Colebrooke Row, Clerkenwell

[Joeyd007]

Hi

Wondering if anyone can help.  My great grandmother, b 1896, has two addresses in this road on her birth certificate and baptism record, no 41 and no 111.  I was hoping that someone might be able to tell me whether these addresses were some kind of unmarried mothers homes or hospital buildings, as her father is unknown.

Many thanks 

Jo

[jorose]

I had a look on http://www.historicaldirectories.org/

In the 1899 directory, under "Accoucheuses" ("accoucheuse" = something like a midwife), there is a Mrs Elizabeth Ganney who gives her address as 41 Colebrooke Row.

In 1901 "Eliz Ganney" aged 60 appears in Islington with occupation "midwife".  In 1881 she is indexed as "Garry" (but son listed as Ganney) and living at 11 Cole Brooke Row.

In the 1895 street directory, she is also at 41 Colebrooke Row, but there is no number 111 listed. 
It goes up to 69. There are a couple of apartment buildings listed (21 and 31), also at 68 was "Rufford's Row Mission" and "Rufford's Row Nursing Institution", Mrs Ann Serena Ward, matron.

In the 1899 street directory, same as above (except no "nursing institution", only the mission at 68).

From the 1881 census and some earlier directories, there were a few addresses up until 74 Colebrooke Row, but no further.

111 Colebrooke Row does not appear to exist at all. Although this report on the area suggests that there was some confusion and a mix of names in the area:
http://property-blog.chestertonhumberts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/The-History-of-Colebrooke-Row_new-template.pdf

I would think that it was quite likely that Elizabeth Ganney delivered her, and that her mother was living at another address nearby. It could have just been apartments/rented rooms run by someone Elizabeth recommended.  I'd suggest, if you  have access to the censuses, checking all of Colebrooke Row for 1891 to see if any addresses have a few single female lodgers

ETA: This person? http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,320021.0.html
 and http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,319872.0.html
Sometimes "4" written in certain ways can look like "11", so I guess that she was simply born at "41 Colebrooke Row".  It appears that the other address was the address of Mary Ann Bradfield's family.

Presumably either her family or the family of the father (possibly "Burton"), paid for the services of Mrs Ganney. Most likely her father, who also took her and her child in.

[Reyz]

Hi Jo
I checked Colebrooke Row on the 1891 Census.  Found one in Islington, not Clerkenwell
and only number 41.   :

1891 Census
0167  /  34a  page 11
41 Colebrooke Row, Islington
--------------------------------------

Mary A Leaver?        Head  Widow   60   Living on own means   born  London Clerkenwell
B.M.A. Adamson       Daur  S            29    Drapers Assistant                 London Islington
G.R. Leaver              Daur S             27    Milliners Assistant / Dress             "
M.L. or T? Leaver     Daur  S             25      do------------------------                "
Joaquin? M Leaver  Son    S            19     Stock? Jobbers Clerk                    "
Reginald R Adamson  Grdson S         7     Scholar                                         "
Thomas Beard         Boarder S        32     Stationers Traveller           Yorks Bradford
Maria Davey            Serv       S        40     General Servant                London Islington
William E Madself?   Lodger    S       24     Ironmongers? Labourer    London Pimlico.

Goes up to 75 Colesbrooke Row.
Says on 1891 index that Colebrook 'Terrace' now includes part  of Duncan Terrace.
Realise its Terrace and not Row but checked Duncan Terrace anyway but found no 111.


1891 Census   0228 /   43a  p11
8 Chadwell Street, Clerkenwell
------------------------------------
Surname looks like Cunfield..

George E   Head      Wiwdr  54    Seasonal??? box maker                       Lambeth
Mary A       Daughter            25   jewel box engraver lealh?                    Clerkenwell
Charles E   Son                    20           Clerk                                                ..
Alice E        Sister                 40           Housekeepers dom                        Lambeth.

Good luck
Reyz 

Addition:

Jorose posted before I read their reply and it looks like on the right track..

Just to add :   
1891 - The Midwife is not at no 11 or elsewhere in Colebrooke Row, that I can see.

[Joeyd007]

Hi

Thanks to both of you for your findings.  I have had a look on the 1891 Census and have found Elizabeth Ganney living at 379 City Road, Islington.  She is listed as accoucheuse, so I am guessing it is the same woman as the DOB matches.  She has a number of people lodging with her then.  I had a look in the whole of Colebrooke Row in 1891 but didn't see any other midwives or anything similar.

My Great Grandmothers parents did live close to Colebrooke Row, in Chadwell Street.  Literally just around the corner. Do you know if bastardy bonds were still common at the time?  Might a bastardy bond still exist?  I would love to find out who her father was if possible, but just don't know where to try.  Her Christening record only shows her mother's name.

Many thanks

Jo

[Valda]

Hi

If maintenance was sought and if it was it could have been a purely private affair, then you would have to look through the quarter sessions records (court records) or Petty sessions (magistrates courts) unindexed at the LMA.


Information taken from a Norfolk Record Office guide

'Guardians of the Poor
After the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, responsibility for poor relief switched from the parish to the poor law unions. Thereafter, the guardians of the poor could apply to quarter sessions courts for maintenance from an alleged father. These applications were called affiliation applications and, if granted, an affiliation order was made. Details of affiliation orders can be found in the guardians’ minute books. Unmarried mothers often had to go into the union workhouse for the birth of their children.
Petty Sessions
In 1844, the Poor Law Amendment Act allowed women to apply to the petty sessions courts, rather than quarter sessions, for maintenance from the father. So it is the petty sessions books that will hold details of such affiliation applications and orders, after 1844. Affiliation orders are usually recorded in the general court minutes. Many early petty sessions books have not survived. However, copies of these orders were sent to the relevant guardians of the poor and there may be a record of them in their minute books.'


Who did she name as her father on her marriage? You already have the likely surname of Burton.


Regards

Valda

[Joeyd007]

Hi

There was no father listed on the marriage certificate. She was married in Trinidad in 1917. The certificate was very basic though, I guess that they were less concerned with providing much information.

I can only guess that Burton was the fathers name. I will have a look at the sessions records.

Many thanks

Jo xx

[Valda]

Hi

Information on quarter sessions

http://www.familyhistorypartnership.co.uk/hints01.html

The Middlesex Sessions are not easy records to search and get your head around so if you are visiting the LMA expect to need sometime to be able to search records such as this.

It would usually be the poor law union that was pursuing the maintenance case through the quarter sessions because mother and child were on poor law relief at some time. If mother and child were not e.g. mother was working and the child was living her parents for instance then it is unlikely there is a case to search for.

The fact that your great grandmother did not name a father on her marriage (many people gave such a father the same surname as themselves on marriage for propriety's sake) may indicate that she wasn't sure herself who he was.


Regards

Valda

[valnan]

Hello, JoeyD007

We have both been trying to find 41 Colebrook Row. It has been a while since your last posting, was wondering have you got any further?

I have also got this address on birth certicate.

Have contacted Ilsington History Library to see who ran the 'home'
hoping to find record of patients.   1908-1909

[Joeyd007]

Hi Valnan

Did you get anywhere with your search for residents of 41 Colebrooke Row? I've just started looking again. Were Islington Library able to help?

Many thanks
Jo