I wasn't sure where to post this, but I have an intriguing problem. Thomas Herbert Foss was my gt.gt.uncle. The only reference I have for him is the 1871 census when he was 7 years old, living with his father and sister in Mile End Old Town. His other sister age 10 was staying with an aunt and his mother was a visitor elsewhere. She died in the following year, age 41, and I'm currently awaiting her Death Cert. from GRO.
Although the rest of the family is well documented, I can't find any further reference to Thomas despite trying every variation of the name I can think of. I assumed that he probably died around the same time as his mother, and had put him in the "things to do" folder . . . my, how big that one is!
Now for the intriguing bit . . . In an old notebook I discovered a memo written by his sister, dated June 3rd 1908 : "
1st June 1908 Reminded me of my brother Thomas Herbert Foss. Thank God if it is and help us to do right."
Clearly something happened to him, but was it simply an early death? The only likely record is 1888 in Poplar, but in that case he should appear somewhere on the 1881 census. Naturally I can find no death or other incident in the family for 1 June 1908 which might have propted the note
Maybe I should just leave it hanging in the air as a mystery, but if anyone can shed any light, or offer helpful suggestions, it would be one less item in the "to do" file. His birthplace was shown simply as London.
Mike.
