Confused - Cant find them ??

[Mr Grinch]

Hi all,

Im trying to trace my paternal great grandmothers routes and have found out that they stretch to the midlands near Dudley. Trouble is, ive lost track of the family after the 1881 Census, can anyone help ??
Here goes:
Sarah Sophia Brooks was born on the 1st August 1879 at Salt Wells Coppice, Kingswinford, Staffs. Her father was Elijah Brooks born c1860 i believe he was illegitimate. Her mother was Clara Brooks nee Homer she was born in 1859 at Kingswinford. On the 1881 Census the family have been mistranscribed as the following:
Benjamin HOMES (HOMER)   Head   M   Male   70   Kingswinford, Stafford, England   Annuitant     
Caroline HOMES (HOMER)   Wife   M   Female   66   Kingswinford, Stafford, England       
Clara BROOKS   Daur   M   Female   21   Kingswinford, Stafford, England  Chain Maker     
Hannah BROOKS   G Daur      Female   1   Kingswinford, Stafford, England 

Couple of things. I cant not find Elijah anywhere and on the 1891 the family are know where to be found. I do know that Sarah travelled down to Hounslow in Middx and married. She is on the 1901 Census with here husband James Guyett, but those in between years are a mystery. I do know Sarah did keep in contact with family from the area and travelled there a couple of times a year to visit. Family also came to visit her in Middlesex. There was also talk of family in the USA, could this be the reason why her parents Elijah and Clara disappearing ?? As far as im aware, Sarah never went there.

Any help really appreciated on this little mystery.

Regards
James   

[AMBLY]

Hi James 

Looking at the actual image for the 1881 HOMER/BROOKS household:
RG11 /  Piece: 2896/ Folio: 15/ Pg 26
The BROOKS Grand-dau is definitely enumerated as "Sarah", not Hannah. The "S" is quite the same as S for Scholar  written elsewhere and is nothing like capital H's written elsewhere (H for Head, and for example in the family above them with a child who is named Hannah).

Also, I do think the family has been enumerated as HOMER - though I can see how HOMES could be arrived at.

Did you also know there is another HOMER family next but one above them - that of Daniel HOMER and wife Harriet, plus children. And 6 households before Daniel is another one: that of John HOMER and wife Jane, and children.

Back to the mystery......

Elijah BROOKES and Clara HOMER, marriage 1878 Dudley.
I'm taking it that Elijah was aged 18 on the marriage certificate (so born abt 1860) and there was no father named for him (hence maybe illigitimate)?

Can you tell us:
What was his occupation on his marriage?
Who were the witness' and do you know who they are?
When daughter Sarah later married GUYETT, what did her marriage certificate say about her father (occupation? deceased?)

Also, was Clara the "Clara Ann HOMER"  birth registered Stourbridge 1859? (Stourbridge being the district covering the place she and her parents were living in 1861, 1871 and 1881).

cheers
AMBLY

[Spidermonkey]

Were there any other children that you know of?  There is an Eli Brookes and his wife Clary and 5 children (plus a lodger!) at RG12; Piece: 2310; Folio 5; Page 3

Same family in 1901 RG13; Piece: 2761; Folio: 133; Page: 3

Problem is that none of the above children are old enough to be on 1881 census.

Hmmmmmm maybe not.  Possibly the same Eli is with his wife Olard (?) on 1881 RG11; Piece: 2895; Folio: 122; Page: 4

[AMBLY]

That's a good find, spidermonkey!   
I reckon that's them - just where is daughter Sarah in 1891!
 
This  Eli is down as a Puddler in 1901 and an Iron Worker in 1891 - and born Quarry Bank abt 1860 in both.
Hopefully James's can confirm his Elijah's  occupation as something the same.

Cheers
AMBLY

[AMBLY]

Oh, darn it - yes - it does look like them in 1881, Eli a puddler b abt 1860 amd Clara being messily written to  look a bit like Olard!. Also a 2mth old baby dau. , Mary Ann.

There's still a possibility this is "ours" though - and Clara got herself enumerated twice, once at her parents where she was visiting with elder daughter and once with her husband  - and if so, who was really looking after the baby??? 

Cheers
AMBLY

[Spidermonkey]

I don't think it is them - to confuse matters, on freebmd, there is a Eli Brooks marriage with a Clara SPruce on the same page which would tie in with the lodgers name on the 1891 census.  

[AMBLY]

Sob. Yes - I just saw that too.  
So much for reckoning 

If James says his Elijah is a puddler, we'll be really upset!!

[Spidermonkey]

Just looked on the 1871 census for Ben and Caroline to see if there were any clues there - and Ben is a puddler!!

Perhaps Eli had a double life.........

Off out now, but will be back later to see how you've got on!

[AMBLY]

Oh, your kidding me   
Will have to wait and see what James says now, hoping madly  his Elijah is NOT a puddler!