Hi Naomi
Well that was a bolt from the blue. I can add a fair bit to the story. Frederick Alfred Pell married my wife's grandmother Constance Purkis at St Pancras Church 26/9/1905.The most significant witness was a Ann Rintoul ,who ,to cut a long story very short.had adopted or fostered Constance when her mother Minna Tavener was deserted by the father William/Edward Perkis/Purkis (both names occur on birth cert /marriage cert)
The address given was 3 Leigh Street, Pancras London where Constance had lived from childhood and even at one time using the name Rintoul.
The 1911 census shows Ann and Constance as visitors at the home of Mr and Mrs Simpkins in Letchworth Herts with my wife's mum Edna Marion aged 4 Occupation is "Private Means" The second child Hilda is not recorded but should be
.
Of Fred Pell there is no mention or trace that I can find. But in searching I did find him continuing his book keeping back ground (as given in the marriage cert) in the RASC pay corps He served from 1915 in France and rose to the rank of Sergeant acting Warrant officer.He seems to have done well and got the basic war medals but deserted in 1920.
Constance brought up the girls basically alone from about 1912 it seems but Mrs Rintoul was a real loving help. I can't give you any other addresses I'm afraid and my wife doesn't know either until Constance's Brighton years when she spent many happy weeks with her favourite Nan.
Of Fred the deserter (in both senses ) I did find a reference to the burial of a Sergeant Frederick Alfred Pell at Islington Cemetery with his RASC number S/186093 on 26 Oct 1947.
Final bit...my wife recalls that her Nan spoke often of her good friend Naomi. Coincidence ? or do you know yet more etc etc
We look forward to a post from you that explains the connection.
DNA
