Laura Ann Heath, or is she?

[lindagene]

I am trying to find my Great Grandmother, Laura Ann Heath.
Laura married Thomas Davies in Penkridge in 1885.  She gave her age as 21, her birthplace as Wolverhampton, her father as Thomas Heath, her father's profession as a butcher.....but
if she was born in 1863/4  then she should be on the 1871 census with her age around 8, I can find no record of her.  In the 1881 census the only Laura Heath was in "Clarendon Road Magdallen Asylum Refuge for destitute girls" which is in Birmingham, where the age is given as 18 and her birthplace as Wolverhampton.  This could well be 'my' Laura....but I cannot be sure.  As with all institute census records, the grouping is the inmates not the family.

I have found only one Thomas Heath  who was a butcher on the 1881 census, but I am not at all sure that this is the Thomas I am looking for.  His wife on the 1871 census is shown as Elizabeth.

I do have a copy of a death card for a Mary Ann Heath, wife to Thomas Heath.  This Mary Ann died aged 44 in March of 1868 she is buried in Wolverhampton    this looks likely...but.... I do  not know if this is 'my' Laura's mother.  I have not found a marriage between a Thomas and a Mary Ann anywhere.

Any help to find my way out of this maze would be appreciated, there are just too many Heaths in Staffordshire.

Lindy 

[sillgen]

Have you found Laura in the 1891 and 1901 census records?   Is her place of birth and age always consistent?  What about her death record?
Andrea

[sillgen]

In 1891 she is age 26 and in 1901 age 34 so there is a possibility that she is younger than you think.  Wolverhampton is a constant though.  Have you search the births there?
Andrea

[Willow 4873]

Hiya Lindy

The Mary Ann you mentioned is on Wolverhampton Archives http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/resources/familyhistory

22 Mar 1868 Mary Ann HEATH 44years Swan Street St.Matthew Wife of Thomas Labourer

There isn't any baptism entry for Laura though

Willow x

[Willow 4873]

Hiya Lindy

There is also on FreeREG a marriage 13.2.1859 at St Peters for a Thomas Heath 29 lwagoneer of Stafford Street father Thomas to a Mary Hicks father Benjamin Love both fathers deceased

Thomas shows up on the 1871 census as a forge labourer married with unmarried daughters and son in laws (stepchildren) Martha John and Hannah RG10/2939 Folio 32 Page 22

Colud Laura be a Hicks?

Willow x

[Dozey_Joy]

Hi Lindy

I can't help you with finding Laura Ann before her marriage. However I live in Penkridge and I was wondering if she stayed in Penkridge after her marriage and whether Thomas and Laura died there. The reason I ask is if you like I can see if I can find a grave in the churchyard (I'm already looking for one for someone else). Also if the Davies' came from Penkridge are there any other names to look out for - I've already noticed there are a few Davies graves together.

Joy

[lindagene]

Thanks to everybody who has taken the time and trouble to reply  to my query....

Joy,  yes Penkridge was my grandfather's village  he was born and brought up there.  My Davies line live in the village from at least 1851 according to the census.  Thomas and Laura Ann were both still there on the 1901 cencus and I believe that they were both buried there.  Sadly my grandfather and his mother were not on the best of terms so my father's memory of them is thin to say the least.  His comments to me were, "I only met her once and I did not like her"  isn't that sad.   If you could find her and Thomas I would be delighted.  A death date could be just the information I need.
I am related to three other families in Penkridge,   the Whitehouse family, Janet Davies married Percy Whitehouse  and they had two boys, Cyril and Alan.  Nellie Davies married George Morris but I do not believe that they had any children, Fanny Davies married John Rostance, and their son John still lives in Penkridge - or at least he did last year which was when I last heard from him.   Sadly knowing all this has not helped me with finding out Laura Ann's family.  A definite death date for Laura would be a bonus.  Thanks Joy.

Willow x.  Thanks for looking this up, I have not come across the name Hicks before, but will take a look and see if this is my answer.  I followed up the Wolverhampton archive link that you gave me and found Mary Ann there, but like you, could find nothing for Laura Ann.

Sillgen,  Hi, I have looked for her birth in Wolverhampton, but came up with nothing, I do think that she has lied about her age on her marriage certificate, by saying that she was 21 she would not have had to have parental consent, maybe her parent(s) were not happy with her choice, or they were not in touch.  I am still trying to find her date of death.  Hopefully with Joy's help I will achieve this.

Thanks again everyone, what a nice bunch you all are.

Lindy

[Dozey_Joy]

Lindy I'll make a notes of the names and see what I can find. I don't know when I'll get chance so don't worry if it's some time before I get back to you.  I have a friend coming to stay this weekend and as I've not seen her for a while I don't think she'll appreciate being dragged around the churchyard  .

By the way it may just be coincidence but the chemists in Penkridge is Whitehouse Pharmacy - I don't know if it's named after the family or not.

Joy