Anna Hollingsworth Hogg

[webeyer]

Hello again Kiwi007,
thanks again for your input ... I haven't furthered my searches for quite a while as I kept banging straight into dead ends, at the same time I'm desperate to find out more. I did have a distant cousin (also descended from Lilian, contact me, she explained (family legend apparently) that Lilian was spotted in a pram outside  a house (presumably the Parkers) .. dirty and disheveled, Anna Hogg approached the parents who  agreed to allow her to 'adopt' the little girl. On Lilians marriage certificate, her fathers occupation is listed as upholsterer, deceased. I was also informed that James Hogg (also an upholsterer) and Anna  Hogg were fond of the bottle, they appear to have done several moonlight flits and were quite good at avoiding any documentation concerning their whereabouts .. this could explain why they are impossible to find in the census records for 1891. To make matters more complicated, I was then told that Lilian worked for a Jewish Tailor by whom she subsequently became pregnant in 1905, this was my Grandfather .. I had believed that George Long (married Lilian in 1906) was my Grandfather so it was all quite a shock (having searched for years regarding the Long family) Apparently Anna Hogg and Lilian lived on the same street in Bristol (Oak Rd Ashley) for quite a few years. Lilian was present at the death of James and Anna. James died on the 11 Jan 1926, his address was 100 Fishponds Rd. He is listed as a journeyman upholsterer. Lilians address was 91 Oak Rd. Horfield Bristol. On Annas death certificate (15March 1929), it states that present at the death was 'L Long, adopted daughter, 14 Gilmore Cottages, Ashfield Place, Bristol. I have not been able to trace anything for Lilians birth or who her parents (The Parkers) were. The Tailor she worked for and became pregnant by purportedly sold his shop and set off on the quickest ship to America as soon as he was informed of the baby .. as you can imagine, I know nothing about him at all .. not even his name. If you are able to find anything regarding Lilian and her family, I would so much appreciate it, I'm at a total loss in all the twists and turns. In any event I do thank you for everything you have already discovered, you are a star!
Many kind wishes
Helga

[Kiwi007]

Hmmm- we really do have a mystery then! Its interesting that 'your' HOGG family lived in Horfield - mine did too - but my John HOGG was born in Ireland - the booze got him as well:-)) Now, I scouted around the area Anna & Lilly were in in 1901 and did not find a Tailor within coo-ee, however I did find a Joseph Edward GREEN, Tailor's presser not far away - he married 1902 to Alice Elizabeth LLOYD and they had 3 children in Bristol before moving to Bradford Yorkshire - where Joseph is now known as Edward...and a Tailor's coat presser in 1911  ( they had 4 children, one had died by 1911)- I wonder if he was the busy boy- he  died 1957 Bristol- Alice died 1940 Bristol
Assuming Thomas PARKER is correct, there is a death for one in 1894, aged 54 - in Barton Regis - I haven't found him in 1891 as far as I can tell ( there are a few)...but maybe this is your man. At least he is in the right area! Personally, I think Anna gave birth to Lilian, especially as she claims one living child from her marriage in 1911 - surely she would have put none if she had never given birth to anyone....maybe the story of the adoption was for keeping up appearances, such as they were :-))..having just said that....I see there is a Thomas PARKER with a daughter Lilian A PARKER- he is a butcher born Salop with wife Elizabeth, and children William, Lilian & Edith in 1891 and in 1901, no Lilian with them- but I see she is a servant elsewhere and marries the same Qtr as your Lilly..so back to square 1 .
I think with so many handed down stories ( and no records) it is going to be nearly impossible to prove your ancestry with any certainty. This is very disappointing. I helped someone research their family and they had a story that Harry was adopted by a Judge and came out to Australia - but I think Harry changed his name- found a family that matched him all the way back ( occupations, family names etc) but the lady just cannot accept she is not the girl she thought she was ( which I can imagine would be very difficult). I feel very sorry for her even though I think I have cracked it!

[webeyer]

Hi Kiwi007,
I like your thinking and who knows, maybe Anna and James were Lilians parents, its a really tangled web for sure! heres an extract from the email I received from my cousin ....'Here is what I know from first hand as my Nan, Lilian Catherine Long left us tapes where she talks about her life.Lilian Parker was a two year old baby when Mrs White walked past the garden and saw Lilian sitting in a laundry basket all dirty and crying.  Somehow Lilian went to live with the Whites and became their daughter.
The Whites liked to drink and were upholsterers.
Lilian would often come home an d find the furniture all sold and the Whites drunk. She had a hard time and often Mrs White moved home to get away from her husband and often changed her name. Lilian went to work in a tailors shop with another six girls working for a young Jewish owner.
Lilian got pregnant by the shop owner who then closed the shop and ran away to America leaving Lilian to bring up the baby alone.
I dont think I'm ever destined to unearth the true facts but it was great having your help and I really appreciate your research into this quagmire. I'll keep you informed should I ever get further ahead with the mystery. My very best wishes to you. Helga