhaps it is FOSS!

(the relevant page starts with Isabella FORSTER and ends with Charles FOSTER)

Casalguidi

[pjbuk007]

I think Kizmiaz' suggestion sounds like a very good explanation for the June 3rd comment!

This is very intriguing.  My ggrandmother was farmed out - I am really not sure where she was in the 1881 0r 1891.  Her mother had a child who died 5 years after she was born, might or might not have married that child's father and then disappears.  Probably dies.  I would love to know how my ggrandmother got from Gloucestershire to Glamorgan and met my ggrandfather.

Maybe Thomas was fostered, then disappeared.

[mike175]

Casalguidi,
I've just come from a page by page search, and came to the same conclusion, that there was an error in compiling the index. I'm convinced enough to spend £7 on a certificate anyway, which should prove it either way . . . wish I'd logged in to RC again before searching and saved myself the time, but it's good to get a second opinion . . . especially when it agrees  

pjbuk007,
I did wonder if perhaps he had been adopted or fostered. His eldest sister, age 13, remained with their father when their mother died. The 12 year old sister was staying with an aunt on the 1871 census, and was married at 19, before the 1881, so may well have lived with the aunt during that time. I can't imagine the father giving up his only son lightly, but he may have felt it was for the best . . . if indeed that's what happened. The memo does make me think perhaps he didn't die young after all.

JAP,
These are the census entries:
RG10/563/15/21
Thomas Foss Head Shipwright b.1829 Beaulieu
Martha Elizabeth Foss Daur b.1859 London
Thomas Herbert Son b.1864 London
RG10/547/71/2
Ann Hincken Head Wid 60 (b.Lynn,Norfolk - where Martha's family came from)
Thomas Henry Wye Son-in-law 31
Julia Elizabeth Wye Daur 21
Anne Julia Wye Grandaur 2
Thomas Henry Wye Junr Grandson 10mo
Martha Priscilla Foss Visitor 39 (nee Press. Thomas Herbert's mother)
RG10/875/73/17
William Gawtrey Head 21 Smith & Farrier
Elizabeth M Gawtrey Wife 23 
Sarah Press Lodger 44 Accoucheuse from [?] lying in hospital (Winifred's aunt)
Winifred Foss Visitor 10 (Thomas Herbert's other sister)

Thanks for the help so far, you've set me off on a whole new search . . . 

Mike.

PS. This is the father and daughters c.1895 

[MarieC]

What a fine-looking family!  And what an intriguing puzzle!  I'm looking forward to reading what transpires... 

MarieC

[casalguidi]

I'm looking forward to reading what transpires.

Me too and, yes, what a lovely photograph!

Casalguidi

[mike175]

Well, the mother's death certificate arrived today, and she died of "Morbus Uteri 2 years Morbus Cordis Certified" . . . which roughly translates as an infected uterus for 2 years, with the actual cause of death being heart failure. Poor woman!

I've ordered Thomas FROSS' birth certificate, on the assumption that it is a misprint in the index . . . I gave both variations of the surname on the application, so I hope they'll find him. 

Working on the adoption theory, in the absence of a death record, I've  searched for any Thomas born at the same time with a different surname, but no luck so far. I suppose they might have changed his first name even though he was already 7-8 years old?

Thanks for all the help. I'll post any new findings, as and when . . . . 

Mike.

PS. Photo restoration by the brilliant Cazza59   

[JAP]

Just a thought.

That was an inspired thought of Glen's to search in The Times.  But the report of an abduction, while it could fit with the first part of the note (which was dated 3 Jan 1908 and says 1 Jan 1908 Reminded me of my brother Thomas Herbert Foss.) doesn't fit in any way at all (as far as I can see) with the rest of the note (which says Thank God if it is and help us to do right.)

Might there have been some other story in the newspaper(s) which, for whatever reason, sounded to her as if it might refer to her (missing?) brother Thomas Herbert Foss (who would have been ca 44 by then)?  Does she then, hoping that it is Thomas, give thanks to God if it should turn out to be him.  And does she then ask God to help the family do whatever is best (or, perhaps, ask God to help the family to try to put to rights whatever happened to Thomas in the past).

JAP